Pantry Organization Ideas

So if you've seen my pantry you know it is in dire need of some TLC.  I am completely embarrassed to have even shown y'all that mess!  I have been combing these here internets and Pinterest (of course) for some inexpensive ideas and I was OVERWHELMED by the sheer amount of organizing people do.  I thought my OCD was bad but girl, no!  There are people that get it in!! LOL

So after sifting through tons of pictures and reading loads of web sites I think I finally have a more detailed idea of what I want my pantry to look like and the materials I want to use to achieve it.  Since my pantry is not the size of walk in closet I have to be extremely mindful of my space limitations. 

Here are a few of my favorite ideas:

This is one of my favorite ideas for cookie sheets and cutting boards
Image Credit

I love the etching on the jars. Fortunately, I have a neighbor that does this!
Image Credit

OMG! What an ingenious idea! For the amount of fresh garlic
and shallots I use this is cute and functional!
Image Credit

This will free up soooo much space on my pantry shelves for storing ketchup, vinegars, etc.
Image Credit

The more functional ideas I see the more excited I get about actually getting the pantry completed.  I am going to take @NerdGirl's suggestion and paint the entire pantry because I KNOW I will regret it later if I don't!

Pantry Organization Project - What I Want

I am embarrassed that I am putting myself on blast like this...that pantry is atrocious!

What I want to accomplish with the Pantry Organization Project:

•  Effectively utilize all of the space in the pantry, the floor and the height
• Paint or wallpaper. I haven’t decided if I am going to update the puke yellow color that is there now or just leave it as is and repaint the shelves only
• I want to have a designated space for all of my baking necessities, flours, cornmeal, chocolate chips, etc.
• A space for dry pastas
• I have a binder basket full of extra spices that require organization too
• A space for lunch and snack items needs to be carved out
• I want to find baskets for the floor to hold the extra of the things we use often and for miscellaneous items that don’t require designated space but still need to be properly organized
• I want to move all of the small appliances I don't use often out to the garage (which needs major cleaning also) where there is proper shelving to hold all of that stuff, chafing dishes, pasta maker, etc.
• I also want a space for my likka until I find a nice beverage cart to place in the living room
• I want something to hold boxes of foil, plastic wrap, sandwich bags etc.
• A proper bin for the dog food (haven’t decided if this will remain in the pantry or get moved to the garage)
• I want to add a hook or two to hold a couple of aprons
• I want to designate a space for my cookie sheets and cutting boards as well
• A new door...maybe

Regular Old Random Photo Dump!

These buds produce a beautiful yellow flower.

Yall are not ready for the Red Power Ranger!

All of the baked Kettle Chips are full of awesome!

Rosemary Chops

Prepping my sun wall

Lemon tree keeps giving!!!

Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies

If you use spray paint...you need this 2.50 gem!! Makes spray painting SO much easier.

Surf and turf from Father's Day...I just like this picture! LOL

Fine by Birthday Time #5

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I sure did. I enjoyed my family, cooked a lot, laughed even more and ate and ate and ate!  So it is NO surprise that I am holding steady....at 226.5. 

 

My wonderful Thanksgiving gave way to ALL of my sugar and carb cravings!  I LOVE pecan pie and I surely had my share. I am currently back on the wagon but it seems like my cravings are way worse this time around. No matter how bad those cravings get, I am holding strong. It is still not too late for me to at least get out of the 220's! By out of the 220's I mean 215!

 

*Crosses shoelaces (instead of fingers) so I can go for a walk during lunch*

 

How are your healthy living goals going?

 

 

Thanksgiving Dinner 2012

Gumbo (First pot this year)

Herb Roasted Cornish Hens

Injected and Fried Turkey Breasts

Traditional Cornbread Dressing (Family recipe)

Fresh Collard Greens w/Smoked Turkey

Fresh Green Beans w/Fried Onions

Four Cheese Macaroni and Cheese

Creamed Onion Gratin (New this year)

Rolls

Sweet Potato Pie

Southern Pecan Pie

Brownies (For W…she’s weird, lol)

Traditional Southern Caramel Cake

Bourbon Pecan Carrot Cake (New this year)

Lemon Pound Cake (Using lemons from my tree!)

 

Fine by Birthday Time #4

Yesterday was a winner. I didn't consume ANY sugar; no potatoes or rice or bread, nada! I thought the withdrawal would be worse but so far all I got was a small headache late in  the afternoon. I'll let yall know what Day 2 is like cause no sugar coupled with the bit of work stress I am under may not be a good combination! LOL
Happy Tuesday yall!

