5 EASY Pantry Meals & Pro Tips for Building Your Perfect Working Pantry on a BUDGET!
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- Опубликовано: 13 янв 2024
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Hey friends! The new year is the perfect time to take stock of those pantries and deep freezers and see what hidden treasures we’ve missed in there. I’m Mel and welcome to my kitchen. Tonight I’m sharing 5 meal ideas all made with ingredients straight from my pantry, fridge and freezer, ideas of how to customize them with what YOU have on hand, and lots of tips on how to use it before you lose it!
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A working, rotated, basic pantry that gets restocked during sales (or seasonally when I could garden) is how I was raised and how I've managed my household for 45 years. Job loss, pandemics, natural disasters (blizzards) have all been survived and I've been able to help others during these times. Thank you for sharing. ❤
I only started a working pantry about 5 years ago and I’m 50! I wish I had learned that in my younger years. It does help to buy items on sale instead of as needed - or save a whole week’s grocery budget by working from what I’ve got on hand. In fact I just did a restock this weekend! 😊 the taco Mac and cheese looks delish! And a new oven?! SCORE!!!! 😂😂
Your pantry sounds a lot like how I do mine, and how I learned from my mom. I just went through my pantry and cabinets to start the new year. I made a list of the items I need to use up and a list of meals I can make from these items. Cooking from my pantry and freezer allows me to use what I have, as well as spend less at the store this month. Sounds like a winner to me! Thanks for sharing and for all your inspiration!❤️😉
My pantry is exactly like yours. It has gotten us through the pandemic, multiple flu seasons, heavy rains or snow, a couple of job losses, and busy plain life. I could probably do 3 months if I had to and we would be fine.
This is such an encouraging comment to hear. My sentiments and thoughts exactly, we never know what life might throw our way and it's good to prepare for the rainy days while the sun is shining and we have the means to do so.
We are empty nesters. I still do get stuff when its on sale 6 or so at a time depending on what it is. I meal plan from the pantry/freezer so the stock keeps rotating through.
I am well stocked just in case! Prayers for you and all of my Tennessee friends and family with the storm that's brewing outside right now! Be safe and hunker down and stay warm!
Thx for all your wonderful recipes !!
That’s how I do our pantry and boy has it been a life saver. We don’t have a lot of cabinets and no actual pantry so I repurposed an old bookshelf a friend was decluttering. The Taco Mac and Cheese sounds so good and the chicken soup would sure hit the spot in this cold weather.
Have a blessed week sweet friend, stay safe and warm ❤
Mel, those recipes looked so yummy. Thank you for sharing them. Sending prayers to you and your family. Stay safe and warm.
Thank you so much, Mel. your videos are always a Sunday evening treat. I look forward to them weekly!
Yep...the older generations mommas/gmas/friends mamas always got best recipes.
Most of my cooking I learned Fr my mother law n my daddy. My daddy was the cook on the ship in navy n they bother were best cooks.
Now's your chance to do a string of meals that show folks how to use, for example, an electric skillet or griddle... If you have one to show us, that is! Best of luck finding a really reliable range 😊
I love a good pantry and freezer cleanout! I’ve been stocking up my freezer for the past few months since I moved when I see meat on sale, now I’m gonna need to clean it out pretty soon. Everything looks delicious, especially that mac and cheese!
Hey friend! Your WFD popped up today and I've been catching up with all you've been doing!
@@InTheKitchenWithMommaMel Aww, thank you! I’ve been so behind in watching videos lately, I’ve been doing a lot of catch up this weekend.
Fallon got a new stove too 😊.... I just love your channel and all your recipes. You are so articulate and down to earth and just lovely. Thank you for being you and for sharing with us ❤ God Bless Y'all
Thank you so much for this sweet comment, I appreciate you so much and I love helping where I can. And me and Falon have a couple of the same issues here lately LOL
I am going to start a pantry I haven't been cooking much but after watching you I am trying to get back into it again. Thank you so much for making these videos
I love that your huhusband's a fix it man so is mine it has saved us thousands over the 41 years we've been together
Yes, those handy hubbys have saved us so much haven't they. He is NOT a "call the man" type of guy LOL
Oh I’m so glad you said LESS, I’ve kicked so much to the curb, donated so much and gifted some of my nephews and nieces good starter cooking goods, they love it
That's awesome, I believe we could all do a little of that. Thanks for watching 😊❤️
I’m so sorry about your oven Mel. Hopefully you will get one soon. Hope you have a great week. ☺️
I've got a new one, but I'm a grouchy old lady and don't like change 🤣
I am the same way 😂🤣
My hubby loved the chilli cheese burritos Taco Bell used to have, ❤❤❤
Oh, I don't think I got in on those! That makes me sad 🤣 have a great week ❤️
HEB had a great meat sale last week. My freezer is stocked. Crockpot is ready
My daughter took me out to dinner for my birthday and the restaurant made a chili cheese frito soufflé! It was amazing! If I knew how to make a soufflé, I’d try to recreate it at home! But wrapping it up in a tortilla sounds good too!
