So you’re convinced that the pantry is a smart time investment.\u00a0 Let’s look at how a real life pantry works, so you can begin to see what kinds of things can be bought, successfully stored, then translated into deliciously quick meals.<\/p>\n
Key fact to remember:\u00a0 the pantry is bigger than just a couple cupboards on the back porch where you store extra boxes of cereal and cans of coffee.\u00a0 Think of the “pantry” as encompassing the frig, freezer and practically every other cupboard in the kitchen.\u00a0 All these locations can hold foods that can be bought in advance and stored for at least a couple weeks which, by the way, is the definition of a “pantry staple.”<\/p>\n
Viewing the pantry in these more expansive terms presents a lot more opportunities.\u00a0 For me, discovering the pantry possibilities of the freezer has been especially fun.\u00a0 Year after year, I discover more and more foods that can be successfully and conveniently stored in the freezer to facilitate fast and efficient mealmaking.\u00a0 I even adopted a deep freezer that a neighbor was discarding a couple years ago and, as you’ll see this in the following table, I draw on it extensively for winter meals:<\/p>\n
Day 1<\/strong><\/p>\n Day 2<\/strong><\/p>\n Day 3<\/strong><\/p>\n Day 4<\/strong><\/p>\n Day 5<\/strong><\/p>\n Day 6<\/strong><\/p>\n Day 7<\/strong><\/p>\n Surprised at how many meals I can make without having to set foot in a grocery store<\/em>?\u00a0 And they aren’t just mac ‘n cheese or spaghetti.\u00a0 They are real, healthful, balanced and interesting meals that are a delight to eat.<\/p>\n Since I always go a week or two between shopping trips (sometimes more), I shouldn’t be surprised that I can eat so well and long from my pantry.\u00a0 Nevertheless, every time I write things out as in this exercise, I’m amazed at how bountiful a pantry can be.<\/p>\n Ready to begin experimenting with a pantry.\u00a0 Build one if you’re pantry-less, or if you’ve got a pantry, find out how to make the most of it. \u00a0 Check out my book, Take Control of Your Kitchen<\/a>, which explains what to buy and how to store and organize it for easy access, or email to set up some individual kitchen coaching<\/a> where we focus on setting up a helpful and healthful pantry.<\/em> Also, check out t<\/span>omorrow’s blog: <\/span>How to Stock the Pantry<\/a>, and you might like to read all the articles in this series:<\/p>\n\n
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Pity the Poor Pantry<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Invaluable Kitchen Resource Gets No Respect<\/h3>\n
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How to Shop without Going to the Grocery Store<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Remedy for the Post-Vacation Refrigerator Blues<\/h3>\n
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Investment Thinking at the Grocery Store<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Time Spent Stocking the Pantry Isn’t Wasted, It’s Invested!<\/h3>\n
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Portrait of a Week’s Worth of Pantry Meals<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
How Many Great Meals Are Hiding In Your Pantry?<\/h3>\n
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How to Stock the Pantry<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
. . . or Do a Better Job Working the One You Have<\/h3>\n
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Stocking the Pantry–How to Avoid Time Panic<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Good News:\u00a0 The Fun of a Pantry Journey Lasts More than an Afternoon<\/h3>\n