A Simply Established Pantry

The key to a wonderful experience in the kitchen is a well-stocked pantry. Daniel Webster's 1914 version of Webster's Elementary Dictionary describes a pantry as: A room or closet for bread or other provisions. Thanks Mr. Webster. There you have it. A storage area.

So, get started by making yourself a pantry - clean out a cabinet or closet or a small area out of sight but near the kitchen. It doesn't have to be fancy!


Now, get organized. Put opened items in to clear plastic or glass containers and label them with ingredients and dates. Arrange them by type, ie., spices, dry goods, condiments, vegetables, etc.

Store winter vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, onions, squash and garlic in individual baskets or containers without lids. Keep onions and potatoes separate as they don't make good neighbors. Place them in the darkest, coolest part of the pantry.



Next, make a list of all spices, baking supplies and cooking supplies you have on hand. Soon, this list will change dramatically once you begin using the simple recipes in the cookbook. Keep this list with you as you shop for groceries. Watch for specials or markdowns of the items and stockpile them for future use.

Finally, save glass jars such as those pickles or mayonnaise come in. They are perfect for storage of items in the pantry.

If you enjoy scrapbooks or paper crafts, make yourself some cute labels and attach to your containers.