Day 2

Today for lunch, I just wasn't in a "salad" place. So, I had my first official Pantry Experience of the Project. You know the one: Standing once again in front of the open pantry, looking at allllllll the foodstuffs, wondering how half of them got there in the first place. Carefully spinning the packed shelves of the 6-foot-tall lazy susan, I'm thinking "there's nothing to eat."

This time, instead of closing the door and turning to the fridge for a sandwich, or the freezer for a Lean Cuisine, I make myself pull something out of that pantry. Hmmmm... Lentil Rice Biryani from Trader Joe's....Description: "A classic Indian dish with Basmati rice, tomatoes, chickpeas, lentils, green beans and select aromatic spices and herbs." *MICROWAVABLE* Ready in 90 seconds"

But it's in a plastic pouch. "How good can this possibly be?" I think, turning up my nose. Realizing I have some leftover cooked chicken in the fridge, I throw 3 oz. of it into the rice, nuke it and viola! It's lunch for a reasonable 7 WW points. After the first taste, I also stir in a teaspoonful of light sour cream to make it a little more creamy. After a few forkfuls, I realize - hey! This really isn't too bad! And by the time I finish, I'm memorizing the plastic pouch so that I can pick it up next time I'm at Trader Joe's. Well, when the pantry is bare, that is!

Tonight for dinner, it's the only "Hamburger Helper" Sydney knows: my homemade version, which is pretty pantry friendly.

1 lb gr. beef
1 c diced onion
1/3 c salsa*
1 1/2 tsp. chili powder
2 c pasta shapes*
8 oz. light Velveeta*

Brown the ground beef and onion. Stir in salsa, chili powder and 2 3/4 c water. Bring to a boil, add the pasta, cover and simmer for 20 mins. till pasta is cooked. Stir in Velveeta. Done. (Serves 6) Dinner for 7 WW points AND I used three pantry items (*)! (I also add a fresh green veggie side.)