I am onto chart #23. As slow as the shop has been and the fact that I am leaving again I doubt I complete another before Christmas, but we will see.
It drizzled all day yesterday and a pittance of rain last night. Today which was supposed to be rainy is sunny and almost warm. We keep getting these forecasts and then poof they are gone. I just don't know what to think and neither does anyone else.
Yesterday felt like a Saturday to me. I don't know why. As it was a work day and I had clients in and out. Did a little shopping for a few necessities. Hub's and I kept busy. I also had him help me go through the food storage and the pantry cupboard. I have wanted to do this since we moved in.
As I suspected we lost a few things to rot. I had to throw away a jar of mayo that had turned. It had gotten behind a box in the storage and I did not see it. Also we lost 5 jars of peanut butter. Two were large and three were small. With hubs on this knew eating plan (where he has lost 45 lbs and kept it off for over 18 months) we are just not going through the peanut butter like we did. This is a great storage item, as peanut putter is very versatile and loaded with fats and calories. I still have two small jars, but will replace some of it. Also we are down to 20lbs of white sugar and I want at least 100 lbs. I will try and store it in buckets.
I am ashamed that I let things go to waste, but this is what happens when you are not organized. WHEN WE MOVED IN. I just threw things on cabinets and went from there. It is very hot in the garage and I wanted to move all oils into the house. Things that would not take the heat well, such as, mayo, peanut butter, and cooking oil or crisco. All of that storage is now in the pantry inside where it is more climate controlled. This will definitely help.
This pantry is small, but by cleaning kitchen cupboards I have a lot more space for storage items if I want them, so I fell good about this. You can see, oil and dressings and mayo all together here. Foods that will sustain life in a starvation situation are, wheat berries,salt,honey,powder milk and some kind of fat. That is basic food storage. The rest is just for pleasure and taste. But I don't want to survive on ww flour bread like the Ingalls family did during the hard winter. SO I store more things like, beans, spices,different sugars, some canned goods and pastas, baking supplies.
Here is the cleaned outside pantry storage. I have lots of room to add to it, but I will be very selective.
We have Kelsa tonight as daughter and Nathan are going out for her birthday. The missionaries are coming for dinner tomorrow, only 2 so that will be easy. I will have baked chicken, mash potatoes, gravy, roasted green and yellow cauliflower,a salad, and some kind of dessert. Not sure what yet. I have some small apples that need to be used so maybe an apple dessert. I should stop and get some icecream.
How many of you store food? If you do, what do you store?
I had a friend call an ask for food for a food bank box. She told me what she wanted and it was all convenience foods and I don't store those. I do have some ramen and a few boxes of mac n cheese for my grandkids and that is it.SO I can see why the food banks have problems getting rid of beans and lentils.
Have a great and productive day staying positive while you are in the negative.
Kim
I have a fully stocked pantry as well. The only "convenience" food is a few boxes of Rice/Roni mix. I cook from scratch so all I have is ingredients. Freezer is stuffed with garden goods, ground beef, chicken, shrimp, salmon, 1 rack of ribs, 2 pork butts awaiting a smoke day-then shred, butter and a lot of pesto d/t rabid basil production ;-)
ReplyDeleteOne cannot suddenly get hungry here and eat in 5 minutes unless a hard boiled egg is going to satisfy. (I do a dozen every 1-2 weeks for quick snacks or the occasional egg salad with pita chips lunch!)
I am really the same way although I do keep a supply of cheese and ww crackers, like triscut.
DeleteMy husband used to say "we don't have anything to eat" when he wanted a snack - cause like Elle most everything had to be 'fixed'. LOL
ReplyDeleteI am surprised you don't have a problem with mice in a garage. That is great you don't.
Well when we moved here our cat caught I don't know how many mice. She is fat, fat and a good mouser. I don't think they can survive with her round.
DeleteI do store food--a great variety, a little bit of everything. Except for bananas and fresh green stuff for salads, we would be set. So, it was the heat and not the expiration date? I think I would store it inside under beds or in closets. Even a sealed can of food cannot survive in heat or freezing weather. At least you found it before things exploded or leaked. Or, maybe it did.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to say that a snack in five minutes would have to be applesauce or peanut butter. I could get a cake mix into the oven in five minutes, but no instant snacks here usually, but occasionally.
DeleteWe snack on cheese and crackers a lot. And popcorn.
DeleteI store all that I can and now have moved the extra from the bedroom to the hall. I have a few cake mixes and some packaged noodle mixes but that is about it for prepared items. I am trying to shop only twice a month so whenever I shop I add to the pantry whatever goodness I can find on sale.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
I am so happy that I redid our storage becasue now I know what I need and where I lack.
DeleteYou already know I stockpile and lately I’ve been trying to fill in even more. But I keep thinking of more things that we use and that I expect will keep rising in price. It would be impossible for me to buy and then store everything. So, I’m just doing the best I can, within reason,
ReplyDeleteThat is all we can do. I have always done this and it is just a good habit to get into.
DeleteI have extra rice on hand, vaccumed packed in small serving sies with food saver. Also canned vegtables to include canned potaotoes and baked beans.
ReplyDeleteYou can live a long time on beans and rice.
DeleteI've always believed two is one, one is none so we do have a stock of everything that we routinely use. We can't keep anything in our garage because of the heat and cold. We don't buy packaged food except for some crackers, rice, pasta and canned beans. We don't care for tin canned veg or fruit.
ReplyDeleteI am somewhat like that. I want at least 2 cans as back up on certain things.But I would prefer 5 if I have the room.
DeleteTry not to feel bad about the food waste, it happens to all of us at one time or another. I can't tell you how many times the freezer tripped the breaker or the power went out and we lost food. Like I said, it happens to all of us.
ReplyDeleteI just wish I had looked at the peanut butter and gotten it to a food bank.
DeleteCongratulations to your hubby on his weight loss! That is great!
ReplyDeleteLove your food storage pics. Looks like you are well organized.
I have some wheat berries, rice, flour, sugar, dried beans, pasta, canned tomatoes,spices,peanut butter, some canned soups, but I'm low on canned fruits and veggies so need to stock up on those.
I need to stock up on some canned fruit also, since I am not canning fruit anymore.
DeleteFood stores mean and the need is different person to person. Since I am still working and walking distance to a store, I don't stock a ton, but know if we really needed to, could feed us for a month even if the meals were odd. I wish I did have a large pantry though as I'd likely do a bit more stocking. DH thought there was going to be a run on pasta-so bought 10 boxes, plus what I already had. It is taking up way too much space in my wall pantry. I'm sorry about the food loss-things happen and I'm the queen of disorganization.
ReplyDeleteEveryone has there own level of comfort when it comes to storing food. But you are ahead of most with a month ahead.
DeleteI store all sugars in food grade buckets with gamma lids. I also store all rice and part of the flours that way. You just have to make sure the buckets or containers with food do not sit directly on cement/concrete.
ReplyDeleteMine don't they are on shelving and wood. We have a good long term storage, but I want to concentrate on the things I would use daily if shit hits the fan.
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