Friday, February 24, 2017

February Pantry Inventory

The last time I did a pantry inventory was in September of 2016, which is found here:

Today, I updated that inventory, to reflect the recent purchases of 60 lbs. of sugar and 24 cans of tuna.  Also, there was a very good comment about having sufficient storage space for stocking up.  I have sufficient space in my kitchen cabinets for the items I buy.  These pictures were taken today:

Storage for Tea, Coffee, Sugar, Hot Cocoa, etc.

Three of the bags of sugar are stored in this cabinet.  The shelves are adjustable if I need to fit in more.  I could move the top shelf a little higher to accommodate another bag of sugar on top of the bag on the 3rd shelf, for example.  The little white canister on the second shelf holds extra tea bags and there are two unopened boxes of tea behind it.  The other canister holds sugar and there are two unopened boxes of hot cocoa mix behind it.  The lower shelf is where I keep the canister of tea bags I use on a daily basis, the opened boxes of other teas which my daughter likes, the opened box of cocoa mix, pain relievers, etc.  All in easy access.  I might donate the coffee since I no longer drink coffee.



More Sugar, Jams, Chutneys, Cooking Oil and Sauces, and Ramen Noodles

A fourth bag of sugar is stored on the top shelf of this cabinet; there is room for another bag of sugar, next to it, if needed.  There are several jars of tomato chutney and three jars of jam stored on the shelf below.  The shelf below that has a canister of oatmeal, the box of cream of wheat, the box of corn meal, and a big jug of teriyaki sauce.  The lowest shelf has a bin with ramen noodles, a jar of chicken bouillon powder, cooking oil (vegetable and sesame), sauces (Worcestershire and soy) and a canister of salt.  This is my only bottle of vegetable oil; I will buy a new bottle when I am about half way through it, otherwise, it goes rancid before I can use it all up.  I also have an unopened jar of coconut oil in a different cabinet (which I didn't photograph because it is a bit of a mess and I didn't feel well enough to tidy it!).

I opened one of the bags of sugar and decanted most of it to a food storage container; what didn't fit in that container is stored in another similar container, and they are labeled and stacked one on top of the other in the cabinet I didn't photograph.  The bag of sugar for my daughter is also stored in that cabinet.

This is my main pantry cabinet:  



Canned Food Pantry

The very top shelf stores rarely used china and my souvenir thermos mug from a visit to Disney World in the winter of 1975 - it has a bicentennial design on it.  The blue and white Currier and Ives print china was bought from a thrift store for $.10 a piece, when I first came to this country.  There were six plates that were used until they eventually broke; I still use the set of bread and butter plates on an every day basis, and the three coffee cups.  What is stored up on the shelf are the soup plates, some tea cups and saucers, sugar and cream bowls (two of each).

The two jars of peanut butter I bought are stored on the second shelf up; all the cans of tuna are stored on the lowest shelf.  I opened a can of cream of chicken soup for my dinner, tonight, so this picture is already out of date!

Here's my updated pantry list:

Rice:
Approx. 10 lbs. of long grain white rice ( a little less than 1/2 of a 25 lb. bag)
Approx. 5 lbs. of basmati rice (1/4 of a 20 lb. bag)
Approx. 2 lbs. of red rice (lightly polished)


Pasta:
6 x 1 lb. boxes of spaghetti (and 2 opened boxes that were decanted to a container)

1 can of Manwich sauce which could be used as pasta sauce if needed, I suppose

Flour/Pancake Mix/Cornmeal/Cream of Wheat/Oats:
5 lb. bag of all-purpose flour (in freezer)
1 box pancake mix
1 box cornmeal
1 box cream of wheat
1/2 container of rolled oats

Meat/Fish:
1 can corned beef
3 cans mackerel
25 cans tuna in water (the 24 I bought plus 1 that was still in the cabinet)
1 jar fried dry fish (Sri Lankan food; there's an opened jar in the fridge, as well)


Milk:
3 cans condensed milk
1 can coconut milk
 
Soup:
5 cans cream of chicken
2 cans cream of mushroom
1 can cream of celery
9 packets of soup noodles
6 cans chicken broth
1 can vegetable bouillon powder (opened)
1 jar chicken bouillon powder (opened)

