Pantry Building Pep Talk!

Or I could have titled it ... Let's Be Honest!

One of the statements I hear most often when talking with others about keeping a well-stocked pantry is, “I don’t have the money to buy groceries and stock a pantry too.”   While I certainly agree that this is true for some, for most it is not.

Let’s see if we can find some funds in the budget for those in the ‘it is not’ category …

What could you add to your pantry by using the money, or even a portion of it, that you use to eat out with each month?  This includes meals, lunches, money you spend in the vending machine at work, breakfast you pick up on the way to work, lattes, etc.

Add up the amount … go ahead … I’ll wait …

Done?

How much did you get?  This amount is above and beyond what you spend at the grocery store for groceries so … we just found you some money to help stock your pantry!

I am a firm believer in keeping and maintaining a well-stocked pantry.  I share my reasons HERE! I also believe that a well-stocked pantry encompasses so much more than just food.  You can read what I consider my pantry HERE!

patsi

A Working Pantry

She looketh well to the ways of her household … Proverbs 31:27

My pantry is intentional, purposeful, simple, practical, frugal and what works for my family.  It’s the food items and household supplies that keep my household running smoothly ready and available when they are needed.  It’s my contribution to our family’s economy and my work-from-home ‘job.'

You can follow A Working Pantry on Facebook and Instagram. 

You can view my privacy policy HERE.

If you are encouraged by what you read here, please consider supporting this site via one of these ways. Your expressions of appreciation help me keep my pantry well-stocked!

Thank you for using my Amazon affiliate link when placing your Amazon orders. I earn a small percentage that doesn't increase what you pay and it helps me keep my pantry well-stocked!

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links.  This means that if you click on the link and place an order, etc I earn a small fee at no increased cost to you. Thank you for your support through these means.

If I Were Just Starting Out Building a Well-Stocked Pantry ...

I recently received a comment from a reader basically asking me where to start when building a well-stocked pantry.  Since I get this question fairly often, I thought it was time to do a regular post on it so here goes:

If I were just starting out building a well-stocked pantry, here are some things I would do ...

1.  Sit down and make a list of the things my family eats. This may seem overwhelming, but it is the foundation of your future well-stocked pantry so take a couple of weeks or longer and keep a journal of things your family eats.  It doesn't have to be fancy or a big deal, keep it simple and just make some notes.  Being armed with this knowledge will allow you to stock what you eat and eat what you stock!

2.  If I was able to grow a garden, I would take the list I just made in # 1 and determine which items I could grow, preserve or make … and I would follow through and do it.

3.  I would become a couponing queen utilizing them to the fullest including rain checks.

4.  I would accept any foods given to me even if I didn’t need them at the time.  I would bring them home and preserve them.

5.  I would buy in bulk and bring it home and preserve it.

6.  I would price match.

7.  I would know what was a good price by keeping a price book.  A small spiral notebook tucked in your purse or an ongoing list on your phone works just fine.  By having it with you when you shop you won't have to wonder if a sales price is really a good price or not, you can check ... and when I came across that good sale, I would stock up as much as my budget would allow.

8.  I would declutter my home so I would have somewhere to put my well-stocked pantry.  You don't have to have a regular pantry room or basement (although both would be very nice), you can get creative in storing your pantry 'out of sight' all over your house.

9.  I would look at this as 'a job' that pays off in savings and security for my family.  If one is serious about building a well-stocked pantry, it is going to take effort and sometimes lots of it.

10.  I would involve the whole family.  You will be surprised how supportive and on board family members can be when they are part of the process.

11. I would barter, swap and glean every opportunity I got.

12. I would take on the heart of a student and learn everything I could from research and reading and from someone who keeps a well-stocked pantry.

Those are 12 things I would do if I were just starting out building a well-stocked pantry. 

What would you do?

Patsi 

Sharing 42 years' experience of frugal, prudent living and pantry building 

A Working Pantry

My second blog:  From This Heart of Mine 

She looketh well to the ways of her household … Proverbs 31:27 

You can view my privacy policy HERE. 

Time for a Short Blogging Break ...

In-A-Pinch Meals!

