It was a good week!
- I didn’t buy anything
- I tried 2 new bread recipes {and they were both winners}.
- Most of our meals were centered around items we had canned last summer.
Last Monday I set out 8 jars I wanted to try and empty by the end of the week.
And well, setting those jars out on the kitchen counter and having them staring back at me worked so well… I’m going to do it again.
Canning your own food is pretty awesome. Growing your own food is even better, but gobbling up all the fruits of your labor? Well, I don’t think it gets any better than that.
Last week we emptied:
- 1 Jar of Beef Stew
- 1 Jar of Pasta Sauce
- 1 Jar of Carrots
- 1 Jar of Salsa
- 1 Jar Peach Lavender Jam
- 1 Jar Carrot Cake Jam
- 1 Jar Strawberry Jam
- 1/2 Jar Dehydrated Potatoes
- 1 Jar Piccalilli {bonus!}
Here’s a look at most of the meals we ate last week:
Spaghetti and meatballs.
Beef stew.
Grilled cheese sandwiches with piccalilli.
Toast and jam and a fried egg with salsa!
Pulled pork with rice {with salsa mixed in}.
Leftovers for the freezer.
Leftovers for the freezer.
Fact: Breakfast is more fun with a toast caddy.
Turkey pot pie {with dehydrated potatoes}.
The best chocolate chip cookies on the planet earth.
And thanks to the comment someone left on the post about the crushed Cadbury eggs… Rocky road brownies. 🙂
Spaghetti and meatballs. Beef stew. Grilled cheese sandwiches with piccalilli.
Like I said… It was a good week! Now, let’s see if I can do it again.
Here are the jars I am going to try and empty this week.
Any ideas about how to use up the pickled asparagus?
Wish me luck! 🙂
~Mavis
P.S. Did you do any canning last year? If so, how are you doing with emptying your jars? Do you still have a bunch left that you need to open?
Total Spent This Past Week on Groceries $0
- Total Spent on Groceries in February $101.14
- Total Spent on Groceries in January $167.33 {this includes buying groceries on Fair Isle}
- Total Spent on Groceries in 2023 $268.47
Jamie says
Ham and pickled asparagus quiche with some good cheese!
Brianna says
Eggs Benedict with a side of pickled asparagus
Asparagus appetizer….wrap it in chipped dried beef (or ham) spread with cream cheese
Marinated Greek pasta salad…pasta, .roasted red peppers, artichoke heart, greek olives, red onion, cucumber, asparagus, feta all tossed in a bit of olive oil and vinegar
Stuffed chicken breast with asparagus and cheese
Susie says
I put a little softened cream cheese in a piping bag (or a recycled baggy), cut off the tip and pipe it onto the meat (I use thin salami slices from Aldi). I LOVE this snack!
Toni says
Put some asparagus in salad.
Julie says
Enjoy your pickled asparagus as a side to your sandwich. Or make a wrap with pickled asparagus included. Picked asparagus in a pasta salad sounds good too.
Yes, I’m still working on using canned items and trying to buy less new items until I’ve used up what I have.
Amy says
We just opened our last jar of spicy dilly beans and then we’re done with all of the canning!
Gina-MO says
I canned lots of good stuff this summer and am also trying to eat from the canning cabinet. My favorites so far are the canned nectarines (from fruit bought cheap at the grocery store when they ran out of peaches and subbed nectarines during the sale) and my home canned green beans. Soooo tender and delicious! This weekend, I made surprise muffins and used some grape and berry-berry home canned jams inside. I have some pickled green beans and lots of dill relish that I really need to get started on.
Definitely time to get the jars emptied because my seeds are wintersown and I’m dreaming of this summer’s canning projects!
Elle says
Layer a thin slice piece of meat, slice of cheese or some gratings 3 asparagus in the middle and roll it up. Crackers on the side. And a cookie for desert!
Terry M says
I spent about $140 last week on groceries. My local store had a sale on bratwurst and Italian sausage, so I stocked up for the summer. I turned a nice, large roast into Italian Beef, enjoyed a few nice salads, and splurged on Driscoll’s strawberries. I’ve been put on a new shot for weight loss and it’s really cutting my appetite, which is a HUUUUUUGE benefit for me. I eat maybe a quarter of what I used to, and look forward to being able to move more freely. I purchased 3 raised garden beds made of cedar and 30 inches tall, and another two made of walnut, lower to the ground with built-in trellises. I really missed having a garden last year, so I have already ordered my seeds for this year!
Nancy says
Ha! I have the same toast caddy! Bought in Scotland a few years ago!. We visited Lewis and Harris and loved it! So raw and beautiful! And the nicest people!!! Wonderful to hear about your trip and plan to visit there soon!
Margo says
Canned applesauce, apple butter, apple syrup and most of that has been used. Also did some salsa, tomato sauce, and pressure canned some ground beef, potatoes, and chicken breast that I need to use up. The potatoes make a wonderful quick potato salad, might have to make some tonight. Think I’ll try your idea of putting the jars out on the counter, otherwise I forget about them at mealtime.
Jane says
Lol send Aaaal the pickled asparagus to me!’
Stephanie in Utah says
Have a pickity bits dinner, with meat, cheese, crackers, olives and pickled asparagus!
Leanna says
YES! That was my first thought too! Pickety bits!
Christina says
Wow, Mavis, that is one exceptionally beautiful canning pantry! I would get nothing else done if I had that in my home – I would just stare at its beauty continuously. Haha
Thanks for all the food inspiration you provide. Anything that helps stretch the old grocery budget right now is really appreciated.
Lana says
We are doing well on eating the canning. One more jar of applesauce from two years ago . Last summer’s jams looked great going into the jars and are all soupy when opening. No idea what happened.
Bev M says
Not sure what happened to your jam, but if you eat oatmeal for breakfast, add a tablespoon of the soupy jam to each bowl before you eat it. Greatly improves the flavour!
Susie says
Mavis, I have looked EVERYWHERE for a similar canning pantry. Would you mind sharing where you got this one?
Mavis Butterfield says
I bought it from Pottery Barn last year.
Stacie says
Use the pickled asparagus on a salad or on a picky bites tray!
Cecile says
My suggestion for the pickled asparagus is to use it as a garnish in a Caesar Mocktail! lol So it really isn’t the weather for mocktails so how about eating it with anything that is a bit more fatty? The vinegar in the brine helps break down the fats of things you eat, would have been great with your pulled pork last week! Any of your jellies can be used to make a sweet and sour sauce or Thai sauce since they don’t have chunks of fruit in them!
Christine says
This might seem like a waste of those nice stalks of asparagus, but I like to chop up my pickles (asparagus, beans, etc etc) and use them in chicken or tinned fish salad. With the briny pickles and the mayo, it’s super flavorful and only takes 3 ingredients.