jeweledsunshine:

I can't believe we actually packed up expired cans of tomato juice and moved them

Another good reason to be organized. Tomato juice is heavy!

So what are juniper berries used for?

Hi ... Thank you cmouse01 for your detailed list of how you keep rack of your pantry ... this process will be my New Years Resolution - know what I have, use all that I have, and not to have items expire before I use them !!!

kb999999:

this process will be my New Years Resolution - know what I have, use all that I have, and not to have items expire before I use them !!!

That's a good idea kb999999. I think I'll do the same. Maybe if I make it a resolution, I'll avoid procrastinating.

Dear Cmouse, Thanks so very much for having gone through all the time & trouble of posting!  Your list looks great!  Yours in Him, Deb

> So what are juniper berries used for?

I found a recipe once that called for them - I think it also used venison.  Of course, now I can't find the recipe.   I think juniper berries are what gives Gin it's unique flavor.  I don't care for it, so not sure if I'd even like the recipe if I could find it.

 > can't believe we actually packed up cans of tomato juice

I can! I've moved old paper/clippings several times just because it gets to a point where it seems so much easier to just pack it all and sort when you move in.  Of course, then sometimes those "sort" boxes sit for years again! 

I heard of list tape on the door of the pantry but never a running list maybe its cheaper that way Im still never did this sounds like a great ideal... Why i never had to cook at my old house always had someonne do it I never learned until ten years ago when I got fed up with the cook, just did it myself ever since that Im not bad but not good at doing inventory..

I've used juniper berries in sauces for venison and other red meats.  If you use only a few it adds a depth of flavor but doesn't overwhelm the sauce.

I add them to stocks.  More for beef stock which I don't make so often, and just a couple in chicken or duck stocks.  I crush them a bit with the handle of a knife first.  I never think "Mmm, juniper" when I taste the stock, but it does seem to add something.  Also I add several when I'm brining things.

Awesome pantry you have there!

I used to keep the pantry stocked more, but haven't in a while.  I would keep so much stocked up that some of it would expire, or it would be close to expiring by the time I'd get around to using it.. and I rotated the stock when I did the shopping, too.

It finally dawned on me that even though I live in the country, unless it's about to be icy, I dont need to have my own store here. If I leave it at the grocery store, it will be fresher when I get it, as the store rotates their stock faster than I do.  What made me start building a big pantry was couponing. I found myself unable to resist using coupons even if I already had plenty of food in the pantry. It got to the point I was spending a lot of time either couponing, or planning, making lists, etc.  For those with larger families it makes sense, but it is just my husband and me now.. and I was stocking way more food than we could eat in a reasonable time. I like the freedom of actually running out of items now, if that makes sense.. so I can re-evaluate if I want to buy it again, or try something different.

So when we started eating healthier last year, it all changed. Now I still keep the deep freeze stocked but the pantry has far fewer ingredients in it as I buy and cook a lot more fresh produce to go with the meats.

In the deep freeze I keep meats of all kinds, any leftovers from times when I've over-cooked by accident or on purpose for a night when I'm too tired or busy to cook, like an extra roast, or cooked chicken, etc.  I also keep frozen juices in there, frozen vegetables, frozen bags of fruit for quick low fat desserts.

In the pantry I pretty much now just have grains like quinoa, lentils, dried beans, split peas, canned tomatoes, chicken, veg and beef broth cartons, low sodium. And, baking ingredients like whole grain, all purpose flour, cornmeal and stoneground cornmeal, bread flour, I keep vital wheat gluten in the fridge, as well as the yeast, and I also stock cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, kosher salt, etc.  

Now that I shop mostly on the outside aisles, it's elimated the couponing. I've also noticed we eat less food when I fix a meal that's meat and a couple of veggies, and soup or salad, than we used to when it was hamb helper or something similar. Still cant figure that one out, but we get full quicker. Hope that doesn't count as a new topic, just an observation.

This is a great thread.. I'm enjoying it.

Cheryl

 I won't say that I have the simpliest system but it really works for us.  As a professional woman who has 6 children still at home and is attending graduate school at the same time, I have to stay organized so this is what has evolved. My cellar is organized in rows with store bought items so I can tell at a glance how many I need; these items I don't keep an inventory on as they are all behind one door.  I keep an inventory list on my home canned foods which is much more extensive than what I buy.  Anyone who brings up a jar knows to tally mark that item.  I keep a check list for dry items stored in large tubs and those items are tally marked when anyone brings one up.  When I go shopping every other month or so, I restock those items as necessary.  I have a grocery list on my flash drive that I print out and keep in my day planner.  I can add the count of any item before I leave home.  I do keep a chart on a clipboard above our deep freezes that allow any family member to find any item at any time.  By glancing at the freezer, I can tell what we need to replenish for the year.  

Welcome to Dr. O, and I love your post!

Actually, I love this whole thread. Dr. O's post reminded me to say: I think whatever system you concot for your household, Liz loves2cook, you have to have everyone on board, or you're going to be fighting to keep your inventory current all the time. The reason why my pantry inventory was abandoned in April was because we had some extended guests who were welcome to help themselves - and they did without taking my inventory system seriously. The best and easiest way to keep the inventory is to make sure that anyone who takes anything out of the inventory knows how to duly indicate it.