In an effort to stay on track with my goal of feeding my family for only $100 a month this year, I decided to clean out the freezers in the garage yesterday. I needed to know what was in them. I feel like I have been slacking off in the coupon department lately, and that’s okay. Summer will be here soon enough and we will have more than plenty of food to eat as well as preserve.
Right now I need to focus on using up what we already have on hand. Especially since some of the expiration dates on a few of the items are in question.
Luckily, I was able to condense everything into 1 freezer without many casualties. I unplugged the empty freezer, and tomorrow once it is defrosted I will clean it, let it air out and get it ready for the big harvest I am anticipating this summer.
Want to know what was in the freezers?
2 boxes of Veggie Burgers {expired… but c’mon, they’re veggie burgers. They taste like crap anyway. I really don’t think eating them a few months past the expiration date is going to make them any less appealing}
3 bags French Fries
6 bags Sweet Potato Fries {I feel like these have been in there FOREVER!}
2 Boxes Texas Toast
1 Box Pretzels
3/4 Box of Cod {Seriously, is this still edible?}
1 Cheesecake {Christmas Gift}
1/2 Gallon Butter Pecan Ice Cream {The HH will be happy I found this}
1 Coconut Cream Pie
2 Pie Crusts
1 Bag Kraft Mozzarella Cheese {circa August 2010}
10 Quarts Raspberries
3 Quarts Blackberries
4 lbs Ground Pork
1 lb Ground Turkey
3 Packages Pork Chops
1 Package Cube Steaks
1 Package Llyod’s Ribs
1 Package Ham Slices
1 Pork Roast {barf}
5 Packages Ground Beef
2 lbs Ground Buffalo {from my neighbor the Hunter}
1 Italian Sausage
12 Packages of Tortillas
2 Quarts Corn
1 Bag Sliced Green Peppers
5 Bags Rice
1.5 lbs Bacon {I thought I used it all}
2 Bags Crab Cakes {Groupon Freebie}
5 Bags of Chicken {1-2 lbs each}
16 Salmon Filets {The HH is always bringing home free fish}
4 Halibut Steaks {I’m not a HUGE fan of fish. I spent almost every summer of my childhood on a boat. Eating fish. So while most people would love to get sacks of free salmon, halibut and crab, I kind of turn my nose up at it. I’d like to think I’ve had my fill}.
1 Bag of Mystery Meat
10 Packages of hot dogs {barf}
1 Box of “Gourmet Franks” {Translation: Fancy barfalicious hot dogs}
1 Tin Sticky Buns
9 Fruit Chillers {I tossed these. I can’t remember a time when I opened the freezer and they weren’t there. It was time to let them go}.
2 Boxes Creamed Peas
1 Box Brussels Sprouts
1 Box Corn
1 Box Broccoli
1 Pound Cake
4 Pineapple Juice {Circa February 2011}
2 Apple Juice
9 Homemade Ice Cream Cups
2 Wholly Guacamole {Yum!}
16 Frozen Yogurt Cups
15 Zucchini Bread {Note to self: Don’t make so much bread this year}.
Holy canolies that was a lot of food. My next goal?
Figuring out how to use it all up before the summer produce starts rolling in.
Does anyone have any good pork recipes? Or rather, does anyone have any good recipes where I can add pork and not have the meal taste like pork?
Fix, Freeze, Feast: The Delicious, Money-Saving Way to Feed Your Family
Desi says
Hahaha, the barf on the pork comment is too funny. I made a pork roast on sunday and boy was it Fatty! With enough bbq sauce it was very tasty though. I let it cook in the crock pot all afternoon in the sauce. I need to start baking some zucc bread. I found I have about 10 pkgs of the stuff shredded and waiting to be put into something. Making Zucc Bread is all I know what to do with it. Any suggestions?
Desi says
Hi me again, another question for you, can you just pop your yogurt in the freezer? I’m buying a bunch of Activia this week at Albertsons.
Heather S. says
Desi, Hi – that’s what we do sometimes with our yogurt. If it is a kind the kids like, they eat it frozen (like ice cream). Otherwise we take it out, cut it in cubes and throw it into smoothies. I’ve never tried letting it thaw to eat it though, because I always figured it would have a weird texture…
Desi says
Thank you Heather! I want to see what it’s like after being thawed too. My kids think they need a yogurt every day, I don’t argue with them since it’s a healthy snack.
