The Art of a Good Pantry

I have lived alone for the past 3 years, and one of my favorite things about that is keeping and maintaining a pantry. Growing up, I lived with a pantry that had anything you could hope for in one place...it was a walk-in closet! However, as I have embarked on my own life, and loved every minute of living in 550 sq. feet, I have come to realize what is truly important and essential to a kitchen, and how to be as efficient as possible.

Not only does it save you money to keep an efficient kitchen, but it also eliminates waste, something that is very important to me. I like to use every morsel of food that I bring into my kitchen, because I know there are others out there that do not have the luxuries that so many of us do. Plus, who likes cleaning out the fridge?? It can get gross. 

Also, when you stop stocking a pantry just to look like you have food, you can buy better quality food. One of the most comforting things is coming home and opening up my pantry and seeing GOOD food instead of a mass quantity of crap. Half of which you and I never eat. A good pantry can encourage better budgeting, more space, and a better diet.

I'd like to share with you a few things I always keep in my pantry and fridge:

PaNtRy

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Good quality balsamic vinegar

Sundried tomatoes

Nature's Path Granola

Kashi Cinnamon Harvest

Black Beans

Shallots

Long-noodle pasta such as Spaghetti, Angel Hair, or fettucine

Shorter noodle pasta such as ziti

Basmati Rice

Low-sodium chicken broth

Maldon Sea salt

Fresh Garlic cloves

Marcona almonds

Loose leaf tea

Fresh honey

All-natural peanut butter

RefRigErAtoR

Greek yogurt

Organic Skim milk

Yellow squash

vegetable salad (I buy this in the prepared food section at the grocery)

At least 1 nice cheese: Mahon, Manchego, Parmesan, Goat Cheese, your choice

Lemon

Red Pepper

2 types of fruit

One green vegetable

Baby carrots

Cage free brown eggs

Hummus

So where do I get my food? Well, I buy a lot of my food from the local farmer's market. There are several reasons for this. First, the farmer's market is a fun weekly activity. You get to know the vendors as your friends. I had a woman who made soup mixes and would have special mixes set aside for me that she thought I would love. There is no grocery store that can replicate this type of relationship. 

Secondly, the food is fresher and tastes better. And thirdly, I have found there is barely any difference in price between farmer's markets and organic produce at the store. And, at times, I find it cheaper depending on the food.

Take a good hard look at your pantry. At any given moment, I want my pantry to be able to facilitate a small gathering of friends, a nice meal for myself, healthy snacks, or a few comfort foods when a girlfriend needs to talk. THAT is the purpose of a pantry....to enhance and encourage relationships through the kitchen. 

I hope you enjoyed this, and I also hope you begin to develop a good system so that your kitchen is a place of peace for you, and a place of grace for others. 

Be blessed,

Lindsay