As part of my new pantry I had our finish carpenter build a set of shelves that I could store my collection of cookbooks on. (There are two shelves that are not pictured.) the builder thought I was crazy and very specific but it turned out just like I wanted
Over the years I have become a collector of recipes and recipe books. Many of which I haven't even looked at once again after they came into my home. So I have a new goal I am going to try a new recipe each week, I tried this when my kids were little but it didn't go over so well. Since the Gourmet Guy and I have become much more adventurous over the years I thought I would give it a go again. The ones that are successful I will post and share. It will take a couple of weeks to get started as I figure out which ones I will start with and make my menu and shopping lists. Here goes nothing!
Back Again
Almost one year ago we were in total chaos. We were in the process of building a new home, my dream home! We had finally sold our home and had to move out before we could move into the new one. Fortunately our daughter had a spare bedroom to let us crash in for several weeks. The excitement to get into the house was almost more than I could handle. As we walked through daily to see progress the room where I would spend a great deal of time doing "what I love" amazed me. Little did I know it would turn out so well and that I really do love spending time here and having my family come and spend time here!
Not only was the kitchen a dream come true but the pantry was as well.
For the first time since the Gourmet Guy and I got married 35 years ago I have places to store food my dish collections and appliances! To say that I love my kitchen/pantry/home, is an understatement.
Three months after finally getting settled in I had a knee replacement and have been involved in rehabilitating since then. I am happy to be feeling more like a normal person once again. (Just in time to play during spring and summer months!) Part of feeling more normal means I feel like cooking and experimenting in the kitchen once again, so I am Back Again!
The Pantry
The pantry can be a life saver if it is well stocked and can help when you just don't know what to fix for dinner.
As I have made meals over the years I have stocked up on things that are common in my recipes so all I have to do is shop from my shelves. It is easy to come up with things quickly when you have supplies on hand. It may seem like a lot to have on hand but these are some of my pantry/storage staples and if you build slowly it isn't oppresive to purchase. Watch the ads and sales in your local stores.
Canned/Storage:
Tomato Sauce
Tomato Paste
chicken broth
beef broth
tuna
chicken
corn
olives
beans- kidney. canellini, black, refried
dried beans, red, white, pinto, split peas
creamed soups, mushroom. chicken. celery
tomato soup
bean with bacon soup
rice
flour
sugar
favorite spices
variety of pasta's
peanut butter
Freezer:
chicken breasts
bone in hams
chuck roasts pork roasts
pork chops
lean ground beef
ground turkey
Itailian sausage
vegetables
Refrigerator:
milk
eggs
butter
Tillamook cheddar cheese
Lowfat mozerella cheese
sour cream
cream cheese
mayonnaise
miracle whip
ketchup
mustard
half and half
cucumber
lettuce
celery
carrots
apples
limes
Pantry Shelf:
onions
avocados
tomatoes
garlic
potatoes, red and Idaho russet
Home Canned Items: (I love to can!)
tomatoes
chicken breasts
green beans
salsa
chile sauce
Favorite From the Pantry Recipes
Lauri's Italian Sauce
3 bottles whole tomatoes (4cans approx. 1 lb size)
2 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
1 6 oz. can tomato paste
3 8 oz. cans mushrooms
3 T. dried Oregano
3 T. dried Marjoram
3 T. dried Basil
1 ½ T. dried Thyme
T. Fennel (optional)
dried onion or two chopped fresh onions
2 T. minced dried garlic or 5 cloves fresh garlic minced (if using fresh onion and garlic sauté them in olive oil until transparent and then add the remaining ingredients)
Combine all of the above ingredients and bring to a boil, simmer on low heat until thickened. (I usually simmer it for several hours)
Meat Sauce
4 lbs, lean ground beef
2 chopped onions
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
Brown the meat and add the onion and garlic and cook until tender. Add to the marinara sauce and simmer.