Fruits:
1 can sliced pears
2 cans sliced peaches
2 cans mandarin orange segments
2 cups applesauce(individual servings)

Juice/Drinks:
2x 64 oz. bottles apple juice

1 bottle mango drink
1 can coconut water

Vegetables:
2 cans breadfruit
1 can garbanzo beans
2 cans pumpkin
2 cans red kidney beans
2 cans green peas
2 cans corn
dried mung beans and red lentils

Peanut Butter/Jam:
2 jars peanut butter
1 jar of homemade apple/pomegranate jam
2 jars of homemade lemon marmalade

Sugar:
60 lbs. white sugar
1/2 box powdered sugar (open)
1 lb. juggery (palm sugar)
open jar molasses
open jar honey
open bottle pancake syrup
open box of brown sugar
several bottles of palm treacle (some opened; some not)

Desserts:
2 cake mixes (chocolate)
1 cake mix (yellow)
1 cookie mix (snickerdoodle)

1 box cook and serve chocolate pudding mix
1 box flan mix
1 box instant pistachio pudding

Misc:
2 packets pectin
2 envelopes yeast
1 bottle canola oil (opened)
1 bottle coconut oil
Open bottles of condiments, cooking sauces, etc.
Several packages of cereal (most opened)

I really need to clean out the other cabinet where I store the cereal, opened boxes of pasta, crackers, etc. Also, I could probably do with a couple of cans of chicken and maybe some green beans, etc., in my pantry.  I certainly don't have enough stocked up for a year, but I'd like to have enough to see me through a major earthquake, when grocery stores will be closed and food deliveries will be uncertain due to road and infrastructure damage.  What I'd really like to do is put together some well-planned pantry meals.  


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Today, I haven't felt too well.  The cough has settled in my chest and I am thinking it was a mistake to have gone grocery shopping, yesterday.  But no fever, although I took a Tylenol for the general aches and pains. 

Today, I am grateful for:
- the abundance and blessings of a fairly well stocked pantry
- having enough space to store everything
- being able to work from home, especially when I am feeling ill
- a rest on the sofa in the afternoon
- my gardener friend mowing my back yard for me.

The monthly rosary prayer meeting is being held at a friend's house, tomorrow night, but I called and excused myself, since I don't feel well enough to attend and don't want to infect anyone else, either.  One of my aunts, a cousin, and a friend called to check on me, although I told them to stay away so they don't come down with what I have.  I am hoping I'll be well enough, next week, when my daughter comes home for a visit, as I certainly don't want her to get sick.

How was your Friday?  What do you have in your pantry?  Where do you store pantry items you buy in bulk?

16 comments:

  1. It is nice to have some food inventory! Since I posted my pantry a few things were used and a few more bought. It is still excessive, but I am going to do a pantry challenge for March and only purchase milk, bread and salad fixings.

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    Replies
    1. A pantry challenge sounds good. I did somewhat of a pantry challenge, earlier, and a freezer challenge, but there's always stuff that find their way in, isn't there?

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  2. Aww, I'm sorry you're still feeling poorly, Bless. Be careful that you don't get bronchitis or pneumonia. In light of your recent battle with cancer and the depleted immune system that resulted, maybe you should go visit your GP for him/her to rule out something more serious than just a cold?

    I still haven't inventoried my pantry or freezers and I ought to do that, although it's a little daunting since there is so much stuff!

    We don't have any plans today, as it's supposed to be cooler tomorrow by 10 degrees so we're planning on going on a walk tomorrow. Which means that I would really try to do a dent in my February goals today but right now, at 7:37 a.m., I don't really feel like doing anything, ha. I hope you get better so you can enjoy your daughter's visit!

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    1. Nathalie, yes, I am waiting until Monday and Tuesday - I have back to back doctor's appointments then and I'll see what they have to say. I hate to take over the counter meds. because I don't know how they react with some of the prescription medications I am taking, so I'll wait and see. First time I've got sick in a long time and I am not doing too well. Or maybe I am making more of a fuss than normal. I don't know.

