Doll Can Create

100 Mile Life/Grandma Core

Tag: cooking

The Power of a Back Pocket Meal — June 1, 2026

The Power of a Back Pocket Meal

/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

Some days go according to plan.

Other days, supper sneaks up on us.

Today was one of those days. I spent the day catching up on work, looking ahead to a busy week, and before I knew it, it was time to head out the door. Supper hadn’t been planned. The clock was ticking.

Thankfully, I had a burger in the freezer and a kaiser bun ready to go.

Six minutes later, I was fed and on my way.

Years ago, I might have looked at that meal and thought it wasn’t “good enough.” These days, I see it differently. The goal isn’t to create a picture-perfect meal every day. The goal is to nourish ourselves well enough to continue living the life we’ve been given.

That’s where the idea of a “back pocket meal” comes in.

A back pocket meal is something simple that you always have available. It doesn’t require much thought, preparation, or energy. It’s the meal you can pull out when life gets busy, you’re feeling tired, or plans suddenly change.

For us, that might be:

  • Freezer burgers and buns
  • Soup and toast
  • Eggs on toast
  • Yogurt with berries
  • A grilled cheese sandwich
  • Leftover chicken made into a quick sandwich
  • Cheese, crackers, and fruit

Nothing fancy.

Just food.

One of the lessons I’ve learned on my 100 Mile Life journey is that preparation doesn’t always mean elaborate meal planning. Sometimes preparation simply means having a few reliable options tucked away in the freezer, pantry, or fridge.

Those simple choices can save money, reduce food waste, and keep us from relying on takeout when we’re tired and hungry.

Most importantly, they remind us that caring for ourselves doesn’t have to be complicated.

Sometimes a freezer burger is exactly the right meal for the day.

What about you?

Do you have a “back pocket meal” that gets you through busy days? I’d love to hear what you keep on hand for those moments when supper arrives before you’re ready.

Share your favourite quick meal in the comments. What is your go-to supper when life gets busy? You might inspire someone else who needs a simple solution this week. 🍔🥣🥪🌿

Use It Up May on the 100-Mile Path: A Week of Simple, Local Meals — May 26, 2026

Use It Up May on the 100-Mile Path: A Week of Simple, Local Meals

/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

There is something deeply satisfying about standing in front of the pantry, freezer, and refrigerator and asking a simple question:

“What can I make with what I already have?”

Make, Do. Make Stew. Sour Dough Heel.

That question sits at the heart of both Use It Up May and my ongoing 100-Mile Path journey.

This week, instead of chasing recipes or filling a shopping cart, I’m building meals from what is already here: chicken thighs, ground beef, ham, eggs, vegetables, homemade sourdough bread, and a freezer stocked with food purchased months ago. It isn’t fancy. It isn’t trendy. But it feels rooted.

The older I get, the more I appreciate the wisdom of making do.

My grandmother would have called it common sense.

Today we might call it sustainability.

Looking Around Before Looking Elsewhere

One of the lessons of the 100-Mile Path is learning to see abundance close to home.

Before buying something new, I try to notice what is already available.

This week’s menu grew from:

  • Chicken thighs
  • Ground beef
  • Pork chops
  • Ham
  • Eggs
  • Potatoes
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Onions
  • Asparagus
  • Yogurt
  • Apples
  • Grapes
  • Frozen berries
  • Sourdough bread
  • Hamburger buns

With those ingredients, a full week of meals emerged almost effortlessly.

Chicken soup simmering on the stove.

Roasted chicken and asparagus.

Pork chops with mashed potatoes.

Hamburgers and roasted vegetables.

Simple meals that nourish without creating extra waste.

The Beauty of Repetition

Modern culture tells us we need endless variety.

The pantry says otherwise.

There is comfort in familiar meals.

There is peace in knowing what is for supper.

There is freedom in using what we have instead of constantly searching for something new.

This week, yogurt and berries appear several times. Eggs show up often. Soup stretches across multiple lunches.

That’s not boring.

That’s wisdom.

Small Circles, Deep Roots

The 100-Mile Path has never been about perfection.

It’s about paying attention.

It’s about building deeper roots where we already are.

Every loaf of sourdough, every pot of soup, every meal made from ingredients already in the house reminds me that abundance often looks ordinary.

A bowl of soup.

A sandwich.

A handful of grapes.

A cup of tea at the end of the day.

These simple things become sacred when we receive them with gratitude.

This Week’s Invitation

Before making your next grocery list, pause.

Open the pantry.

Look in the freezer.

Check the vegetable drawer.

Ask yourself:

What can I use up this week?

You may discover that what you already have is more than enough.

And perhaps that’s one of the greatest lessons of the 100-Mile Path:

Small circles. Deep roots. Grateful hearts.

What are you using up this week? I’d love to hear what’s in your pantry, freezer, or garden as we journey through Use It Up May together. 🌿🥖🍲

#100MilePath #UseItUpMay #DollCanCreate #SlowLiving #SimpleMeals #DeepRootsSmallCircles #GrannieDoll #LocalLiving #SourdoughLife #HomesteadKitchen