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Are you having a snow day? If you are in a part of the world that is caught in a deep freeze right now, I hope you are safe and warm and that you have electricity. We are so very fortunate (so far) in that our home is warm and cozy and our larders are full of food.
I’m not actually sure what a larder is, so when I say “larders” I mean “the two refrigerator/freezers we own” and “the pantry and kitchen cupboards.”
The last time I went to the grocery store was Wednesday, but I feel like I made some pretty smart choices in terms of purchases. I am also feeling pretty smug about my slow-to-die pandemic habit of overbuying things and stuffing my freezer and pantry full of things that have lasting power.
Here’s (most, but not all of) what we have:
- Protein: Salmon (wild and farm-raised), chicken, halibut (a Christmas gift from my brother and his wife), ground beef, steak, sausage, four shrimp, eggs, pepperoni
- Dairy: Milk, yogurt, cheese (mozzarella, cheddar, parmesan), cream cheese, a partial container of sour cream, half and half, almond milk (not really dairy, but I’m counting it anyway), butter
- Fresh produce: Lettuce (iceberg and a salad mix and romaine), cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, celery, onions (red and Spanish), one green pepper, green beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes, one cucumber, apples, grapes, avocadoes, lemons, limes, 5/6 of a pomegranate, a mango that may be past its prime, some cilantro that may be nearing its end-of-life, scallions, one jalapeno, a quarter head of red cabbage
- Frozen produce: Peas, corn, edamame (in the pod and half a bag of de-podded), various potato products (hash browns, diced potatoes), mango, cranberries, cherries, raspberries, ginger, garlic
- Pantry staples: Lentils, dark red kidney beans, cannellini beans, one can of black beans, chickpeas, chicken/beef/vegetable stock, one can of coconut milk, tomato puree, noodles of various sorts (but no complete boxes of any of them), rice (basmati and brown), quinoa, farro, flour, sugar (brown, powdered, granulated), chocolate chips, oats, various nut butters, various nuts and seeds (mainly almonds), various tortillas and taco shells, various curry pastes
- Sweets: Carla made an enormous batch of cupcakes yesterday on FaceTime with her cousin, a cookie mix, some frozen slices of apple cake from my husband’s birthday
- Breakfast foods: A variety of cereals and frozen things (waffles, etc.), instant oatmeal, my favorite bread, and my husband’s collection of Oats Overnight
- Condiments: A huge selection, especially of hot sauce
- Herbs and spices: A huge selection
- Baking necessities: Vanilla, baking powder and soda, honey, maple syrup, various oils, various vinegars, gelatin, yeast, etc.
As long as our electricity holds out, we are all set. I mean honestly, I don’t really need to go shopping again for months. Good lord, we have so much food.
Anyway, I am distracting myself from all worries by contemplating meals I can fashion out of this abundance of ingredients.
- Potato, Sausage, and Broccoli Frittata: I like a frittata, and we truly have way too many frozen potato products on hand, plus I have some frozen sausage that I will never otherwise use, so this would be perfect. I would make a half batch, in part because we do not need 8 to 10 servings of frittata, and in part because the full recipe requires 10 eggs and I might want some of those eggs for other things.
- Creamy Vegan Pasta: I love the idea of using some white beans for a lush, garlicky pasta sauce. We would have to mix pasta shapes though, and that makes me feel uncomfortable.
- Chickpea Curry: I love this easy, warming recipe and it would be a great way to call both chickpeas and coconut milk into service.
- Salmon Bowls: I love a good salmon bowl, and I like how this recipe includes edamame and avocado both of which I have in abundance. I will probably skip the mango though; I have a weird aversion to pairing mango with avocado. Although I do have that ripe mango that really needs to fulfill its purpose in life… hmmm. This recipe also calls for cucumber, but I am saving my cucumber for more of this salad.
- Lentil Soup: A warm bowl of lentil soup would really hit the spot today. I was planning to use the carrots and celery for snacking, but I could apportion some of it for mire poix. Soup would also give me a good excuse to make some bread!
- Beef with String Beans: I have a good number of green beans left from last week (although I used some in a red curry last night), and I have a bistro fillet of steak in my freezer. Why not put them together?
