Do you find when you open your kitchen pantry you have a lot of things to make food taste better but not necessarily anything that you can eat? Take for instance my vinegar collection. I’m actually doing pretty good only having six different kinds. My challenge for the Menu Plan Monday is to use up the pantry items I have. Almost every meal that I make will incorporate something from the pantry and the freezer.
Monday
Image Credit: The Picky Eater
Whole Wheat Pita Pizzas – I actually had these on another menu plan but when I went grocery shopping, I could only find whole wheat pitas that had been cut in half! Clearly that wouldn’t work for a pizza. The only full circle pitas they had were white, which I didn’t want. So instead I went with flatbreads which did not work at all.
Freezer & pantry items used: Whole wheat pitas & marinara sauce (both courtesy of my last stock up at Trader Joes) and mozarella cheese.
Tuesday
Turkey & Cheese Wraps w/ Pesto – remember those flatbreads that didn’t work? Well, I froze them and will be using them for this meal.
Freezer & pantry items used: Whole wheat flatbread, pesto and cheese.
Wednesday
Ready to Eat
Spinach Lasagna Rolls – I do tend to make these a lot. They’re easy to make and taste really good. Plus, I still have lasagna noodles leftover from the last time I made them & once cooked, they freeze well.
Freezer & pantry items used: Lasagna noodles, ricotta (from the last time I made this and it’s still not past the expiration date), fresh basil from my garden, marinara from Trader Joes (I told you I stocked up), frozen spinach, eggs, parmesan & mozzarella cheese – whoa! I just realized I have ALL the ingredients to make this!
Thursday
Asian Meatballs w/ Brown Rice & Veggie Spring Rolls – nope, I’ve never made spring rolls before but I’ve read about 20 different recipes this evening and I’m going to create my own baked version.
Freezer & pantry items used: panko, eggs, sesame oil, duck sauce, hoison sauce, ginger, rice vinegar (yay!), garlic, soy sauce and sweet chili sauce (for the spring rolls).
Friday
Taco Pizza – I’m going to try it. I hope I make Giovanni’s proud.
Freezer & pantry items used: none, I think 4 days of using pantry items is enough. 
What pantry items do you need to use up?
All these recipes look amazing, especially the Taco Pizza
great idea!!! Will be trying to use pantry items this whole week. Perhaps we can save some money on food this month by actually using what we have.
Michelle A
Twitter: FabFindsbyTiff
says:
I need to use up my pasta. I have tons of it. I really like your Spinach Lasagna Rolls, they look delicious.
As a couponer, I have really adapted my cooking in the last year or so to use whatever we are able to get a lot of, really cheap with coupons. It’s a fun way to ‘think outside of the box”. I am curious about the taco pizza, would love to know if you guys end up enjoying it.
Umm…I think I need to re-stock my pantry as I have a bunch of spices, tuna cans and fruit bars right now.Lol. Love the spinach lasagna rolls idea!
Twitter: Thespringmount6
says:
This is something I do every few weeks. I love these recipes.
I have to try those Wholewheat Pita Pizzas! They look so good.
Twitter: naptimeismytime
says:
My husband is following the Paleo diet this month with his CrossFit peeps. I’d love to use up some of our pantry items – but there isn’t much in there he can eat. I’m dying for everything you’re making. Can I move in for the week, please?
Yum, all of these look delicious. I definitely want to try the Asian Meatballs.