A well-stocked pantry can be the difference between mealtime crisis and a stress-free family dinner. No one cook's pantry will look the same as another, but you can determine what should be in your pantry by what you use often. I break down my lists in this series into Non-Perishable, Refrigerated, and Freezer Items because keeping the freezer and refrigerator well-stocked is just as important as keeping a stocked pantry.
Confessions of a Once-A-Month-Cooking Dropout
Okay, I admit it. I’m a Once-A-Month-Cooking drop-out. I tried to make a month’s worth of meals for the freezer, but I couldn’t come up with enough time or enough meals. Next I tried to make 2 weeks of meals for the freezer and stopped because I ran out of dishes, freezer bags, and patience. I had good intentions, but I’m just not that organized.
Even though I flunked OAMC, my freezer is not empty. I do have a few tricks up my sleeve that I’d like to share.
Kitchen Management and Meal Planning
Busy homemakers can find managing the kitchen, meal planning, and meal preparations a large challenge. The trend towards fast foods and convenience foods is common today as a solution to deal with this challenge. I walk into a nearby grocery store and find the deli loaded with "old-fashioned" goodies like roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, apple pies and any other item one could want for making meal time a breeze. This could seem like an answer to prayer! I am not so convinced that these types of helps for the homemaker are answers to prayers.
Grilled Vegetables
Grilled vegetables are almost universally loved and are easy to prepare with little clean-up. Try combining your favorite flavors and mixing up marinades for a variety of different dishes. Here are two of our favorites.
Turkey Noodle Soup
Turkey, vegetables, and thick egg noodles in rich, delicious, homemade broth makes a perfect soup. Use the frame from turkey (or chicken) to easily make homemade broth that is perfect for turkey noodle soup.
Easy DIY Chalkboard Paint Labels for Glass Jars
This easy DIY chalkboard paint project turns your pantry items into decor! Pasta, beans, baking supplies, and more can be stored and easily identified.
Portable Salad in a Jar
I try to pack my husband a lunch every day, but salads are always an issue. Either I have to pack salad dressing separately or he has to deal with soggy greens from the dressing sitting on them for too long. No more!
French Provencial Chicken
With just a few ingredients and little preparation, French Provincial Chicken is simple yet delicious. It takes about 40 minutes to cook and can be on the table with a couple of easy sides in less time than driving to a restaurant and waiting for your order.
Baked Potato Soup
Baked Potato Soup is one of our most requested recipes - it's creamy and rich with the perfect balance of flavors. It's a good way to use planned leftovers as well; have baked potatoes during the week and simmer a pot of this satisfying soup on the weekend.
Pumpkin Trifle
This beautiful dessert is almost as much fun to look at as it is to eat. With gingerbread, pumpkin, gingersnaps, and pudding, you know it is going to be good.