Fine by Birthday time #3

Image Credit

Um yeah. So I am tanking with this whole 20 pound goal.  Well that's a bit dramatic. I've increased my exercise schedule since I began the challenge along with my water intake.  However, my eating habits have not been good. At all.  So since it is a full month until Birthmas I am going to make the for real effort to make my eating habits coincide with all of the exercising I've been doing and see if that number on Mister moves south a little more.
I have been doing stupid stuff like skipping breakfast, carb loading and having my way with sugar lately. For the next 30 days I will:

1. Eat breakfast every morning
2. Have a morning and afternoon snack
3. Make a healthier lunch choice, and
4. Dinner by 630

I am also going to post more frequently to hold myself accountable.  I need accountability. Happy Monay!

#AThankful30Days Day 4 Sunday Dinner

 Everybody knows I love a great get together. I am sure it all started when my mom would throw house parties in our basement when we lived OH in the late 70s early 80s...those parties were legendary! LOL  It could also be from coming from a large family where get togethers were big and loud and full of laughter and food. LOTS and LOTS of food.

In between holiday gatherings there was always Sunday dinner at Mudear's house.  Mudear would normally cook a big old pot of greens or pinto beans the night before so all that would be required is a slow reheat.  She would then put on a roast before church that would have her house smelling all kinds of good.  By the time we made it home from all day service (LOL) all that would be left would be for her or one of my aunts to make the macaroni and cheese and bake whatever bread we would eat. It is likely I had already had the cake baked as well.

The aroma of that cut of beef slow roasting in it's on juices with mushrooms and onions and bell peppers; cornbread that tasted more like cake then actual bread to eat with the best pot of turnip or collard or mustard greens ever and some hot, bubbly oven baked macaroni and cheese! Chile. Please.    

*takes a moment to wave holy hands*

More important than the food was how we all came together.  My younger cousins would stop by, whatever old friend of my aunts or uncles or mom would pay the family a visit...it was the people gathering of it all that I loved so much. Food was just the catalyst!

Even with our busy schedules I still LOVE cooking Sunday dinner a couple of times a month.  Sunday dinner holds really wonderful memories for me and I hope to pass on those traditions and appreciations to my daughters as well.

This week's Sunday dinner consisted of buttermilk brined fried chicken, homemade skin on mashed potatoes with sage butter gravy and a fresh vegetable stir fry of snow peas and zucchini with dill. 

#AThankful30Days

 

#AThankful30Days Day 3 Best Friends

Growing up, we moved ALOT! We lived in places for such short periods of time I never really made the lasting friendships most people take for granted.  I was always the new girls and I hated it!  That totally does not take away from the friendships I made and have sustained during high school or later in life, I thank God for those friendships often. However, there is something to be said about being friends with someone for 20 plus years or having childhood memories to reminisce about.

These two have been thick as thieves since they were 3 years old.  They usually hug each other when they see each other or when they leave each other. I LOVE that. I pray that they remain as close as they are for as long as possible. Best friends rock!

#AThankful30Days

 

#AThankful30Days - Day 2 A Sound Mind and Body

The church I went to when I was a little girl was an old school Southern Baptist church.  Old school like women weren’t allowed to bless the pulpit with The Word, old school like women wore dresses AND stocking to church, old school like having a Mother’s Board with the old school saints sat in their reserved seats, old school like attending church from 8 a.m. Sunday school until regular service let out at maybe 2 p.m.; old school like getting that church pinch if you didn’t act right and whomever doled out that pinch, your momma, grandma, aunt or neighbor,  dared you to shed a tear; old school like seeing an elder “catch the spirit” scared the hell out of you, old school like Easter speeches, Christmas plays, real deal Sunday dinners and good old “stomp, clap” music.

What is stomp, clap music you ask? It is how churches made music before they could afford the piano or organ or full on music sections churches have now.  You literally started a song by stomping and clapping; and you know Sister So and So always had a tambourine…LOL

I remember listening to the same songs all of my childhood and often catch myself singing them now. Many of those songs included some variation of waking up in my “right mind with full use of my limbs.” How often do we take for granted that we have awakened and can think about our day or we swing our legs out of the bed to take that walk to the bathroom for that first morning pee and they actually move!

Today, I am thankful for my mind and body being strong and useful and in my full control.