Mel
I have been cleaning out my spices and pantry to during the last 2 weeks. Thank you for the cooking inspiration. It has been cold in Pennsylvania so the soups looked perfect. Love your channel.
Sounds like you have been busy, but doesn't it feel good to be able to use everything that we've bought. Thank you so much for watching and being such a great support to me here.
My oldest sister and I rotate Thanksgiving and Christmas between our houses. I’ve had major appliances to go out for three years in a row. Thanksgiving my stove did the same thing. I had pans of food ready to cook when it sparked on me. Had to get another stove the next day before Thanksgiving. Christmas, the same thing happened again!!!! At least it was a few days before Christmas and we were able to purchase one that was more heavy duty. The next Thanksgiving, our refrigerator tore up, it was still on warranty but they couldn’t repair it until after the holidays. So we had to purchase a new refrigerator. We put the old one on the carport and when they repaired it, we use it as a spare. It’s been a lifesaver at times. Keeping my fingers crossed and praying that this doesn’t happen to either one of us any time soon.
Oh honey, bless your heart - I thought we were having a rough year but you're taking the cake. Hope things stay working at your house for the next few years!
I can’t wait to try some of these dishes.
Thank you so much for watching, hope it helps!
Hey Mel, I think just like u, bc January is a Pantry month for me too! I love these recipes u did, and am already thinking of what I can use from mine to throw yummy meals together! We need to think like our Moms & Grandmoms did, and use things up. My family does a lot of their own canning tho too, and thats just a bit to pioneering for me right now! 🤭
Thanks ever so much everybody for praying for me in this huge snowstorm, my lights have stayed on, my furnace is running nice & warm, my old bungalow's roof is holding but we are socked in for a good while! I don't dare try to get on the roads until we get back up to 35° bc even the salt doesn't work on the roads when we get down to zero. God is faithful, well get thru, but I feel compelled to start praying for the Spring floods this snow is gonna cause down the Mississippi delta - thats always a sad result. Sending u blessings & much love! 🙋♀️☃️🥶❄️💨❄️💨🏠💕💕💕
Thank you so much Sandy and I feel the same as you, we should be good stewards and also be prepared, not in fear but to be a help when needed. And I'm also not too homesteady either 🤣 So glad to hear you're safe and the power has stayed on. Sending love and prayers for you and for what spring may bring 🙏 ❤️
Glad you are doing well in this terrible cold. I'm in eastern Nebraska, and we have had a foot of snow this week, and the high today (Sunday, 1/14) was -7°F. I too am grateful for a solid roof, working electricity, natural gas to run my furnace, fireplace and hot water heater and kind neighbors who have cleared the snow from my driveway, sidewalks; patio and wheelchair ramp.
@@rosemarydoran9907 Awe Rosemary- I'll be praying for u, as that cold just simply BITES like a million little needles stabbing u all over, that God will continue to open the hearts of people to help u! I have a neighborhood service from the local Catholic Parish, and even tho I'm not Catholic, the people who help me have hearts of gold! We love and worship Jesus, so I'm convinced my sweet friends will be in heaven. They take the book of James seriously: "faith without works is dead!"
We haven't gotten much colder than 1°, but it could come in a bit. Hoping u stay snuggled & warm, dear friend! Sending u love & hugs from frigid West Michigan. 🙋♀️🏠💨❄️💨❄️🥶☃️🧎♀️🙏💕💕💕💕
@sandybowman7140 It got up to 0°F today! I'm surprised being in Michigan it isn't colder where you are at. This cold is brutal! My 3 poor little senior dachshunds haven't been able to get outside for 3 days because my door to outside connected to the wheelchair ramp has been drifted in and they are lowriders so they can't handle over about 1" depth. So piddle pads it is for days like these! My ramp is now cleared so 2 of them did go outside early this morning.