For the purposes of this writing, in-a-pinch meals are defined as being able to put a meal on the table for your family when (1) emergency situations arise that take you out of the home or make it difficult to prepare a meal, (2) when you’re not physically able to cook, (3) when unexpected company drops in and a meal is needed (4) for Sunday dinner in a hurry or (5) for those days when your ‘best laid plans’ just don’t happen.

How do we have in-a-pinch meals on hand for those times when we need them and don't need or want to make a trip to the nearest fast food restaurant? We’re going to talk about 3 ways …

Freezer Meals
This is where once-a-month cooking comes into play. Plan ahead and decide on the number of meals you’d like to have on hand for the upcoming month. Then, decide what those meals will be. Prepare them to the point of placing them in the oven or on the stove to cook then freeze them. (Soups/stews can be fully cooked and then frozen.) Only prepare those meals that will freeze and thaw well. It’s a waste of time and food to go to all that work only to have a non-eatable meal after cooking. Some suggestions might include lasagna, soups, casseroles etc. When ready to use the meals, if possible allow enough time to thaw and cook. If time is an issue, defrost meal in microwave then cook.

Here’s another way to utilize the freezer along with any leftovers you might have. When you cook a meal, double your portions. Before you serve the meal to your family, fill a plastic divided plate that has its own lid for each member of your family from what you’ve cooked. Put the lid on securely, add a piece of freezer tape approximately 2 inches long on top of the lid and write the contents of the meal on the freezer tape along with the date. These can be taken out and microwaved in a pinch for a nutritious meal in a hurry.

Meals in a Jar
Soups, stews, and meats can be canned in jars which, means they’re ready to heat and eat at a moments notice. This is what I call meals in a jar. Add breads or side dishes to the meals in a jar and you have a complete meal.

What about you, how do you provide meals in-a-pinch for those times when cooking from scratch is not an option?

patsi

A Working Pantry

She looketh well to the ways of her household … Proverbs 31:27

My pantry is intentional, purposeful, simple, practical, frugal and what works for my family.  It’s the food items and household supplies that keep my household running smoothly ready and available when they are needed.  It’s my contribution to our family’s economy and my work-from-home ‘job.'

You can follow A Working Pantry on Facebook and Instagram. 

You can view my privacy policy HERE.

If you are encouraged by what you read here, please consider supporting this site via one of these ways. Your expressions of appreciation help me keep my pantry well-stocked!

Thank you for using my Amazon affiliate link when placing your Amazon orders. I earn a small percentage that doesn't increase what you pay and it helps me keep my pantry well-stocked!

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links.  This means that if you click on the link and place an order, etc I earn a small fee at no increased cost to you. Thank you for your support through these means.

Banana Pepper Relish

Hot Banana Pepper Relish (use rubber gloves when working with hot peppers)

1 gallon hot banana peppers sliced into rings (remove seeds if you desire moderately hot)
4 -5 green sweet peppers, you can add one or two ripe ones for color (chopped)
2 - 3 medium onions (chopped)
2 cups vegetable oil
2 cups apple cider vinegar
2 cups sugar
2 small bottles ketchup
1 T salt

Stir vinegar, ketchup, sugar, salt and oil together in a big pot.  (I use enamelware or stainless steel and stir with wooden or stainless steel spoon.)

Add vegetables

Bring to a boil, reduce heat and boil on medium for 20 minutes.  Stir to prevent sticking.

Pour into hot, sterilized jars and seal.

Makes about 8 pints.

patsi

A Working Pantry

She looketh well to the ways of her household … Proverbs 31:27

My pantry is intentional, purposeful, simple, practical, frugal and what works for my family.  It’s the food items and household supplies that keep my household running smoothly ready and available when they are needed.  It’s my contribution to our family’s economy and my work-from-home ‘job.'

You can follow A Working Pantry on Facebook and Instagram. 

You can view my privacy policy HERE.

If you are encouraged by what you read here, please consider supporting this site via one of these ways. Your expressions of appreciation help me keep my pantry well-stocked!

Thank you for using my Amazon affiliate link when placing your Amazon orders. I earn a small percentage that doesn't increase what you pay and it helps me keep my pantry well-stocked!

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links.  This means that if you click on the link and place an order, etc I earn a small fee at no increased cost to you. Thank you for your support through these means.