The Cluttered Pantry

The very soul of this blog is shaped by my pantry and it’s contents, some great, some funny and some borderline OCD. When you add in that my pantry stocking, for this past year, has been so heavily  focused on feeding/growing the Wee Kahunas, who started out so small and off the growth charts that we didn’t really know what to do, you get shelves and shelves of really intense food.

The Wee Kahunas are doing great, and after a year of foods that contain more fat and calories than you would think possible they are close to being the size they should be…unfortunately Mommy did a lot of taste testing and finishing foods, and you know, I was already on the growth charts just fine….

As we settle in to parent hood and just regular nutrition for the girls, it’s getting better.  Actually, these days,  I’m really proud of most of it; lots of homemade items, and specialty ingredients selected for their extra nutrition or because they came from local markets and sustainable resources.

But, you know….there is still THAT shelf.  A shelf of things that ironically are best kept “in the closet” Super processed and full of sugar and chemical lovelies like that container of red vines that I sneak every once in a while.  A collection of “snack” bags that I bought for quick trips with the girls that probably have less actual food in them than the do rainbow gummy colors.  An assortment of store made cookies, because there are just days when a Mint Milano beats home-made. It used to be a bigger section of the pantry, but over time I’ve been relegating the less than superior options  into a smaller and smaller zone of shame.

I read recently someone saying that they would no longer eat anything that wouldn’t decompose if you left it on your counter for a few days…there is something about that thought that makes sense.  Even if it does rule out twinkies forever!

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not giving up all the foods I love, we are just finding better versions.   That container that used to store brand name chocolate bars that only gave a short burst of mmmm before leaving a bad taste,  now holds really luscious chocolate from a specialty shop.  Am I giving up chocolate? Not on your life.  But when I do indulge it is going to be for just a little something chocolate made from the best chocolate I can get my hands on, and in this case chocolate made by a company that focuses on sustainability and quality ingredients.

So, it is perfect that I just got a message from Dana Joy Altman of  Real Food Rehab, letting me know she is launching a new product - The Pantry Essentials Guide. A  downloadable PDF with 9 pages of ingredients (with a nice focus on sustainability), products, easy recipes, kitchen tips, web resources and selected brands to help you stock your pantry, eat better, save money and time.

The Guide is divided into four sections: Foundation Ingredients, Baking Basics, Perishable Staples and Ethnic Staples and is perfect for beginners and accomplished cooks alike.

I love the idea of this guide, having a resource that you can use from your smartphone, or computer or for that matter print and stick to your fridge seems like a great way to start early on those New Years Resolutions.  Maybe this year my goal will be to have made the transition into a healthier pantry in time for New Years instead of starting on New Years Eve.

Dana has generously  provided a copy of The Pantry Essentials Guide for us to give away to one of you,  to help us thank you for supporting  The Cluttered Pantry, and to let us spread the word about this great product.

So, after you finish reading this post, use the comment buttons below and tell us what one thing in your pantry that belongs on THAT shelf next to my red vines and super processed cookies.  We’ll do a random selection from the people who post a comment and send the free copy to the winner.
THE GUIDE INCLUDES:

• 9 pages of detailed descriptions and uses for over 100 products and ingredients.
• 10 quick and easy recipes, kitchen tips, web resources and specific brand suggestions.
• Ethnic staples for cooking Italian, Asian, Mexican and Middle Eastern foods.
• A special section on storing cheese.
• Printable checklists, perfect for visits to the grocery store.
• A PDF format viewable from your Smartphone.
• Real Food Rehab’s complete commitment to quality and sustainability.

ALL FOR $9.95!

Click Here to Purchase your copy now

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