- Chipotle Lentil Stuffed Sweet Potatoes: My husband and I made this a few months ago and it was delicious. (I can send you the recipe if you can’t get beyond the paywall.) My only concern is that I don’t think I have any chipotles on hand, which is very unlike me. It’s so unlike me that I almost don’t believe it. But I did make chipotle chicken tortilla soup last week, and I used the last cube of frozen blended chipotle I had, and I didn’t see any other cans of chipotles in adobo in the cupboard, so I may have slipped up in my chipotle stocking.
- Vegan Sticky Sesame Chickpeas: I have never tried this before, but it sounds good. If I don’t use up the broccoli in a frittata, I could use it here. Or I could add some peas instead. (It doesn’t actually even call for veggies, but I dislike plain legumes.)
- Black Bean Burritos: This is a standby in my household. I have a partial bag of frozen Mexican style roasted corn that I can add to black beans. My husband also likes a little rice in his burritos.
- Chicken Avocado Salad: I don’t have bacon or tomatoes, but I think I can make a nice salad that’s loosely based on this one. I have some mozzarella pearls, and I could throw in my lone green pepper and some thawed frozen corn.
- Chickpea Salad Sandwiches: I have been meaning to make a batch of chickpea salad, but haven’t gotten around to it. Now might be the time, especially if I end up making bread.
- Halibut with Lemon Butter Sauce: If I don’t use up the green beans for something else, I could serve them alongside the fish, perhaps with a baked potato. Or I could whip up some warm farro with peas and red onions to go alongside.
- Steak and Caesar Salad with Potato: We have some leftover tenderloin from Christmas and I could whip up a Caesar salad. If I don’t use the potatoes for something else, I could use them here. Or I could roast up some of our plethora of diced frozen potatoes with some lemon zest, garlic and cilantro, in an homage to a dish from my favorite Lebanese restaurant.
- Japanese Curry: This is a regular on our meal rotation, and we happen to have some golden curry cubes on hand. This can only happen if we don’t use the potatoes and sweet potatoes for something else, though. I also throw in a bunch of frozen peas, and broccoli if I have it.
- Lettuce and Cabbage Salad: This salad is intriguing but I haven’t tried it yet.
- Tortilla “Burgers”: I love a hamburger, but we don’t have any buns in the house. I suppose I could make some from scratch, but I also find the idea of making a “burger” with a tortilla quite appealing.
- Roasted Chicken Fried Rice: This looks good and pretty easy.
Wow, look at all those meals I can craft without ever setting foot in the grocery store! But what about sweets??? Surely I can make something yummy for dessert from what I have on hand. Besides cookies from the cookie mix. Or instant chocolate pudding, for which I also have a mix.
- Cranberry Bars: I did not make these over the holidays, and I missed them. A baking project is the perfect way to while away the hours of a snow day, is it not?
- Raspberry Mousse: We don’t have heavy whipping cream, but we do have Greek yogurt, and this recipe sounds simple and yummy.
- Apple Cinnamon Muffins: I love these muffins and they make the house smell so good. Plus, they freeze well.
- Apple Upside Down Pastry: I am 90% sure I have a sheet of puff pastry in the freezer.
- Crunchy Quinoa Chocolate Bark: I think I have a bag of similar crisps from our most recent Costco trip, but it would be fun to make these at home.
- Sugar Free Flour Free Brownies: I have some dates in the house and I can make these! Also, since I am the only one who likes them, I can eat them all!
- With Sugar, With Flour Brownies: Or I could throw caution to the snow and make these amazing brownies, which I apparently haven’t made since August.
If you are having a snow day (which seems like it could very easily morph into a snow week blergh), and you are in a head space that allows you to think of frivolous things like baking and cooking, what are you planning to make for today’s meals?
If you are not having a snow day (hello, Florida and California friends!!! what is your guest room situation like these days, hmm???), what do you make when you have no desire to set foot in a grocery store?
No snow day for us in Minnesota. It’s just terribly cold and we are contending with the decline of democracy. No big deal. Sob.
I leave for my first work trip tomorrow so I only planned one meal – I made chicken wild rice soup last night which was perfect for these cold, dark days. The boys will get a take and bake pizza while I’m gone to hold them over. I also made spaghetti on Saturday night but Will ate so much sauce that there is not much leftover… which is not a bad thing, it just surprised me. So now I need to make a double batch of sauce in the future apparently. Meanwhile it was an absolute battle to get Paul to eat it even though I stopped making “healthy marinara” with minced carrots and celery. There was nothing offending in sauce. I did mince an onion but I used our food processor to make the onion pieces incredibly tiny. Sigh.