I was blessed last summer, when a neighborhood church posted helping those needing help with outside work (I'm disabled from a stroke 9 years ago). They came and trimmed bushes and raked the yard on one of the hottest days of summer (it was 100°F). It was not my church; it is a nondenominational Christian church. Stay well Sandy!
@@rosemarydoran9907 Awe, ur baby dogs sound like how I managed with my Yorkie-Poo, Macy, before she died in 2020. Its just recently I can even talk about my precious baby, for the 1st few years I couldnt even say "dog" without bursting into tears. Those Potty Papers are wonderful for little dogs & vinyl floors easily bleached & cleaned.
I think it's a bit warmer in Michigan bc the big lake isn't frozen hardly at all. I'm not sure what accounts for it, but saw that next week we might be a balmy 38° + yeehaaa!!
Stay warm & snuggled with ur sweet baby dogs! I love dogs of all kinds! I think it's darling how u described them as "low riders!" 🤭🤣
My oldest son loves the Sonic Chili Cheese wraps. Thank you for sharing your recipe for them. I’m definitely going to make them. I also like the taco Mac and Cheese recipe. I always have those ingredients in my pantry. I always look forward to and enjoy your videos. We are getting snow right now and these recipes will be great to make in the next few days.
Hi Mel! Thank you so much for these helpful tips. And the recipes look delicious as always. Appreciate all you do. Have a blessed week. 💜
Oooodle la leeee!
The Sodium overload 😅
I like the ingredient control that cooking beans from scratch with my instapot gives me.
I freeze batches flat and stack them.
My husband since he retired loves running my pantry like a General
Lol 🤣 he needs his own hobby doesn't he
❤ all of these
Love the content and advice. Thanks for sharing.
Glad it was helpful!
Everything looks delicious, I'm writing these down. Thanks for the ideas, stay safe and warm!
Thanks! Gonna try these!
Love these ideas! Thanks for the inspiration!
You are so welcome!
Yes less is more and with age comes wisdom! I feel the same way! Love your videos! 🤩
Yes! Thank you!
Everything looks so Yummy and for me super easy!! Thanks for sharing. ❤❤❤❤
Definitely delicious.thank you Mel😊
Thank u about telling us about the working pantry next time I get more of the stuff I used most often love making chili
Tfs....love all the tips
Thanks Mel! I always look forward to your videos ❤
Love your food.
Thanks again for these good ideas and recipes 😊
Hi Mel great recipes.have a blessed week❤
I really enjoy your videos. I always find something cheap and wonderful for my family and everything is always a huge hit. Thank you so much for all the work you put into these videos. Hope yall have a blessed day. And thanks again
You are so welcome! Thank you so much for this kind comment, I love sharing and always hope that my videos are a help.
thank u so very much for the great tips and everything, Mel!!!! happy cooking to you!!!
you'll a great cook, Mel!!! Thank u for all your cooking videos and everything!!!
Your videos always make me smile! Thank you for the inspiration to clean out my pantry and freezer!!
All of rhese recipes sound delicious! Thanks for sharing the tips! I love Moss Family TV! 😊
Omygosh. Gotta try that chilimac!
I found this very encouraging. Trying hard to use my pantry and not waste. Thank you.
Thank you! I try to do the same, have a blessed week friend 💖
I'm making a beef soup now while I watch you. I had all the ingredients in the house. I chopped and froze celery, onions and carrots so they wouldn't go bad. Using them now with this soup. Thanks for all your recipes.
Thats awesome, I love when I do things like that that end up helping me later. Have a blessed week friend 💖
I love watching you and saving your recipes. Also cleaning out the freezer and the pantry becomes a little fun adventure after your inspiration. Thanks and keep up the good work.❤
I'm still using up lots of things every week and it IS an adventure LOL Thanks so much for watching
Great video as usual! I need to do a pantry clean out and use up some of the stuff in there. I must have caught cake mixes on sale because I think I have one of every flavor!
🤣 you could have a bake sale
I have so many cans of refried beans, don’t know what to do with them! 🤷♀️
I love your videos!
Thank YOU!
❤❤ 🎉🎉😊 Love you!! I always learn from you!! The white chicken chili looks delish! The mac & cheese & taco meat dish looks so good! Making that Weds.!
Making the chili Friday!!
I live alone. My husband passed away a yr ago in October. But, I love to cook for my sister & brother too! Plus, we all three love leftovers!!
Your cooking really relaxes me! I thoroughly enjoy your recipes and watching you cook!! I love the soft background music as well!!
