Pantry Update

Several days ago, Leigh posted her fantastically rearranged and inventoried Pantry.  Since then, Mama Pea and Erin have followed suit.  Has anyone else taken the challenge?  If so, I'd be happy to list you as well!

I don't keep a running inventory; however, throughout the year I have rearranged it several times.  As various jars get eaten up I will scoot things around and make mental note of what is dwindling and what is just looking dusty.  When it was time to order seed I took a closer look, but nothing formal still.

From the front.  It's not huge, just enough room to twirl your skirt and get what you need.

My goals are to plant and preserve enough to get us thru not just one season but hopefully two.  I have had people look in my pantry and say things like, "Oh wow, you have more than enough -insert whatever-."  Or maybe they look at my garden and say, "You don't need a bigger garden, it's just the two of you."  No lie, I have heard them both!  I admit it has irritated me a time or two even.  But I'm good at turning the other cheek.  Of my butt and smacking it at them that is.

Now to accomplish two seasons is proving to be a challenge.  You know my seed sorrows.  :-(  I am now faced with the decision of replanting for a third time and hoping for the best or devising some other plan altogether that doesn't include commercial product.  All the more reinforcing why I want at least two seasons on my shelf!

Knowing these things may have a huge, negative impact on my pantry shelves is very bothersome.  If I don't have a "Win" pretty darn soon, I am not going to meet my goal ... or even come close!  I had hoped to rotate some crops on an every other year basis even.  Ha!  Take beets for example, we don't eat that many, so I could get by without replanting them.  But carrots?  No way!

I am still not sure how to proceed.  Any thoughts or ideas from you folks would be appreciated.  Replant?  Throw in the Towel?  Cover crop?  Other crop?  McDonald's?  Aye...

So onto the pantry inventory:

Now keep in mind, this gal was gone three months out of the year.  Had I been home, these totals would have gone down even more.

I did not inventory the dry goods.  Bulking up on them is something I have been working on this year.  As you can see, I am starting a nice little cache to the right in this photo:

Lots of beans, rices, pasta, baking soda, salts, thickeners etc.

Since the addition of my super-duper Grain Mill, I will actually work on using up some of the flours on hand and beefing up the whole grains instead.  I am off to a decent start there as well.  So far, I have 5 lbs bags of organic Spelt, Hulled Barley, Rye, Soft Winter Wheat and Hard Red Wheat.  And I have an awesome 25 lbs bucket o Golden Wheat too!

I tried to get an around the corner shot as best I could.

One thing I vowed to get better at and still have not done nearly enough of - canning up soups, meals, meats etc.  Of those I tried my hand at this past year, they're all gone!  So I know I can do it!  And let me tell ya....SUPER HANDY!  As a matter of fact my favorite additions this year were:  Ham & Beans, Sloppy Joe and Baked Beans.  Easy, Awesome and not that far out of your comfort zone!

All you need is a pressure canner and you can do just about anything!  ;o)

So that's the Pantry folks!  I just have to share this next thing with you...you may have to enlarge.  Here is what we got in the mail today:

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!  Hey, no worries though, money fixes everything.  Not.

Finally, I can't wait till tomorrow to show you all what "Sprouted"!!!  :o}