Trying to keep the pantry organized......

is one of the hardest things for me to keep up with, and I don't even know why!  It's probably because I haven't been checking it that great before I head to the store, then I am in a hurry to put things away afterward, and slide it wherever it will fit.  That all ends today!  (hopefully......)

I moved my spices and baking items to the wall cabinet, therefore giving me much more space in the pantry.  I have a somewhat small kitchen to begin with.  My current kitchen is about 1/3 of the size of my previous home (yes, everything is bigger in Texas).  I only have a few drawers, limited counter space, and I miss my island, but I loved the rest of this house so much in Florida, that I am trying all kinds of tricks to love this kitchen.  Fortunately, although not as large as my previous pantry, this one is a good size.

My wonderful hubby said that when we go to paint the inside, he will add another shelf at the top for me, so I can hop up or use a stick to not hurt myself and store paper towels and napkins up there!

Top shelf:  3 lazy susans, one for sauces, condiments, oils & vinegars.

Second shelf:  rice, pasta bread crumbs, chicken stock/broth

Third shelf:  canned goods (mostly beans & tomatoes) I prefer fresh or frozen :)

Fourth shelf:  snacks, especially crackers, peanut butter, etc

Fifth shelf:  dried fruits, convenience packets, breakfast items, cereal.

Floor:  garbage bags: all sizes, saran wrap, baggies, etc., and napkins & paper towels

Not exactly a piece of art, but I think it will work for now.

I love these plastic bins from Target.  I believe they come in 3 different sizes, maybe more.  The labels are from the Better Homes and Garden website.

So until I can find a better system, this will work for now.  Happy organizing everyone!

Nancy :)

So, I'm researching stocking your pantry......

on web sites and blogs, and it's amazing what I've found.  The most amazing thing I found was how many pantry categories there are.  I have found 19, and I'm sure this list is not complete.  Pantries differ depending on what your cooking needs are.  The person who loves to bake, is going to have a much different pantry than I do.  The gourmet cook's pantry will be different than mine.  I'm sure you get the picture.

The pantry categories I found so far are:

Baking

Condiments

Dried Goods

Oils

Rice

Canned Goods

Tomatoes

Vinegars

Dried Pasta

Milks

Extracts

Dried Herbs

Spices

Liquors

Gourmet

Fresh Produce

Refrigerator staples

Freezer staples

Pretty impressive category list, right?  Tomato category alone can include: diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil.....Oils can include: vegetable, olive, canola, sesame, grapeseed,  peanut, etc., and a list of spices or dried herbs could go on indefinitely!

How do you prioritize stocking a new pantry, because obviously, you can't buy everything at once unless you're lucky enough to have unlimited grocery funds.  I decided to list items in groups of ten that I would attempt to buy on 2 separate trips to get a new pantry going.

Week One I would stock the pantry with:

butter

eggs

salt

black pepper

extra virgin olive oil

chicken broth/stock

canned diced tomatoes

dried pasta

long grain rice

onions

Week Two I would add to the pantry:

garlic

lemons

all-purpose flour

sugar

brown sugar

vegetable oil

red wine vinegar

dijon mustard

canned beans

herbs de provence

I think that would be a pretty good start.  I know that for me these are pantry items I feel are essential to my cooking and stocking my kitchen.  My dream pantry would have about 100 items in it at all times, but I don't want to overwhelm anyone, especially myself!  Please think of this list as a starting guide.  For me it is still incomplete because we haven't even got to jams, jellies, grains, peanut butter, soy sauce and more.  In a few weeks I will expand on this and do a week three and four shopping list too.  Happy cooking everyone, and may your day be wonderful!

Nancy

How about making your own seasoning mix......

and a good place to start would be with taco seasoning.  You probably have all the ingredients in your spice cabinet or pantry anyway, and you can make this in less than one minute.  The advantages to making your own include adjusting the heat level for your family's taste,  taking out any ingredients you don't care for, and most important of all, much healthier than store bought, no preservatives such as MSG.

I found this recipe on Allrecipes.com, made it last night and it was a hit!

Taco Seasoning


print recipe

Ingredients

1 tablespoon chili powder

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

In a small bowl, mix together chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, oregano, paprika, cumin, salt and pepper. Store in an airtight container.

I keep a few empty clear spice bottles around (you can get them at Bed, Bath & Beyond) and that is how I store mine, and just sprinkle what I think I need.  The recipe is pretty much equivalent to a whole seasoning pack you would buy at the store.   The next time I mix it up, I can going to triple the recipe so I can keep more on hand.  I am hoping that after making your own, you'll give up buying those packets!

Have a wonderful day!

Nancy