Mavis says
I eat yogurt once it’s been thawed and it’s fine. I think it tastes the same. 🙂
Desi says
Thanks Mavis!
Julie H. says
I would use the pork roast to make pulled bbq pork in the crockpot. It will make a yucky roast into a yummy dinner.
When I make taco soup in the crock pot I sometimes use half hambuger and half ground pork just to use it up. With the beans and taco seasoning and ranch you will not taste the pork. Good luck with the freezer.
Heather S. says
We we mostly do with pork roast is throw it in the crock pot with a little seasoning, and then when it is done, shred it and add your favorite barbecue sauce – or whatever you got for free 🙂
The other things I have done are cook it the same, then make tamales (a lot of work, but they are awesome) and cook it in the crock pot with green chili, garlic, and I can’t remember what else to make green chili pork burritos.
My kids like the barbecue one the best and it is the easiest, so our main go to for pork roasts!
You Can Call Me Jane says
Wow, woman! You have yourself some meat! Does anyone in your house like Pork and Sauerkraut? You can buy ready-made sauerkraut at the store in a bag. You just dump the bag in your crock pot with the thawed pork chops and sometimes a couple other ingredients you have on hand (read the kraut bag) like potatoes or apple chunks. Cook up some peas and you have a delicious meal! IF you like sauerkraut, that is:-). I need to combine my freezers soon, too. As soon as I shake this cold. Blah.
Jennifer Jo says
I want the hot dogs.
Mavis says
Come and get them.
Heather S. says
You’re supposed to ask her what she has to trade 🙂 – Mavis, I was wondering how long you can leave meat in the deep freezer and still eat it. I haven’t cleaned mine out in way too long and am sure I have some meat in there that is pushing two years old…
Mavis says
I’m probably not the best person to ask. LOL The USDA says 6-9 months. Ha Ha Ha.
Michelle says
What to do with pork. Make the pork roast in the crock pot then shred it a la pulled pork. Take a can of black beans (or two…whatever) and mash them all up. Add equal amounts pork. Then take some of those tortillas you’ve got…and fill them with the mixture, roll em up, brush them with a bit of oil and bake them. Voila…homemade baked taquitos.
Mavis says
I would have never thought of taquitos. Good idea. 🙂
Janelle says
My favorite pork recipe is to pour over barbecue sauce, a can of whole-berry cranberry sauce, and some orange zest before baking. Very different from the typical pulled pork, and it’s great over mashed potatoes or rice.
Mavis says
Hmmm. I might have to try this. Thanks
nancy says
here’s our favorite pork roast recipe – – 1 pork roast (about 3-4#), 1 packet each (the powder kind): ranch salad dressing, Italian dressing, pork or brown gravy + 1 c. water.
Place roast in crockpot. Sprinkle packets over roast. Pour 1 c. water over all. Cook on low for 8 hours. Shred w/2 forks and serve on buns. Serve w/BBQ sauce if desired. We absolutely love this stuff. Even you might like it. Then if you have leftovers, use it to make Posole (a soup w/hominey). I bet you’ve got a recipe in one of your cookbooks for it.
Mavis says
I have a packet of Ranch dressing. I think I’ll try this. Thanks Nancy.
Jamie says
My Hubs hates roasts, we take a pork roast and crock pot it with teriyaki, soy, ginger, and garlic until it falls apart and can be shredded. Add additional teriyaki to taste. Take 1 onion thinly sliced, saute in sesame oil with a bag of cole slaw mix Use same spices as the roast, add pork back in. Take egg rool wrappers and fry as directed on package. Hubby loves them and they freeze well also! Just make sure you have some sweet and sour sauce on hand. Mmmm, on my way to start some now!
Mavis says
Everyone keeps saying I should try shredded pork. 🙂 Maybe I’ll try it this weekend. Thanks for the recipe idea.
CathyB says
One of my favorite ways to use port roast is to dice it into about 1 inch cubes (remove excess fat while cubing) and marinate it in a mixture of 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup soy sauce, juice of 1 lemon, 1 teaspoon oregano, and 3 finely minced cloves of garlic. Marinate the pork along with diced onion and bell pepper. I also sometimes use mushrooms or sliced zucchini if I have them. You are supposed to skewer and grill. But I am lazy and just dump it all on a grill basket or tray with holes and grill it that way, turning the pieces occasionally to get evenly cooked. Serve with rice. You can make extra marinade to serve over it if you like.