Pantry love.

We have made progress in the kitchen and I have some pantry and storage cupboards! It is so much fun to start to work on my pantry and building it back up.

Knowing we were ripping out an old kitchen I ran things down so it would be easier to manage. The weeks using things up saved us a lot of money too. So now it is a bit empty and even my jars are empty... but still here are some pictures anyway.

This is the top part of my pantry cupboard. I am using this for my tins and jars of supplies, dry goods etc. 

I really love tins and jars. They keep things so fresh and crisp. I have collected old jars for years. I like the thick old fashioned glass. It is beautiful. Especially the old greenish bluish glass, it even has bubbles captured in it. Mostly I have paid 50c or $1 for them. I have lots for preserving too, in another cupboard.

This is like the books Where's Wally? if you remember them? Only this is "where's Chippy" :) 

I learned years ago it is possible to spend a fortune on pantry storage but I stopped that and now plastics are in question for their safety with food. Jars and glass is lovely and there is never that plastic smell or taste. And soooo cheap. You know I have never broken one. I think that is because of how thick old glass jars are. I love Pyrex and Corningware as well and pick up lots in op shops and it is kind of fun to collect!

There is a lot of joy in a lovely pantry. I love just to see jars lined up, preserves lined up looking gorgeous and full of summer produce. A row of jams I just made is a picture of happiness to me!

But more, a good pantry means you are not running to the shops every time you want to make something, you have spare milk and basics. You have emergency meals. (One of my pantry meals is to keep everything for tuna mornay and that has been a saviour lots of times) 

A list of pantry meals is very helpful. It might be simple things like pasta with a simple sauce from tinned tomatoes but there are so many ideas and it is good to have a list for emergencies.

A well stocked pantry means in a tight week you can avoid the shops altogether or save a lot and just buy a few things to fill in the gaps.

I haven't organised my canned goods and herbs and spices yet. I am about to work on those!

Once my jar collection grew I started to paint the lids and add transfers. The trick to finding transfers is to know in the US they are called water slide decals. I get mine from Arwen Moore Design Studio on Etsy. You get a whole sheet of maybe 30 or so for about $10. They are so pretty. I have a heap of jas also in my sewing room for pins, bobbins and so on...

I still grab jars when I see them and I still see boxes of old Fowler preserving jars in country op shops. I love them! I get so excited when I find them.

Now to build my pantry back up. I always allow a stash of $20 in my purse incase I find a really good special. If something I use is half price then this is my chance to stock up. Also now and then I get a gift card (ie from Woolies for everyday rewards) and if I have a $10 gift card I will wait and choose things on half price so I can turn that $10 into $20! Even one extra item on special a week and you soon have a pantry you can go to in an emergency for a heap of meals. And save running to the shops for bits and pieces. 

The other cupboard that is finished is for glassware etc. I have put cake stands in there, I love my cake stands!

Well, this is progress with a long way to go! But I can't wait to get my stove and sink etc. Is it normal to love a sink? I am really excited about my new sink lol.

If you feel your pantry could use a makeover or you would like to improve your storage Pinterest is just wonderful for ideas. I have found so many tips there. Getting it all clean, fresh and organised is lovely. If you keep plenty of Bay Leaves in your pantry you will never have pantry moths. Every time I go to the farm I pick branches of Bay Leaves from Mum's tree and this works brilliantly. 

While it is so cold and rainy I am happy to be working away on these things indoors. I feel like celebrating as we are making progress!