Next week we will get back on track with more normal eating. I don’t feel like making a boring lunch today so I’m using more door dash credits for a GF sushi bowl delivery. It does have avocado and mango among other things but I love it!! I have ordered so many of these bowls over the last 3 months.
It’s so weird that I dislike mango and avocado together, since I love them both separately!
I love that Will is eating all your spaghetti sauce. Go Will! My kid still will not touch spaghetti sauce. One of these days, perhaps. Baby steps.
I just left a really cranky comment on your blog about canceling things due to “cold.” I’m sorry it was so cranky!!!
I am always up for a ranting comment! Trust me! And it helps to know that Carla won’t eat spaghetti. I feel like it’s such an easy food with nothing intimidating in it. But yet it’s not a hit in our family. I mean very few things are a hit for all except pizza. Sigh.
I clicked on both the creamy vegan pasta and the apple cinnamon muffins links. 17yo has been into muffins lately for an on-the-go breakfast, so thank you!
We didn’t get any snow or even ice, really, at least not on the roads (we are grateful!). Kinda disappointing to not get the cozy snowy day, though. And I prepped, too! Plenty to eat in my house right now!
It is definitely a balance between wanting a cozy day inside and not particularly desiring all the cold and car trouble that comes with it. I hope you and your kiddo love the muffins — they are delicious.
Hmmm…I’ve been hearing the word larder all my life and I never thought to question what it meant until today. I’ve always thought of it as being the pantry, but it sounds like a term that was coined before refrigeration was invented, so I think you’re right that it’s probably all of our food stores.
Anyhoo, I stocked up before the storm and actually came up with kind of a varied menu – chicken burgers, cheeseburger soup, and crunch wraps. We’ve been rotating between those categories.
I have been known to use more than one kind of pasta to clean up partial boxes, and my policy is not to say anything about it. So far I’ve gotten away with it!
I have still not even looked up the word larder to see what it really means! I swear I will do that.
Birchie. Multiple pasta shapes all in one go???? I cannot fathom this. And no one NOTICES????? You are either a magician or I am being ridiculous about the whole thing. (Both, it’s both.)
Well, we’re not having snow over here, but I like a stocked up pantry and fridge and I love your meal inspiration (always looking for new meals to switch things up! The Beef and beans looks so good!).
It’s endlessly amusing/horrifying to me how difficult it is to come up with dinner ideas despite having to make dinner *daily*!
Please send some sunshine our way!
We have a butt ton of snow (and more coming). It has been yet another snow day and I am expecting tomorrow will be more of the same, but somehow there is something different about a “proper” snowstorm.
I stocked up on fresh fruit and veggies at the grocery store and then I did myself the gift of doing some food prep on Saturday and Sunday so today I didn’t have to DO ANYTHING except cut up some veggies for a salad. Everything else was all ready. Hallelujah.
Past Elisabeth is a genius! Way to go on the meal prepping!!! I am always so pleased to have done the prep work but drag my feet so much when it comes to doing it.
the internet ate my initial comment – backspacing deleted second attempt so I’ll be brief for fear I’ll lose another comment draft. Your food stores are impressive as are your varied recipe options. My kids would probably prefer to dine at your house. I’ve emailed myself the gf sugar free brownie recipe. I recall you mentioning it before- this time I vow to make them. Sounds yummy. Yes, we had a snow day. I drove to south bend, unaware the roads would be horrible. I made honey mustard chicken and mashed potatoes yesterday and that was delish. I hosted a pasta party for Curly’s team last week and hooray for leftovers. (Ok this comment was NOT short! But I think I made it).
A pasta party sounds like so much fun!
It is very cold and we got a lot of snow, but no snow day here – Eve has one in Hamilton, and she didn’t leave an experiment in the incubator this time so she didn’t have to go in.
We let our supplies get lower than we ever have before leaving, so we are not quite the opposite of you in well-stockedness, but close.
We always had sloppy joes with kidney beans when I was a kid and I loved them, but once I had black beans I never used anything but black beans again.
I read the Carla baking sentence wrong and had her making cupcakes with her cousin, a cake mix and some frozen apple cake slices and those cupcakes sounded really unusual. Also now I want apple cake.