I pray for you & your family every day!! Hugs!! ❤❤🎉🎉😁😁😇🥰🥰🤗🤗❤❤🙏🙏🙏🙏
Thank you so much for watching and for your kind words. I'm so sorry for your loss and I'm glad to hear you have lots of family around you. I will keep you in my prayers/
Thank you so much Mamma Mel!! ❤❤😊❤❤🙏🙏😇
Hi Mel👋👋👋 TYFS these delicious meals, I appreciate you so much🥰 Have a wonderful day and blessed week🙏♥️💫✨👼🏻✨💫♥️🙏
Love your ideas Mel you do a great job on all you make Mel my husband loved chicken chili and your pizza Mel yum yum ,!! 😂❤ great tips also Mel thank you sooo much, God bless you and your family, stay warm self Mel dear friend,, 😇🙏✝️❣️🌟
Loved these recipes. Especially the macaroni and cheese one definitely making that. It’s so refreshing to see how you do your working pantry. That’s how I do mine. I don’t want to store food for a year.
Good recipes!
Wonderful recipes! Thank you.
As a good midwesterner, I’ve always kept a freezer full and canned goods stocked up. There were times when I was growing up in Nebraska that we literally couldn’t get out of the house.
We don’t drink milk but I like to keep a box or two of shelf-stable milk on hand
Love my my kitchen in AZ❤️
You would think I lived there, too the way I keep food on hand, LOL. But I think it's a great idea no matter where we live, it never hurts to be prepared. We never know what we might be preparing for but it's good to be ready for whatever might come our way. AND I made Runza for the first time last night, I read that it was a midwestern staple and it was named after the Runza sandwich from Nebraska - I loved it! Thanks so much for watching!
Oh yes! Runza is our favorite! It’s the first thing I eat when I get back to Nebraska! ❤️
Another awesome video Mel thanks 👍👍👍
Thank you 😁
Great ideas! I am working on compiling simple, low-cost meals for my son who just moved into his first room in the barracks on base.
❄❄❄Stay safe and cozy with this winter weather moving in.❄❄❄ We're going to be cutting it close here in Northwest Ga., but it is being forecast just slightly north of us. 🫣 I guess we'll find out how good the weatherman's predictions are!😂
Loved these meals!
So glad you liked this video, thank you so much for watching 😊
Good evening Mama Mel, Thanks for sharing , everything looks good.Yall stay warm and have a wonderful week.❤❤❤ Lula mae and Family.
Thanks for being here and you stay warm too ❤️
Thank you for sharing.
My pleasure!
I just love your show, Mel! It's the highlight of my Sunday evenings! I'm definitely going to try that Naan bread pizza. It looked absolutely delicious. I appreciate all of your new recipes and ideas for putting things together!❤😊❤
Thank you so much, I really appreciate your kind words!
Great tips, Mel! I'm working through my freezer because I've got some things that I got before the holidays that need to be used. Can't wait to see your new stove!
Perfect! I am doing the same thing!
I agree with you a working pantry is what I have. Plus I don’t have space for stock piles an I always would worry about all that food going to waste. Since we only do a big haul once a month by the months end I’m clearing out the pantry for the next hall. Thanks for sharing all the recipes looked great. I’ve also made the mac&cheese taco dish before. Another tasty recipe is taco spaghetti
🎉love all your recipes and down to earth videos!
Thanks so much 😊
Will try your taco Mac& cheese. Looks yummy And easy peasy.
I try to make pantry/freezer meals every few weeks.
I ❤this content of shopping ur pantry to make meals to use things up, tfs!!
Thank you so much for watching, I'm so happy that you enjoyed this video.
Thank you Mel!. Delicious recipes and a good time to rotate my can goods!
You are so welcome!
Just ordered some Blueland. Looking forward to getting it! Thanks
I can't wait for you to get it, lol. I have enjoyed it so much and I am getting ready to order me some hand soap tablets in bulk. Thanks for letting me know that you ordered.
I grew up with the same type pantry & I have had that type pantry for the past 40 years since I've had my own home.
Except I buy sale items & can them.
My Mom only froze sale items.
And food sales tend to rotate by seasons.
I have to try the white chicken chili I never had that yet! Thank you for sharing all of your recipes with us. Happy New Year to you and your family🎉❤
Thanks for being here and hope you love the chili!
