Today I decided to tackle the pantry. This is always a work in progress since we will be eating these things eventually, but I had to get tough with myself about some of the old things hanging around. Why can't I throw away old spices? I might need them. At some year, I mean 2009 wasn't that long ago, you have to draw the line.
I have a small pantry and I really, really want to make it look prettier...like this.
Yeah, right! Mine is so not like this and you may even have trouble seeing the difference in my before and after pictures. While I was doing this, I realized that I never did get a spice solution after I blogged about it here. I always look and then resist buying something that is going to take up more space on my counters. I already don't have that much space and it just feels wrong to have them in view all the time.
Browsing the utopian pantries, I saw that I love the idea of drawers. They have the potential to hide cluttery looking food items like random bags of things. Just look at these cool drawers here.
We have The Container Store drawers in our closet and I bet it wouldn't cost that much to put two or three drawers in kitchen too. Meanwhile though, back in reality, I'll post my before and after. My pantry is going to hang it's head in shame after looking at these Pinterest ones, but here it goes anyway.
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| Pantry Before |
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| Pantry After |
The next step is going to be to make it look pretty. I don't know why it matters but it does. I'm going to solve this spice rack dilemma once and for all. There will be a pantry part 2 coming soon.
What about all you organization buffs out there? Do you love to organize and feng shui your food? Does this creep anyone out and make them think of Sleeping With the Enemy, where the abusive husband made Julia Roberts line up all the cans? Link me to your post showing your fancy pantry, or one like mine with just a little progress and a half trash bag full of food.
What about all you organization buffs out there? Do you love to organize and feng shui your food? Does this creep anyone out and make them think of Sleeping With the Enemy, where the abusive husband made Julia Roberts line up all the cans? Link me to your post showing your fancy pantry, or one like mine with just a little progress and a half trash bag full of food.
6 comments:
I have a very small pantry which is really a bottom cabinet in my kitchen. I store spices on lazy susans in an upper cabinet and have four of them, two on each shelf. It allows me access to all of them by spinning them around. I keep baking spices and savory spices together. I put salt, pepper, red pepper flakes and italian seasonings in empty bonne maman jars. But you have such a nice spice rack already.
I take a lot of things out of boxes and put them in a large bowl or bin like packets of oatmeal, seasoning packets, popcorn packages, breakfast bars etc. Anything that is individually wrapped and small is fair game. I also like things like rice and pasta in large uniform jars. I'm looking forward to what others have to say about this.
I can see a big difference in your pantry's 'after' photo. Let it know it should be proud to be a petite and functional pantry, not that I think it is petite at all. Thinking about spices, I think that might be a good thing to do - go through and take out any expired ones. You know the ones you buy for one recipe, and never use again? I'm going to do mine today. Life is too short to keep expired spices. My new motto.
You did a great job! I would be ashamed to post a picture of my pantry ;) I definitely need to tackle it!! :)
I blog at "Only a Breath" and would love for you to stop by if you have time! I'm writing about "31 Days to Love Your Neighbor". It has been a very interesting journey to say the least! :)
Have a great day!
Melanie
Stephanie-You DO have a small pantry. It sounds like you have it all beautifully contained though. You probably save money on groceries not being able to stock up too much.
Fiona-Out with the old spices! I also threw out all my old gluten free baking ingredients for when I went gluten free two years ago. That was hard because they were expensive but I'm so happy they are gone because they remind me of a bad time after my miscarriage. Score one for me and the petite pantry.
Melanie-So glad you visited me! I'm sure loving your neighbor is an interesting 31 day challenge. Very bold and sweet too.
-Jennifer
I always kept my spices in a cabinet next to the stove (for easy reach), but after hearing how the heat rising from the stove was not good for them, I moved them to a drawer. Yes, a drawer. I'm sure I read about it somewhere, I don't think the idea was originally mine. But it works well for me. I have a fairly deep drawer, and all of my spices fit perfectly in there. You either have to label the tops of the lids, or just look through them, but in a drawer seem it much easier for me than a shelf, or on the counter.
I am so in need of a pantry overhaul...you are inspiring!
You did a great job! I would be ashamed to post a picture of my pantry ;) I definitely need to tackle it!! :)
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