 

#AThankful30Days - Day 1 Employment

Two of my wonderful girlfriends are doing a #AThankful30Days where for the month of November they will make daily posts, on Facebook, of some of the things they are thankful for.  I decided to join them, except I will post here and a condensed version on FB. I did this one year on an old blog and I LOVED it! Hopefully I will be able to keep up!

#AThankful30Days - Day 1 Employment

I did not go to college specifically for my current career path. My degree is in English. I had dreams of being a roving reporter who travelled the world bringing the masses current events. Or I wanted to write books that people would pass on to their children or required reading in colleges and universities. I even wanted to be an etymologist at one point. Chile, my nerddom knew no bounds! lol

While it is still possible for me to write a book, reporting is far too competitive for my personality and word historians make pennies and wouldn’t allow me to live the traveling life I’d like!   So I was blessed with working in the tax accounting field.

I am thankful for the opportunity to challenge myself on a daily basis, to work in a field where it is likely I will always have a job; I am also thankful for the benefits this job provides to aid in taking care of my family.  We have fantastic health and dental benefits, the company is strong and I actually enjoy nearly all of the people I interact with regularly; that in itself is enough to be thankful for! LOL

 

Fresh Fried Eggplant

Good country folk bring you fresh vegetables from their garden! 
One of my co-workers is a true Southerner, he raises chickens for eggs, grows many of his own vegetables, hunts and fish as often as he can and he's a gentleman to boot!

As much fried eggplant as I've eaten in my lifetime I had never actually fried any! So I knew EXACTLY what I was going to do with these babies! I seriously made this in less than 20 minutes!

Fresh Fried Eggplant
What you need:

• One eggplant sliced
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp water
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 Tbs panko bread crumbs
• 2 Tbs regular bread crumbs
• 2 - 3 Tbs of your favorite seasoned salt or Creole seasoning
• 1/4 cup oil for frying. You want enough oil to lightly fry the eggplant slices

What to do:

• In a shallow bowl mix the egg and water
• In another shallow bowl mix the remaining ingredients, except the oil
• First coat the eggplant with the egg mixture, then coat with the flour/breadcrumb mixture
• Fry the eggplant slices in the preheated oil over medium heat until golden on both sides
• Drain on a paper towel and enjoy!

Cooking Pinto Beans

The women in my family can cook a pot of beans!  Growing up, creamy pinto beans with tender neckbones or a piece of salt pork with a side of my grandmother's fried chicken and her hot water cornbread was one of my most favorite meals!

When I was first out on my own I never made beans but now as a real deal adult I can't get enough! Black beans, pinto, white and a good bean soup mix...gimme!  Lucky for me nobody in my house likes beans, so when I make a pot they are all mine.  While I don't eat or cook with neckbones or salt pork any longer, I am not above a smoked hamhock for flavor only.

For this pot, however, I'm using smoked turkey meat, onions, homemade salt-free chicken broth and a spice mix of garlic powder, thyme, basil, salt and pepper.  With this cool weather we are having these will be great lunch for the week!  

What beans are your favorite to eat and/or cook?

   
 

Confessions #NoUrsher

These past three weeks or so have been cah-razy at my mortgage paying job. I have questioned my sanity, intelligence and choice of employment so many times.  I mean 12 hour days 6 days a week for three weeks.  My house is a wreck, a hot mess wreck! I don’t think I’ve been to the grocery store for a real deal food shopping experience in a month.  I mean I will easily drop $500 when I go next. #NoLie We are out of nearly everything…even my frozen stash is about out.  It’s bad y’all.

To that end, our diets have been a catastrophe…a processed food catastrophe.  How I loss 5lbs a couple of weeks ago is beyond me!!  So imagine our not so surprise when our bodies started reacting to this abrupt change in diet. Sluggishness and headaches abound; along with yells of “use the spray” whenever anybody went to the bathroom after these not so gourmet meals.  I am not proud and I have no excuses. Apparently, my family has had enough. They are literally begging for a fully, homemade meal.  It is so bad B was like, “Maybe we can just eat vegetables for a couple of days to get our bodies back right.”

That kid may be on to something! LOL

So even though I have less than a week left of this 12 hour day madness, I will make a quick trip to the grocery store to buy some staple stuff that will allow me to whip up good, healthy, quick non-processed meals.  I have also started a two week menu plan (trying something new) filled with brand new food items along with my grocery list that is currently three pages long.

