I mostly try to use what we have on hand for other holidays. For this year's Independence Day, I am especially motivated to use frozen and refrigerated foods. It's just my "thing" this month. I'll save money and make space in our freezer.
So, here's my menu plan for the 4th of July:
- smoked short ribs (freezer)
- hot dogs (I'll have to buy, but we do enjoy cooking over a fire on the 4th)
- buns (scratch, using pantry supplies)
- sautéed corn (freezer), onion (pantry), green pepper (garden), garlic scapes (garden) in beef fat (freezer) with seasonings
- watermelon (bought a week ago and have saved for the 4th)
- curried pea and peanut slaw (peas-freezer, cabbage-bought a week ago and saved, peanuts-pantry)
- oven-roasted potatoes (pantry) with rosemary (garden)
- fresh cherries (garden) and fresh raspberries (garden)
- cherry pie (freezer)
- s'mores (marshmallows-pantry, graham crackers-pantry, chocolate chips to make chocolate patties-pantry)
- iced peach tea (pantry tea bags)
- blackberry lemonade (blackberry juice-freezer, lemon juice-fridge, sugar-pantry)
- sparkling water (pantry)
The only thing I will buy tomorrow is hot dogs. Yep, that's it!
How will you be spending Independence Day (if you're in the US, that is)?
This is my last post of the week. I'll be busy tomorrow getting stuff prepped. have a wonderful weekend. And happy 4th to all my American friends!
Sounds like its going to be another good holiday meal at your house. We often have people over for the 4th, but not this time since we just got back from vacation. However, our son's are coming over for some grilled sausages and zucchini, along with corn-on-the cob and cucumber salad. The squash and cucumbers are from our garden and my son's already had the sausages. For dessert, I'll make a cherry pie with cherries from our tree.
ReplyDeleteHi Live and Learn,
DeleteI hope you and your family had a wonderful 4th of July. Wow, you have cucumbers already! We had the first of our zucchini with tonight's dinner, but our cucumbers are just now setting fruit. Anyway, it sounds like your holiday meal was a thrifty one and was derived mostly from what you had on hand (or your sons had).
Happy 4th of July!
ReplyDeleteWe're also doing a cookout using what we have at home. We bought steaks at a discount store a while ago so we're grilling those. I found a pkg of gruyere sausage in the freezer that had a big red discount sticker on them. Thawing those right now since I forgot to grab them out of the freezer. Potato salad from some potatoes that need to be used quickly (adding celery and eggs). The celery needs to be handled or it will go bad. I sauteed them and put them on a freezer tray to freezer then they will go in a baggie to continue freezing. Same with carrots. I had a few left that just needed to be dealt with so they got parboiled and now are on a freezer tray. Make a chocolate zucchini cake for hubby's birthday yesterday but it turned out quite dense (like a carrot cake). I made some chocolate frosting for that. I will freeze slices after we dig into it today. Our son is taking coleslaw along and that will be our simple dinner today. Our son and daughter have to go home early since our son has to work bright and early tomorrow morning.
Alice
Hi Alice,
DeleteHappy belated birthday to your husband!
Your 4th of July meal using what you had sounds absolutely delicious! Good work getting the carrots and celery into the freezer. Those will now be a handy help when you're throwing together dinner in a hurry some evening.
I hope you and your family had a lovely Independence Day celebration.
Your menu sounds really good. Could you post the recipe for the curried pea and peanut slaw?
ReplyDeleteHi Tina,
DeleteI hope your 4th of July was fun.
The salad -- here's where I posted a recipe for that:
https://www.creativesavv.com/2014/03/curried-pea-and-peanut-slaw.html#google_vignette
We really enjoy this one and think it's every bit as good (flavorful) as deli salads. And with a piece of bread, leftovers make a full lunch type meal for me. Enjoy!
Your meal sounds great! My husband and daughter picked cherries this morning. All of you who made cherry pies are putting me to shame!
ReplyDeleteI worked yesterday and am working tomorrow, so I'm keeping things simple. Hubby grilled burgers tonight. We've had 2 busy weekends in a row, and I am grateful for some quiet time.
Hi Kris,
DeleteI'm glad for you that the weekend had some quiet time for you. I know you enjoy your work, but I'm sure time off is very appreciated.
Grilled burgers for the 4th of July sound delicious! Nothing wrong with a home-grilled burger!