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Welcome to Pantry Challenge Season!
Welcome back to Keep It Simple DIY! I’m Kari, and it is pantry challenge time! I am SO excited for this time of year – I love a good pantry challenge!
This is the Three Rivers Challenge, and I’ve participated for the last couple of years. This year I’m switching things up in a fantastic way. So let’s dive into what the challenge typically is, and then what I’m doing differently.
Traditional Three Rivers Challenge
The traditional pantry challenge involves spending no money or minimal money throughout January and February. The focus is on:
- Using up pantry and freezer items
- Rotating stock to prevent waste
- Utilizing perfectly good food instead of buying more
My Pantry Challenge History:
I actually do pantry challenges throughout the year, but September is my main pantry challenge month – right at the end of garden season. That’s the Shelf Timber Pantry Challenge, which I completed this year. I continued using up pantry items even after finishing that challenge.
If I were to do a full-blown traditional pantry challenge right now, I’d only have a couple of things to focus on. [Links to previous pantry challenge series available in description]
My 2026 Three Rivers Challenge: Pantry Bingo!
This year is going to be super exciting, super unique, and I am SO ready to get started!
Why I’m Not Focusing on Money:
In 2025, I did a deep dive on our finances and cut spending to levels lower than we’ve seen in years. Our grocery budget is now around $300 or less per month through strategic shopping:
- Buying items only when they’re on sale
- Stocking up on sale items
- Using those items before buying more
- Not buying tons of extras
My finances are in a really good spot now. If I stopped buying groceries completely for the next few months, I’d be missing items in my pantry, and there isn’t much I need to use up.
The Solution: Pantry Bingo!
I had so many different ideas for what I wanted to accomplish during pantry challenge this year. So I thought – why not put them all on a bingo board?
The Plan:
- See how long it takes to get a bingo
- See if we can get a blackout (complete the entire board)
- Run this through January and February
- Have FUN with it!
I’ve created a free template available in my blog membership section. It’s free to join and you’ll get:
- Free downloadable file every month
- Monthly newsletter with behind-the-scenes content and a peek into my life
Important Note: Blog membership (free) is different from YouTube membership ($0.99/month for early access to videos 3-4 weeks before they go public).
The Bingo Board Categories
Let me walk you through each category!
B – “Use It”
[Standing in the pantry]
I wanted to be inside my pantry because B is for “Use It.” My letters didn’t line up perfectly with the words, but here are five things I really want to use up:
1. Chickpeas (4 jars)
- Canned in February 2022
- Want to use at least two jars
- Fun story: These were on my pantry challenge list before I even started YouTube! I discovered I love them in curry but keep forgetting to add them.
2. Sweet Potatoes (final jar from 2021)
- Everyone say it with me: “Those dang sweet potatoes!”
- Last jar from 2021
- Truth be told, I also have sweet potato outside that I made with these
- These things just keep living on!
3. Carob Powder and Chips
- Bought when I was on a low-histamine diet trying to avoid chocolate
- Now I need to figure out what to do with it
4. Zucchini Powder
- Great to throw in anything
- I keep forgetting I have it
- Putting it on the list will help me remember to use it
5. Quinoa or Tuna (both need to be used)
- Huge bag of quinoa – only found one recipe I like
- This is what pantry challenges are great for – finding new ways to use things you love
- Tuna: The last time I ate it, it made me feel funny. Expiration date is February 4, 2026. Better safe than sorry – might just trash it (they’re only 60 cents each)
I – “Jar It”
“Jar It Up” instead of “Can It” because not everything will be specifically canned.
Context: I recently started a “Fill My Canning Pantry” challenge. I’ve already canned chicken and beans. Here’s what else I want to do:
1. Chili
- Never made it before!
- Love making meals in a jar – they’re quick and easy
- Decided to do fewer vegetables (they taste funny canned) and more meals in a jar instead
2. Black Beans
- Just did a full canner load of pinto and navy beans
- Want to can black beans
- Plan: Do one level of chili and one level of black beans together
- Perfect for a family of two – don’t need a whole canner’s load of chili
3. Mushrooms
- Typically have these canned
- Currently out
- They were out of stock when I went to buy them
4. Crushed Tomatoes
- Have tomatoes left from last year and this year
- Not a ton, but enough
- Don’t want to make sauce (would only get about two jars)
- Should get quite a few cups of crushed tomatoes
- May freeze instead of can – either way, want to preserve them!
5. Spanish Rice Mixes
- Earlier in 2025, we made rice mixes in jars
- Just dump into Instant Pot, add water, and done!
