SHOPPING: Filling your pantry

(because of technical difficulties this post may have some errors)

Today's theme is SHOPPING from the proverb's 31 series.

Shopping
-seeks wool and flax
-is like the merchants ships and brings her food from afar
-considers a field and buys it
-percieveth that her merchandise is good

In today's modern world it seems that we must "buy"  a lot of stuff in order to survive.  However, that is not always the case.  There are many ways in which you can become more self-sustainable and work with your local community to avoid becoming a massive consumer.  There is also a way in which you can store up enough food for a while to survive for a great length of time from your own home.  You are also capable of being very creative and working with what you already have.  Try turning cereal boxes or milk cartons into a miniature village, homemade boxes or birthday cards.  All you would need is a little glue, glitter and good imagination.

Below is a menu that is developed from the Prudent Homemaker's website (http://www.theprudenthomemaker.com).  Keep in mind the woman is of LSD faith but that does not diminish the effectiveness of the resources she offers.

By clicking on the recipe's you can create an effective pantry list so that you won't have to wander to the store all the time because you'll have all the supplies on hand.  I have been able to fill up a month's worth of supply from Wal-Mart for about 100$-150$ to feed a family of 5.

Strictly Pantry

When you look into your fridge, and lament that it is empty, with no chance of filling it again soon--clean your fridge! Its empty shelves will sparkle at you and amazingly make you feel better.

Then look to your pantry for ideas, and pretty soon, there will be something in your refrigerator: leftovers!

The meals on this menu are made strictly from shelf-friendly items found in

my pantry.

For more pantry recipes that include items from the freezer and garden, click on the seasonal menus. If you're living on your food storage and need some more ideas on lunch menus for schoolchildren, see the winter menu.

Week 1

	Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner	Snack
Monday	Oatmeal with Raisins and Brown Sugar	Barley Soup French Bread	Spaghetti Green Beans French Bread Brownies	Peach Pie Popsicles
Tuesday	Pancakes Apple Juice	Minestrone Soup French Bread	Rice and Bean Burritos	Toast with Pear Butter
Wednesday	Banana Bread	Tuna Sandwiches Pickles Fruit Salad	Creamy Chicken Enchiladas (without cheese) Green Beans Corn	Banana Bread Dried Fruits
Thursday	Chocolate Muffins Fruit Salad	Macaroni and Cheese Vienna Sausages Applesauce	Tuscan Tomato Bread Soup	Homemade Crackers
Friday	Bagels	Chicken Noodle Soup Crackers	Spanish Rice Corn Olives	Bagels
Saturday	Whole Wheat Waffles Canned Peaches	BBQ Chicken Sandwiches Pickles Dried Apricots	Chicken Curry Chapatis	Popsicles
Sunday	Gingerbread Pancakes Smoothies	Leftovers	Chicken Caccitore Green Beans Canned Pears	Popcorn

Week 2

	Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner	Snack
Monday	Walnut Muffins Fruit Salad	Gluten (wheat) Burgers Pickles	Pasta e Fagioli Rosemary Olive Oil Bread	Hot Chocolate Dried Apricots
Tuesday	Oatmeal	Chicken and Rice Soup Rosemary Olive Oil Bread	Chicken Fried Steak Corn Green Beans Peach Pie	Rosemary Olive Bread
Wednesday	Crepes	Taco Soup	Pumpkin Gnocchi French Bread	Mandarin Oranges Fudge
Thursday	English Muffins Fruit Salad	Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches Canned Pears	Black Bean Burgers on English Muffins Applesauce	French Bread with Apple Butter
Friday	Biscuits and Gravy	Alphabet Soup French Bread	Stir Fry with Sprouts	Biscuits with Apricot-Vanilla Jam
Saturday	Donuts	Leftover Soups	Herbed Crepes Fruit Salad	Smoothies
Sunday	Lemon Poppyseed Muffins Citrus Fruit Salad	Bean and Rice Burritos	Fettucini Alfredo Green Beans Canned Pears	Popcorn