Thanks for all the great comments on yesterday’s blue post! (And doesn’t that just make it sound like I posted a depressing entry?)
I am on a mission to clean out my freezer and my cabinets. I am using the excuse of saving before my trip (COSTA RICA IN TWO WEEKS–but you didn’t hear it from me), but really, some of this stuff is just getting old. Time to refresh. And to make a What I Ate Wednesday, Use-It-Up Version.
(I can’t wait for summer and, among other things, real lighting. I apologize for a bunch of weirdly fluorescent-lit food.)
Breakfast
Because I always have oats: Oatmeal bars (inspired by this recipe). Because I had a bag of frozen strawberries: Chia-strawberry jam (inspired by this recipe).
Snack
Vega Shake & Go Smoothie. I got this stuff for Christmas and finally pulled it out of the cabinet. I love the health stats (and it doesn’t taste too shabby), but I don’t think I’ll shell out the bucks myself for more once this is gone. Plus I would like to argue against its label as “family friendly.” I like the taste, but holy cow, if you had given this to me as a kid, I wouldn’t have talked to you for the next two weeks. Or two minutes, because I tended to forget I was giving someone the silent treatment.
Lunch
A little of everything from the freezer. Some really old frozen bean-and-sweet-potato stew, old frozen spinach, old frozen green beans, and old frozen eggplant meatballs.
Snack
Pineapple (store canned) and peaches (home canned).
Dinner
I had odds and ends of mostly empty bags of dried black beans, split peas and lentils. Throw in some home-canned tomato sauce, some frozen corn, a few spices–voila. Use-it-up chili.
What do you make to clean out the cabinets/fridge/freezer?
ForgottenBeast 
I typically make soup or stirfry when Im looking to clean out the fridge! Its an easy way to get rid of all the produce, plus those are 2 meals that you can really add ANYTHING to in terms of beans or meat!
Stir fry is definitely my second favorite use-it-up after chili (well, soup, haha).
I usually do soups or giant pasta dishes to use up all my crap. It feels SO bad to throw food away!
Exactly! I’ll eat terrible disaster cooking projects just so I don’t have to waste food.
yum yum yum! I bet you’re getting oober excited for your trip 🙂
Lovin the dog video!
OMG….I’ve only caught up on your blue post now!!!! LOVE the hair! You look fantastic! And I’ll say it again, you are one TALENTED knitter!!!!
Yay for the Costa Rica countdown!!! Have a great Wed.
I make a lot of smoothies and soups to use up the contents of my fridge. Some of my favorite soups are actually all the leftover veggies that have to be used.
Usually a clean out of the fridge/pantry result in some type of salad lol! I’m always using leftovers for salads or soup…
I just made some chia seed jam yesterday… works so well!! Thanks for sharing =)
I already made another batch with blueberries, YUM, and great use for frozen berries.
Leftovers or not…everything looks yummy!
I am the same way. When we go on a trip my fridge is bare. I love coming home and doing a big ol’ shopping trip and filling the house back up with yummy fruits and veggies.
I do have to admit–I’m already getting excited for my huge restocking grocery store adventure 🙂
All I read was Cosa Rica in two weeks. Jealous!
Costa Rica!!! I can’t wait to hear ALL about it. That’s definitely on my list!
I’m totally counting down until better lighting. Spring can’t come soon enough!
Don’t worry, I’m sure I’m going to come back with an obnoxious number of pictures and stories 🙂
Costa Rica’s going to be immense, look forward to seeing pictures! I love the blue hat – and the hair, it looks brilliant! I had blue hair once too; clearly it’s what all the best people do 🙂
The strawberry chia jam sounds great, off to check it out!
Obviously only us ladies of taste and class can pull out the blue hair 🙂 And YUM, the jam is good–I simplified it down to 2C frozen strawberries + 2T chia seeds, blend. It was plenty sweet. I made a second batch with frozen blueberries, and it could have used a hint of sweetener.
Rice. And then everything goes on top 🙂
P.S. Your blue hat is super impressive. Like, of Etsy caliber.
last night I used up all the left over bits and pieces from a few meals to make a pasta dish! Enjoy planning for your trip 🙂
I have never tried Vega Shake, but I have heard tons of great stuff about it! I need to pick some up asap!
It’s worth a try, great protein, all real ingredients, but you DO pay for it, it’s at least $20 for a big bag–but I think you can buy single serving packets to give it a try.
ha i thought that was ketchup at first with your granola bar. and, while i love both ketchup and granola bars – not together! 🙂
Hmm…now I have to decide if ketchup and oatmeal would ever work together…well, veggie meatloaf? That usually has oats, gets topped with ketchup.
I admire your attempt to clean out your food before you leave. I always try to clean out the food here but I always end up buying more 😦