Need "use up pantry items", budget dinner help............
 

We have like $0 until next month so I am trying to creatively, healthfully and heartily use up our pantry items. For tonight, I have:

ham
whole wheat pasta
frozen chopped spinach
jar of roasted red peppers

shredded cheese
flour and butter for a white sauce

Do you think this would work? Maybe a sophisticated mac-n-cheese? Or should I drop the cheese and just use white sauce?

Other ideas welcome.

Re: Need "use up pantry items", budget dinner help............
 

I would save the cheese for another meal.

Re: Need "use up pantry items", budget dinner help............
 

I think white sauce would be perfect, and that sounds really yummy, actually!!

Re: Need "use up pantry items", budget dinner help............
 

Maybe a white sauce with just a tiny bit of cheese and some of the spinach w/ pasta could be good. I've never tried that with ham before, but maybe a little ham on the side? Gah, it's been a long time since I've had ham, I've forgotten what it tastes like.

Re: Need "use up pantry items", budget dinner help............
 

I was thinking it sounds yummy but I would use the cheese and save the ham for another meal. (but I LURVE CHEESE) :giggle

Re: Need "use up pantry items", budget dinner help............
 

I do a pasta dish with frozen peas and chopped ham in a sour cream sauce. You could easily do something similar with ham, spinach, pasta and a touch of cheese. that would be yummy. toss in some garlic (even powder is fine) and salt and pepper. good to go!

Re: Need "use up pantry items", budget dinner help............
 

I would put it all together into a pasta salad :tu And that might even get you a couple of meals :D

Re: Need "use up pantry items", budget dinner help............
 

hmmm, sounds good. I'd do a white sauce with sauteed onions in the butter you use to build the roux and a healthy bit of nutmeg. Then use either the red peppers or the ham but not both. Spinach with either combo sounds good. Just toss it with the hot pasta and put the whole shebang in a casserole dish with just a touch of the cheese on top OR you can skip the cheese and mix some bread crumbs (even a slice of old bread) with butter, garlic powder and then spread that over the top. then bake.