Six weeks into the pantry challenge, and the creativity in my kitchen is in full swing! This week came with a big shift—I finally ran out of harina de maíz (corn meal porridge), which has been my go-to for breakfast. Instead of letting that slow me down, I swapped in farina (cream of wheat). It’s still warm, hearty, and filling—so I didn’t stray too far from my usual morning routine!
Of course, I had to break from porridge at least once, so I treated myself to a breakfast taco—a cheesy omelet with taco seasoning and leftover taco meat, all wrapped up in a homemade tortilla. Sometimes, you just need a little variety!
Lessons from This Week
- Small tweaks can make a big difference – A thinner pie crust turned a good recipe into a great one.
- Stretching ingredients works – Adding shredded zucchini to taco meat gave the dish extra volume and nutrition.
- It’s okay to switch things up – While I missed my usual breakfast staple, farina was a satisfying alternative!
This challenge always teaches me how to work with what I have, and I really enjoy the process. Each week brings a new opportunity to get creative in the kitchen. I’m excited (and a little nervous) to see how far I can stretch my pantry staples in the coming weeks. I may have to get even more inventive!
Meals This Week
Even with limited ingredients, I made sure every meal was nourishing and flavorful:
🌮 Tacos with extra veggies – I stretched the filling by adding shredded zucchini, making the meat go further while sneaking in extra nutrients.
🥣 Homemade tortillas & creamy taco sauce – I put my last jar of home-canned peach salsa to good use, and it added the perfect sweet heat!
🍚 Korean-inspired ground beef – Simple but satisfying! I served it with rice and canned green beans and topped it with chopped green onions for a fresh bite.
🥧 Hand pies, round two! – I made another batch of homemade pie crust but this time rolled it thinner—and wow, what a difference! The result was flakier, crispier, and even better than last week’s batch.
Share your Pantry Challenge Wins!
If you’ve been doing your own pantry challenge I’d love to hear how it’s going! What’s the most creative meal you’ve made with limited ingredients? Share your progress and tag and tag me or use #FFCGPantryChallenge2024 or leave a message in the comment section.