Wait a second, I need more info about the beans situation. Do you swap out black beans instead of kidney in sloppy joes? Or do you only eat black beans ever, in any bean-containing meal? I adore black beans, so I am not judging, I just want to know.
Once I discovered black beans I never looked back. I use black beans in burrito skillets, corn and bean salad, quesadillas and multiple other things, and I haven’t used a kidney bean since I left home. I’m not even sure why.
Black bean burritos, chickpea curry and frittata–YUM! Although many of the dishes sound wonderful, those are the meals I want to invite myself over for. Our weather is clear and sunny (30s and 40s) but air quality hasn’t been the best. We’re getting warmer with some rain, which should fix that issue. Hope you keep your power; that’s always my main concern when it’s cold/snowy.
Clear and sunny! 30s and 40s! That sounds wonderful, Margaret! You are welcome to join us for any of those meals, or any others that strike your fancy! 😉
We are the opposite extreme to you with 42.5C (108.5F) and so also staying indoors, but we did get out to the shops this morning before the heat came in. A town in the north of our state was the hottest place on earth today – 48.9C (120F), plus they are in the middle of a week of 40+ days so it could be worse.
I love avocado with mango. We had salmon bowls for dinner last night with mango, avocado, capsicum and pineapple salsa. Tonight we are having zucchini slice which I need to go and cook now.
Oh my goodness. A HEAT day. I have to admit that I prefer extreme cold to extreme heat. Well, I will send you some cooling thoughts and ask that you push a (teeny) bit of warmth in this direction!
I did all my cooking/baking prep ahead of the storm, because they kept talking like we might lose power for days. Thankfully we did NOT! So we’ve been able to enjoy the fruits of my labors:
Fresh loaves of bread, a batch of muffins, a batch of some delicious high protein breakfast concoctions 😂, chocolate nut clusters, the bacon I cooked up so as not to risk losing it … Soups and pastas … and a homemade pizza!
I love all your winter weather cooking/baking prospects.
I love the word “larder”… kind of like “root cellar” but not as dank? We have a set of shelves in our basement that we call our larder. It’s basically food overflow. The Husband and I disagree sometimes on what constitutes “overflow”, though. He thinks it’s anything we aren’t going to be eating within the week. I think of it as anything that doesn’t fit in our kitchen pantry. Larder is a little “out of sight, out of mind” for me. Which is how we end up with a gabillion cans of chickpeas in addition to an enormous bag of dried chickpeas.
I feel like we are pretty well stocked to not have to go to the grocery store. I had plans for lots of cozy meals, but we had a bit of a heat emergency at my parents’ house so I left the 14 year old with a box of mac and cheese and asked her to feed her siblings. So I guess box mac and cheese is our emergency food here…. Ramen too, thought I think we’re down to our last two packs of that.
Greetings from Michigan. From your photos and words, it feels like you are living here in the north or east in Snow Country — and then I remember all I’ve seen on the news and that you could be in one of any number of states!
Your larder looks more packed than mine but I’ll do OK. I even bought some things that don’t require power, although so far, I haven’t had to use them (for that reason!). It definitely looks like people will be eating well at your home. The one good thing about the deep freeze (today we got up to 17! Now it’s 10 and you can tell), is that if the power goes, everything in the freezer will be fine. And we will be, too.
Your blog is new to me and I’m so grateful you came over to comment on mine, for I see much that delights me as I look down the posts. Thanks for your comment. I signed up to get your regular alerts and hope you’ll return to mine for another visit. (Also hope I can find your email to direct reply, since I don’t do it on the blog.)
Keep cozy. It can’t last forever. Right? Please tell me I’m right! ~ jeanie
7 inches of snow and ice here. If I had kids in school, it would be a snow week, but I don’t and we didn’t lose power so our schedules are not much affected, other than the fact that all three of us were shoveling our walk and driveway for three days straight. It’s possible to get the cars out of the driveway today for the first time since the weekend.
I walked to the co-op to get interim groceries yesterday to make spoon bread, collard greens, and vegetarian kielbasa for dinner last night. Noah keeps saying he might make banana bread and not doing it. Beth made pumpkin brownies.
Having just come from Ohio where we arrived less than a day after 10 inches of snow fell, it’s depressing how slowly the streets are plowed around here. The midwest puts us to shame.
these recipes are so great! what a treasure trove of a post! we maxed out on cozy and had beef stew one day and chili another– so many