- They were delicious
- Bought new rice – calrose (medium grain) for authentic Spanish rice texture
- Basmati and jasmine just aren’t right for Spanish rice
N – “Prep It”
[Standing in front of freezer]
All the freezer meal prep I want to do:
1. Pizzas
- We’re OUT! Made nine big pizzas and froze them
- Also made individual deep dish pizzas
- Liked them better in metal tins than silicone
- Need all different sizes restocked
2. Handheld Meals
- Some pizzas could count
- Right now only have breakfast burritos
- Used up all other handheld meals
3. Family-Sized Freezer Meals
- Always need these!
4. English Muffins and Bagels
- Didn’t have enough sourdough starter when making bread
- Doesn’t have to be sourdough
- Just want them in the freezer – completely out right now
G – “Make It”
Favorite things I really want to make that I haven’t made in a long time:
1. Curry Soup
- Make it every year
- It’s winter – I LOVE curry soup
- Especially this particular recipe
2. Stuffed French Bread
- Don’t make it often, but we love it
- Been making it for over 10 years (since before we moved to this house 8.5 years ago)
- Labor of love when made from scratch (bread + cream of soup)
- So delicious and worth it!
3. Bakery-Style Cookies
- Made crumble copycat cookies earlier this year – all delicious
- Want to continue the series
- Just made giant chocolate chip cookies on my own the other day – so good!
4. Chicken Pot Pie
- Been wanting to make this for SO long
- Buying pie crusts from Sam’s Club (6 for a reasonable price)
- I suck at making pie crust!
- Ingredients are semi-decent
- Won’t stress about failed pie crust anymore
- Bought mini pot pie tins to make individual portions
5. Quiche
- Love a good quiche
- Will use store-bought pie crusts (see above!)
O – “Try It”
Things I really want to try making that have been on my list for a while:
Success Story: This year I finally made African beef stew and fufu after wanting to for 10 years! [Link in description]
1. Macarons/Macaroons
- Never made them
- Bought all the supplies
- Haven’t tried yet
2. Non-Chocolate Candy
- Only ever made brittles, fudges, or chocolate-based candies
- Want to try hard candy or gummy candy
3. Mochi
- Have tried mochi ice cream and other variations
- When I tried making actual mochi, it kind of failed
- Want to give it another try
4. Japanese Fluffy Pancakes
- These were all the rage about 4 years ago
- Jumping on this trend very late!
5. Fresh Herbs
- Got a comment asking if I’ve ever tried fresh herbs
- Typically use dried herbs
- My problem with fresh herbs: I change my mind on meals or my schedule shifts, and herbs go bad before I use them
- Might need to freeze herbs if this happens
- Want to try using more fresh herbs in this challenge
The Free Square & Tracking
I’ve given myself a free square right in the middle (as tradition demands!). I have little tokens to place over completed squares.
The Challenge:
- Since these are organized by category, it won’t be easy to complete a whole row
- Example: I won’t use chickpeas, sweet potatoes, carob powder, AND zucchini powder all in one recipe!
- Really interested to see:
- Will we get a blackout?
- How long for the first bingo?
- Which direction will it be?
My Official Plan & Strategy
Video Structure:
- Cover 1-3 squares per video
- Film pretty much everything I cook (except quick daily meals and reheating freezer items)
Shopping Approach:
- Continue shopping and buying as needed
- Keep spending minimal (been doing great at this)
- If I’ve been successful keeping costs low for a year, why spend more on the same food?
Challenge Goals:
✓ Try new things – Recipes I’ve wanted to make for years (some for 10+ years!)
✓ Fill freezers – Both family-size and individual portions, plus breakfast meals
✓ Stock the pantry – Complete canning projects for quick dump-and-go meals
✓ Find new staples – Maybe quinoa will become a favorite! Or fall back in love with chickpeas
✓ Complete projects – Things I’ve been putting off
✓ Save money – Continue strategic shopping habits
Join Me on This Challenge! – https://keepitsimplediy.com/join/
Make Your Own Rules: The cool thing about pantry challenge is you get to create your own rules. Do whatever works for you!
Questions for You:
- What are you doing for pantry challenge this year?
- Want to do pantry bingo with me?
Resources:
- Free pantry bingo template in blog membership (link below)
- Tag me if you’re doing it – I’d love to see!
- Post pictures on my YouTube community page (mobile feature)
- Post progress updates there too
Looking for Traditional Pantry Challenge? [Links to last year’s Three Rivers Challenge and other fun videos in description]
Let’s Do This!
I hope you join me on this pantry challenge adventure! If you enjoyed this video, please give it a thumbs up and let me know down below what you’re doing for pantry challenge.
I cannot wait for this! Can’t wait to see you. Thanks so much for being here, and I’ll see you next time!
Bye-bye!
