Pantry/Freezer - Lotsa stuff, lotsa nuthin'

[Isabella Maja]

Isabella,
Why not try making a batch and see if they're okay. If so, with all of the schools having fairs right now, I bet they'd love donations of cupcakes for sale or snacks. Or, you could possibly take them to a nursing home or someplace like St. Michaels.
Just a couple of thoughts, since I hate to waste......

Dawlin, I hate to waste too, which is why they are still there!

I'm thinking the baking powder in the mix might not rise.
But they were stored properly & I keep my house very cool.
You're right, they might still be ok.

One thing I thought they might be good for is some people make something like a cobbler using a cake mix.

Fruit (fresh or canned I think), dry cake mix on top and then a stick of butter pats all over the top.

Seriously, if any of you want them, you can have them.
I'm doing a major house changeover right now & have to keep up the pace with the workers - which is not easy. No time for cooking experiments right now!

[Dilfan]

Dawlin, I hate to waste too, which is why they are still there!

I'm thinking the baking powder in the mix might not rise.
But they were stored properly & I keep my house very cool.
You're right, they might still be ok.

One thing I thought they might be good for is some people make something like a cobbler using a cake mix.

Fruit (fresh or canned I think), dry cake mix on top and then a stick of butter pats all over the top.

Seriously, if any of you want them, you can have them.
I'm doing a major house changeover right now & have to keep up the pace with the workers - which is not easy. No time for cooking experiments right now!

Hmmmmm, bribe the workers with cupcakes and or cobbler!!:eek:

[Isabella Maja]

Hmmmmm, bribe the workers with cupcakes and or cobbler!!:eek:

You're too funny, but not too far off.
Last year when I had the outside of my house painted, I found out on the first day that the guys just went to Circle K, BK, or McD's for lunch. Ate fast then took a little siesta on my porch for about 20 - 30 min. I had no problem with a little siesta at all, I wasn't paying them by the hour anyway, and frankly, I think it makes for better work.

However, I do have a problem with what they were eating . . . what the heck kinda fuel is that for the body?

So I told the owner of the company that I would be providing lunch everyday.

Usually it was well seasoned baked chicken, rice and beans and salad with homemade dressing. A few times it was garlic stuffed roast with sauteed onions, rice & beans and salad. Once or twice, soft corn tacos, beans & rice & salad. No dessert! At 3pm, Cafe con Leche and a good hi quality cookie.

There were usually 5 - 6 guys and it was funny, but they never needed a siesta after eating these meals. They were grateful to have a good homecooked meal - typical & familiar - most of these guys were from Honduras & single. They worked very hard & did a great job.

I knew they were happy while they were on my job!

Unfortunately, right now the workers are me & my mate . . . cake would not be a good bribe for me. The other "real" workers are not patiently waiting for us to do our part, and keep reminding us to complete our end of the prep. We've decided to rent a storage unit & just empty out 5 rooms so they can get to work. I must be crazy, but the flip side is it is the way to stay sane.

However, you're right on . . . . and I am bribing myself!
I'm going to take a break at 3pm and go to the new Brazilian restaurant down the street. It's called Country Taste (yeah, I know! ) but I've eaten there twice since they opened on Wed and I'm really looking forward to going back!

[Schuarta]

My wife is a worrier about food which may have been "around" too long, so we tend to use things far before they could reach the end of their storage life.

This morning she came to me noting... "you know you still have that spinach dip in the fridge!". "Yes?" I replied. It was still sealed, and we bought it shopping on Saturday (2 days ago).

We do have a legitamate fridge problem, though. When we moved into the house (1st occupants, 2/17/07) there were 3 cans of Coke (regular, not diet) already in the fridge. A thousand beverage cans, of beer and soda, have passed through the fridge since then. Yet no one has drank those Cokes??? What should we do with them?

[JudiB]

A thousand beverage cans, of beer and soda, have passed through the fridge since then. Yet no one has drank those Cokes??? What should we do with them?

Shake 'em real hard and give them to someone you really dislike.

JUST KIDDING!!!! Throw those suckers OUT.

Isa - I love that story, and it's so typical of you!!

[Dilfan]

We've decided to rent a storage unit & just empty out 5 rooms so they can get to work. I must be crazy, but the flip side is it is the way to stay sane.

I've been through the renovation thing a couple of times and it is a very stressful situation. It's really easy to fixate on one issue and overlook everything else (kinda like can't see the forest for the trees), and then when you realize what you have been doing, you get more stressed. I only wish they would have had PODS when I was renovating! I would have gotten two: One for house furnishings and the other set up with AC, fridge, TV, and easy chair. Stock the fridge with adult beverages and edible goodies, and isolate myself from all the mayhem!!!:)

[DivaKitty]

My freezer amazingly still has space since I cleared it out for Gustav. Some frozen peas and edemame. Kashi waffles, some andouille and a few labeled bags of leftovers (I too cook for an army.) My fridge is back to it's packed out capacity, but I am still missing a few things like horseradish and Creole mustard. Prior to Gustav I had tried to use up my abundant pantry items, so prior to evacuating I re-stocked. The things that tend to collect dust are the canned fruits. I also had visions of post hurricane Frito boats on the porch with the neighbors, so I have several cans of Hormel Chili w/o Beans. Also lots of tuna and a giant can of salmon.
Thanks for this post, its got me thinking about using stuff up again.

[PNG]

LOL! We have a rule about this. Every so often we stop going to the store and we eat everything that we have in the refrigerator and freezer until there is nothing left. Usually takes a few days to complete this process.

[JudiB]

Great rule, PNG! lol... but.... a few days? It would take a whole lot longer than that for me.

My problem is that when my kids were teens, and in the house, not only was I cooking for them, but for their friends. Leftovers didn't stay in the fridge long, my kids and their friends would raid it at all times of the day and night.

After the youngest went to college, my husband called me over to the freezer and opened it and said, don't buy another thing for six months! I tried, but I think I like cooking more than I like eating. hahahaha... well, eventually Katrina took care of that. In fact, we didn't replace the freezer after the storm. I 'make do' with the one on the fridge. It's packed.

[kcdixiecat]

Oh, how I remember those days. I'd plan on taking leftovers for lunch the next day...open the fridge and it would be gone. Being so far away from him now...I kind of miss those days. I never knew who would be asleep in my family room come Saturday morning. There was always a houseful of kids.

Great rule, PNG! lol... but.... a few days? It would take a whole lot longer than that for me.

My problem is that when my kids were teens, and in the house, not only was I cooking for them, but for their friends. Leftovers didn't stay in the fridge long, my kids and their friends would raid it at all times of the day and night.

After the youngest went to college, my husband called me over to the freezer and opened it and said, don't buy another thing for six months! I tried, but I think I like cooking more than I like eating. hahahaha... well, eventually Katrina took care of that. In fact, we didn't replace the freezer after the storm. I 'make do' with the one on the fridge. It's packed.