The Pantry Cleanse.

 Hello everyone , how are you today?

We have that very rare thing of some sunshine and blue skies at the moment. However as i type it is clouding over. Typical.

Last week i went to my back Pantry and just thought it looks like a bloody bomb site, other bits that don't belong in there have started to creep in and it was taking up space. It looked like a jumbled mess, i am to blame as well for just chucking stuff in and meaning to move it but then because i don't see it i don't actually move it. Well enough was enough.

I seem to have amassed a vast array of Jam Jars and i really can't let them go, i emptied the top shelf that was full of empties and put them in a box and off they went to the She Shed. It seemed to get easier , i emptied it a shelf at a time cleaned and disinfected  then re-arranged it all to my hearts content.

It probably looks a bit empty at the moment as i am running it down to re-stock in a month or two, yet it is clean and tidy and it will stay that way or else!!

I will more than likely have to do it again but for now i am happy with it. i know where everything it and so does everyone else. 

I made a list of what i need to buy and it will get added too until i go and get it all. Aldi is the better place for bulk buying, Lidl have a limit on what you can get and every time i tried to do it with  Asda  online ,they changed the amount in my basket, so Aldi it is. Thing is when i get there i do stick to my list but it's the middle aisle that breaks my last will to be good. I have had some absolute bargains but i always feel a little guilty that i didn't stick to the list, it doesn't last long though.

 I have a little Pantry in the dining room that has all my Baking ingredients in..flours, sugars etc.

Under the big shelf i have Bread Flour in a big air tight container plus Vinegar and bags of Sugar are also kept here.

Rice is kept here as i got fed up with going in  and out the back Pantry to get it, lazy, yes probably.

Having the Pantry has been a total life saver at times and i wouldn't be without one in fact i would encourage anyone with a little space to do it.  In the picture above is our stock of toilet rolls, in the back ground is our passage way to the porch , in there we have 2 long shelves above the coats that hold Breakfast Cereals, Porridge, light bulbs and flours.

Pantries don't have to be flashy, everything matching with built in lights and everything labelled, it just has to be functional for you and your family. Mine definitely isn't posh by any standards but it works for me.

I have my huge Chest Freezer full of veggies and bread, my upright one is full of meats and meals for us and my Fridge/Freezer has Home Made cakes and Ice creams. I have sorted them all out and i did actually put Labels on the drawers so everyone else knows what goes where and doesn't shout that they can't find it, as that really pushes my buttons.

Our Pantry has saved us a few times, when the weather is bad, job loss and illness it has been there quietly sitting and getting us through. You don't have to spend a fortune , i started by buying a few pounds worth extra with my shopping and just putting it away , over time i built it up and now i can do a bulk buy and restock every 4-5 months sometimes longer it depends on how the meal planning goes as well but it always handy to have something extra put by. Plus i do buy the BOGOF when they have them on offer and you would be surprised just how quickly your Pantry can fill up.

In the Summer my shelves are stocked with Home Made Jams and i have to say they are quite popular amongst the family as i do run out of them pretty quickly, so that is when my stock of Aldi Jam comes in handy. 

Nothing has to be perfect and mine is far from but i do know if anything happens i have it and i can rely on it, so looking after it and sorting and prepping really does in the long run save you.

Take care everyone.

Love Ftm🌼