Thanks for the tips Momma Mel! We've really been struggling lately so I will try to implement them when I can. The meals looked delicious as usual. God bless you. Lots of love❤ from Nicole in Indiana.
Glad it was helpful! Another thing that might help is to Google "what can I make with ..." and insert a few different items you have left in your pantry. I've found some really good ideas that way to use up some random things.
Looks delicious. Thanks for sharing 😊
Thank YOU for watching 😊
I love cornbread with any chili.
I love watching your videos, your recipes are so good. I have a working pantry also and it really has helped us with budgeting as well as just always having things on hand to fix a good meal. Thank you.
Thanks so much for watching and for your encouraging words. And I feel exactly the same way about my little pantry. Have a great week 😊
Stay warm and safe in this cold snowy weather. I cleaned out pantry and freezer before Christmas to make room for all the Christmas prep. I need to start stocking up again.
Less is more, I’m with you on that.
You are the salt of the earth. The food looked fabulous. 🙏🏼🇺🇸❤️
😊 thank you, you're kindness means the world to me!
Great food lovely lady , your a joy to watch 🇬🇧
Thanks so much 😊
When you were talking about not having as much stuff, I figured you may get a kick out of mine. My husband’s and I moved from a bi level home with basement in Michigan to Florida with no basement and one floor house. I never realized how much stuff I had! So I’m in a good place now, and enjoy having less and needing less. Without God I couldn’t have done it, glad you love Jesus too!
I think sunny FLA was worth the downsize, and for sure without HIM we cannot do anything! Thank you so much for watching and sharing.
Everything looks so good! I’m going to try that taco Mac and cheese real soon. Thanks for sharing
Hope you enjoy
Mel, you are a gem; beautiful inside and out. Thank you for sharing great recipes and so much of yourself with us. ❤
You are SO kind, thank you very much for watching and your comment.
I love the powder broth bases too! I try to keep both the chicken and beef ones in stock. Tyfs your recipes and tips with us.
You are so welcome! Thank you for being here.
My pantry is in a spare bedroom. Lol. We run our pantries the same. When my kids were home, kids now 46 and 49, i got groceries once month other than bread and milk. Meals planned onvwhat we had. Now, the two of us still do the same only smaller quality. I believe i spend less this way. Enjoy your new stove. I have built ins. My stove came with the house that was built in 1957. I need a new stove and oven. 😮 love watching you.
Yum, every dish looked so good and mouth watering. I need to use up some mac & cheese boxes, your dish is the way to go. Thanks for all of your videos. ❤
Thank you for watching 😊
Hey Mel,Have a blessed evening,I don't know how some get thru videos so fast unless they are pushing thru most of it but i watch them all the way thru before commenting!
Happy Sunday friend ❤️ and we must have some speed watchers 🤣 Thank you so much for alway watching and supporting. Have a blessed week ❤️
@@InTheKitchenWithMommaMel I don't always comment but i try to,yes,that's it speed watches,lol
I don't always get to comment when I watch friends either. Most times I have it playing on TV while my hands are busy 😉
Yum.
Yummy and cleaned out some stuff 😊
These are great(as always) recipes! I don’t see the confetti, but I would definitely throw it!!!
LOL Thanks so much friend!
I’ve been watching your videos since I have been trying to spend less and cook at home. They have been a true help
Thank you so much for this comment, It means the world to me to know that I'm helping you.
Buccee’s Cajun seasoning is great, too!
We will have to check it out, thanks
As always, you have given me some good ideas. Those bananas would be good to peel, wrap in foil and freeze.
That's a great idea, I peeled and sliced them and froze them for smoothies. But I really wanted that banana bread LOL
I am so glad you are back I've missed your videos,going to try the taco Mac and cheese.something must be in the water my oven went out also I think it's the board also.get to call see how much part is .mines about 29 yrs old it's glass top like yours.praying I can get it fixed cheapest stove I've seen is 500 just regular old stove.ive been blessed though 20 yrs is a long run.Good luck on yours.God Bless ❤
I swear it must be the oven on the fritz season LOL Hope you get it all resolved soon
Omg! That happened to Fallon right before Christmas! Anyway I have always used my pantry like this. I'm lucky enough to have a small room in my basement with shelves for my pantry items
I know, LOL We've had a couple of the same issues lately - me and her
Heu hey sweet friend. Thats what I'm doing ...shopping my freezers and pantry❤ thank you so much for sharing ❤️
Have fun!
@@InTheKitchenWithMommaMel 🥰🥰 always 🥰