*wallslide*

I am also going to take this opportunity of pantry refrigerator emptiness to clean and organize. I mean a for real organization, like painting shelves, getting a new door, utilizing baskets and labels and such. I would like a new to me refrigerator also but my current bulky one is still working just fine sans the water and ice dispenser.  It’s just big and bulky and old, like original to my 20 plus year old house old…but it still works just fine…and I’m still cheap frugal.

So in between crunching numbers and late nights, I will be formulating my plan of attack on my ratchet pantry and fridge! I will keep you posted.

A Family Business

I’ve always wanted to own a family business. A business that played to the strengths of the family members I would invite into the business. A legacy business mind you. One where long after I retired our children or other family members would want to continue on. I have the mind to create generational wealth for my children and their children.

My baby sister is very creative (her design eye is killer) and budget mindful. I mean she is the Thrift Store Queen! She’s also a good listener and a great team player. I have a cousin who I learned is a great organizer and general task keeper and team player. She is also funny and enjoyable to be around. My oldest daughter is a great manager of me and organizer. I've told her on many occasions that if money were no object I would hire her at top dollar as my assistant. She’s that good. I cook. I plan menus. I bake. I can work a budget down to the last nub to give a client what they want.

The awesomeness that the four of us could create would be mind blowing.

We've talked about it in jest before but logistically it wouldn't work; Sis lives in OH ND…and is married with three great kids of which two are under 3 years old; cousin is busy with professional educational pursuits and is married has two wonderful boys. My daughter is completing her education and is doing the preliminary research to open her own “learning center”….The Bruce School. I love it!

Though my sister and I will be working jointly on an event soon and my cousin is always ready to help me out, I know I can begin building this business on my own and I would have their full support. We are good like that.

I hope you are doing something today to further your dreams and goals.

Fresh Trout Almondine

 

This was a Weeknight Winner! Came together easily, on the table in less than 30 minutes. Rainbow trout is pretty thin so it takes no time to cook through.

 

 

Fresh Trout Almondine

Adapted from

http://newfinmysoup.blogspot.com/2011/05/trout-amandine-from-my-new-orleans.html

 

What you need:

• 3/4 cup milk
• 3/4 cup flour
• 1 Tbs creole seasoning, or to taste (Zatarain, Tony Cachere, etc)
• 3 trout fillets 
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 8 Tbs unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

What to do:

• Pour the milk into a shallow dish.
• Put the flour and Creole Spices into another breading tray and stir to combine.
• Season the fillets with pepper, dip them into the milk, then dredge in the seasoned flour.
• Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the fillets and cook on each side until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes per side. Transfer the fish to a serving platter.
• Add the remaining 4 tablespoons butter to the same skillet over medium-high heat.
• Swirl the skillet over the heat so that the butter melts evenly and cook until the butter turns brownish and begins to smell nutty, 5-7 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the almonds, and cook, stirring gently, until the nuts are toasty brown, about 2 minutes.
• Add the lemon juice and parsley.
• Spoon the browned butter and almonds over the fish and serve.

 

 

Originally posted August 2011 on www.threefoodwords.blogspot.com

Happy Monday

One of the Awesomes sent this to me a couple of weeks ago. Happy Monday!
Quit Complaining!
I AM THANKFUL:  FOR THE WIFE  WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,  BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME,  AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE. 
FOR THE HUSBAND  WHO IS ON THE SOFA  RESTING AFTER A HARD DAY OF LABOUR ,  BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME  AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS. 
FOR THE TEENAGER  WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES  BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME,  NOT ON THE STREETS. 
FOR THE TAXES I PAY  BECAUSE IT MEANS  I AM EMPLOYED . 
FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY  BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE  BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS. 
FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG  BECAUSE IT MEANS  I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT. 
FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK  BECAUSE IT MEANS  I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE 
FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING,  WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,  AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING  BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME 
FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING  I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT  BECAUSE IT MEANS  WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH. ... 
FOR THE PARKING SPOT  I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT  BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING  AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION . 
FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL  BECAUSE IT MEANS  I AM WARM. 
FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH  WHO SINGS OFF KEY  BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR. 
FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING  BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR. 
FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES  AT THE END OF THE DAY  BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN  CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD. 
FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF  IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS  BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE. 
AND I AM THANKFUL:  FOR THE CRAZY PEOPLE I WORK WITH   BECAUSE THEY MAKE WORK INTERESTING AND FUN!               AND FINALLY, FOR TOO MUCH E-MAIL  BECAUSE ...  IT MEANS I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE THINKING OF ME. 
Live well, Laugh often, & Love with all of your heart!