Sour Cream Enchilladas
Mix
4 lb. hamburger
2 onions, chopped
6 carrots, grated or chopped
1 or 2 green pepper chopped
2 T. salt
1/2 t. pepper
1/4 t. garlic salt
Brown beef and drain, add prepared vegetables. Cook until tender and drain, cool.*
Add to hamburger mixture
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1/4 oz. can green chili's chopped (more if you want a little more spice)
1 c. sour cream
1 c. milk
Monterey jack and cheddar cheese grated (to your taste)
corn tortillas
Fill corn tortillas with meat mixture. Place seam down in a 9x13 baking pan. Layer with sauce and cheese. Bake at 350 for 25 mins. This can also be served lasagna style in a casserole dish. This saves time rolling the enchiladas. It just depends on how you want the dish to look on the plates.
*This meat mixture is great to use for other things as well, it can be used to make sloppy joes, tacos, or with other ground beef recipes. It is a great way to add more vegetables to meals with out children or picky eaters even knowing. Just freeze into portions in a zippered bag and thaw when you need a quick meal.
Tips
Always fill your sink with hot soapy water and wash as you go. This helps to keep the mess under control. (I love to cook to I really hate to clean up after!)
When you fix rice for a meal make extra and freeze some of it in a zipper bag. With this premeasured rice it is easy to do a quick thaw and serve or add to other ingredients for a quick and easy meal.
Post a shopping list where you can find it, when you run out of something simply write it down and teach your family to do the same. You are less likely to be caught off guard when you are making your favorite dish.
Make a menu and include your shopping list. You spend less time in the store when you have a plan. When you make more trips to the store you simply spend more money. Having worked with a large grocery chain I learned some of the tricks used to get you to buy more. Be prepared when you go!
Shop the Ads. Make your menu out with the ad and use the shopping list. Most people don't have time to run from store to store getting the best deal on just a few things. When you compare and find the best prices it saves you time, money, and gas.
When making dishes like lasagna, manicotti, chicken pot pie, and many casseroles make two at the same time and freeze the second one for rainy day or a sick friend. It takes little effort to make the extra and it can be a big bonus in your freezer.
Tomatoes should not be stored in the refrigerator but on your counter top. The cold causes them to break down and turn mushy.
If you need to ripen your avacados faster place them in a small paper bag with a banana or apple. The gas that they put off causes the avacado to ripen faster.
Don't store onion and garlic together because the garlic goes bad faster from the gas emitted from the onions,
Applesauce Spice Cake
2 c. sugar
1 c. shortening
2 c. thick unsweetened applesauce
2 eggs
2 t. cinnamon
1 t nutmeg
1/2 t. cloves
1/2 t. allspice
1 t. salt
8 t. baking powder (that's right)
3 c. flour
1 c. nuts chopped (optional)
Cream together shortening and sugar, add eggs. Mix dry ingredients and combine both mixes. Spread on to a sheet cake pan and bake at 350 for 25 minutes.
Frosting:
½ c. plus 2 T. butter
5 c. powdered sugar
2½ t. Mapleline flavoring
3 T. milk
Soften butter and combine with remaining ingredients, spread on top of cake.
This is good to take to Pot Luck dinners or large gatherings. I would also freeze leftover cake in individual servings for my kids after school or when they needed a quick, small snack.
Zucchini Blues
Took it for granted
When it was planted
That I had just enough
Now during my days
I'm trying new ways
To use up all this stuff
My basement is crammed
It's been jellied and jammed
Make into bread and cake
It's been chopped and sliced
And grated and diced...
There's nothing else to make!
I've baked it and planned it
Boiled and canned it
And frozen all I need
I have had my fill
There's too much... and still
It's growing like a weed.
(After going away for a week I came home to find six zucchini that were bat size in the garden. Seems like the kids didn't look as hard as they said they did! So I thought of this poem. Anyone need some Zucchini?)
My blog is being extended to my family. My girls are so creative in some of the things they are doing and I am always asking them to send me the recipes and pictures. I decided to make them co-authors to save a step or two. Of course the "Gourmet Guy" is a great cook and so he is also on board. So if you see the names, Jessica, Natalie, Rachel, Cydney, Rebecca, or Kerry (the Gourmet Guy) you know who they are!