      Hope you have a restful day and just do only what you feel like doing. You deserve a weekend off every now and then.

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  3. Looks like you have a nice well-stocked pantry! I've discovered that if there is a will, there's a way to store bulk purchases. We buy oatmeal, flour and sugar in fifty pound bags and put them in big food storage buckets. On our enclosed porch we have a long drop leaf table that we store them under. With the leaves hanging down, no one even notices that they are there. Hope you will be feeling better soon!

    Hugs
    Jane

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    1. Jane, yes, one can always find some room for a few extra cans and packages. I won't store food in my garage because it gets too hot there in the summer. But there are nooks and crannies all over the house that can be pressed into use, if needed. My mother didn't believe in storing things under the bed, and she discouraged me from doing so, too, but, there's a lot of space under a queen sized bed! The spare bedroom can accommodate a few things, too, if needed. :) The next thing to do is switch out the jugs of water I have stored. I try to keep a minimum of 6 gallons of drinking water. The "expired" jugs are kept for washing and such. Not that I believe that water can "expire", but it will go flat and the taste can change if stored for a long time.

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  4. You have a lot in your pantry and it's well organized. I think you could eat out of there for a while.

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    1. Yes, I could, couldn't I? Hopefully, I wouldn't have to, but, if there is an earthquake, then, I should be OK for awhile.

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  5. Goodness your pantry is tidy - well done! I have never done an audit but it does make sense. I keep extras in a lower cabinet next to my frig. I have never purchased so much that it didn't fit. I can see your concern about having canned/boxed items in the event of an earthquake.

    Sorry that the cough is still bad and keeping you for your prayer meeting which I know you get strength from. Take care.

    Sandy

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    1. Thank you, Sandy. I think another day or two of rest and I should be OK. If not, I see the doctors on Monday and Tuesday. These pantry cabinets are tidy, but the other one isn't, because I am forever pulling and putting things back (opened packages of cereal, crackers, etc.) I do know what's in there, though, so it's not too bad.

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  6. Sorry your not feeling well.. Sorry about it moving to your chest. That is always rough.
    Your stock up looks great.. Looks like your pantry is well done.
    I store my sugar in the deep freeze. I wrap it in the plastic store bags and keep it in the freezer. I don't have as much cabinet space in this house , as I did my other house.. The freezer seems to be working fine for it.

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    1. Thanks, Judy. I am ready for this thing to leave me. I've never heard of anyone storing sugar in the freezer, but why not? I only have the freezer that comes with the fridge (a side by side one), but if I had a separate freezer, I think I'd be able to store more.

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    2. I had not done it before this past year.. I found sugar on sale, and bought quiet a bit. Not enough cabinet space to put it.ha I googled it and they said , you could freeze it.. I tried it, works great.When I take it out of the freezer and put in my storage container.. It is just like I just brought it home from the store..
      Have a blessed day.. feel better soon.

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    3. Glad to hear it works and it would keep ants away, too, wouldn't it? :)

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  7. Your pantry looks so tidy well stocked. Since your last post I looked around my little house and have decided that the large cupboard in the wash house can be used to store bulk items. I really need to do it as we are in an earthquake zone and the earthquake in the South Island last year left the residents cut off for nearly 6 weeks, food had to be helicoptered in. Also our valley can easily be cut off by slips both ends one end is a gorge and the other is a mountain pass! Just have to declutter a bit! I have quite a large surplus from the current fortnight's budget so like you I will fund using the surplus. Thanks for the tips on what to store too. Hope your chesty cold behaves itself and slinks away!

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  8. Thanks, Sharon. I am glad you found a spot for your storage! Yes, being in an earthquake prone zone, we are required to have at least 3 days worth of water and emergency food. In a pinch, that can be a package of granola bars or some peanut butter and crackers, but one would get tired of that, very quickly, I'd imagine. Stock up on what you would normally eat and make sure to rotate your stock so nothing goes bad. I won't throw away a can because it is two days past its expiry date, but I will start to use it up as soon as I can and replace it with another.

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