Operation Defrost Freezer: Inventory

After declaring my mission last week, I had to inventory both freezers to truly understand the situation and prepare for action! 

 

This is embarrassing.  We have SO much food it is ridiculous.  Other than produce and dairy we should not need to buy anything for a couple months.  This post is case in point for the dangers of a chest freezer.  Beware interested buyers!

• Salmon burgers (5lbs)
• Hot dogs (10)
• American cheese slices (3lbs)
• Eye of round steak (1lb)
• Pork chops(3lbs)
• 9 chicken breasts (~7 lbs)
• Turkey mignons (2)
• Salmon filet (1)
• White fish filet (1)
• Ground turkey (3 lbs)
• Ground beef (1.5 lbs)
• Breaded Cod (2lbs)
• Dream Dinners - simmers Chinese chicken (3 servings)
• Dream Dinners - Dijon honey lime grilled salmon
• Dream Dinners - chicken Mirabella
• Dream Dinners - Mediterranean chicken pasta
• Salmon patties (5)
• Pork tenderloin (1.5 lbs)
• Pork brisket (1.5 lbs)
• Bacon (5 lbs)

• Corn on the cob (24 half ears)
• Frozen corn
• Garden tomatoes (1.5 gallon bags)
• Chicken nuggets
• French onion soup (4)
• basil garlic Tilapia
• Foccasia chicken
• Lean pockets (6)
• Chicken teriyaki bowls (4)
• Chow mein bowls (3)
• Misc frozen lunch meals (7)
• Potato skins
• Frozen pizza (3)
• Panko breaded cod
• Steak fries
• Swiss miss bars (24)

• Blueberries (8 lbs)
• Strawberries (12 lbs)
• Bagels (6)
• Whole chicken
• Arnold sandwich this (8)
• Multigrain bread
• Ciabatta rolls
• Tortillas
• Hamburger buns
• Hot dog buns
• Pita bread
• Swiss cheese

With about 35 lbs of meet in the freezer and several ready to prepare meals, we should plan on eating out of the freezer at least 5 nights a week.  This will take us about 7 weeks to get through - ugh!  I am going to shoot for 7 days out of 7, but I think 5 is more realistically attainable.  

I am going to put a ban on purchasing anymore freezer items unless we are desperate for something.  Since my husband does most of the shopping, I cannot guarantee this will be followed to the T, but I can try. 

I can't believe there are still tomatoes in the freezer.  I thought I had used them all up over the winter to make tomato sauce.  

Menu Ideas:

• Chili  - using freezer burned ground beef and frozen garden tomatoes
• Beef stew - using freezer burned steak and frozen corn
• Fish night - using the last filets of salmon, white fish and tilapia
• Cheat at home night - using up the goodies in the freezer: pizza, potato skins, fries, etc. (this will take a few nights - once every week or two)
• Grill night - pork chops, pork tenderloin, chicken, salmon burgers (lots of these nights in our future)
• Chicken & Turkey - these are staples for us, so we have countless ways to use them
• Frozen lunches - I have several weeks worth of frozen lunch meals.  These can get real boring (and super salty), but as long as I'm not out of town I am going to bring frozen lunch 3/5 days a week.  I will probably supplement these with fresh fruit or a salad to give myself a little bulk.