I'm looking to really increase my pantry this year. It's one of my goals to get back on track in this area. I am thinking of doing this slowly each time I shop. I am familiar with stockpiling etc, but I am looking more for a pantry stocked with staples and not just stockpiling paper goods and such.

This doesn't need to be done with coupons and stockpiling. I am looking mostly for what is important to store in a pantry.

I know the obvious things like flour, sugar, pasta, peanut butter, etc.

I haven't had a veggie garden in years and would love to start one, so I can do some canning and really do what I can this year to improve our health and also save some money and at the same time get my pantry and freezer stocked well.

Any suggestions for stocking a pantry and even OAMC tips would be greatly appreciated.

My stockpile is pretty low right now, but for almost a full year when dh was out of work, I used our stockpile to eat from.

I don't do OAMC - I will make a large batch of something and freeze whats leftover, but I prefer my meals made fresh everyday. BUT I do like having a stcked pantry and a stockpile besides.

I usually take out a specific amount 0f $$ and purchase when it a l0ss leader. Then I purchase a large amount of that 0ne item. So lets say tomatoes are on sale at a really great price, I'll purchase a couple cases of them and put s0me in my pantry and then st0ckpile the rest in the basement.

I like to have lots of the f0ll0wing on hand:

- canned tomat0es (especially if I haven't gotten any canned that year)
- grain
- rice
- pastas of different sorts
- spices
- sugar
- h0ney
- yeast (which I freeze)
- canned beans
- kidney beans
- canned milk
- canned salm0n/fish
- p0wdered milk
- my freezer is always full 0f meat, fish and veggies. We like fr0zen veggies better than canned.

Much 0f th0se items, I als0 purchase in bulk and then package it up in plastic c0ntainers. Sugars/pastas/grain/rice.

I can as much 0f our fruits as I can - peaches, pears, applesauce. I als0 make all 0ur 0wn jam/jellies s0 I d0n't have t0 purchase any 0f th0se during the year. I try t0 make up en0ugh that I can g0 fr0m fall t0 the next season again.


I'll write m0re later. This keyb0ard is driving me nuts.

I was looking online and not that I would purchase a prepackaged type deal, but this is a great list of items.

http://www.internet-grocer.net/1yr-fl1.htm

Just to get an idea of some things to add to a pantry.

754$ oohlala. rofl I think not.

I never even knew what strawberry flakes were or that there was such a thing as peanut butter powder.

I'm back and with a new keyboard. YES, Yes, Yes!!!

Sara, I've looked at those as well and I'm not sure how practical they really are. I mean, I don't think we'd eat 1/2 of what they have in those packages.

I'll just keep adding to my pantry the old fashioned way. :icon_wink

I'm glad you got a keyboard. I saw those 0's and was thinking oh oh, it's worse.
:crackup:

I'd love to get a dehydrator. I can't tell you how often I use those ridiculous lipton onion soup mixes in everything. It would be great to dehydrate some veggies.

Sara, I was using the number zero for my "o's". When dh got home, I was almost in tears I was so frustrated. I told him, were going to Staples when we get to Brandon and I'm buying a new keyboard.

I'm with you on the dehydrator. Also the food that you dehydrate has all the vitamins and good stuff left in. Might just put that on my wish list for this spring.

My version of stock piling is making my own mixes in bulk whenever possible. A good friend gave me a recipe for taco seasoning - it's wonderful, and no msg or preservatives! I also have a recipe for Lipton onion soup mix (a homemade version of the packets you buy in the store). I also have a cream soup mix recipe - it's very good and you'll never have to buy a can of cream soup again for recipes.

I feel so much better when I have our pantry and freezer stocked. It helps when there are lean weeks and there isn't a lot of extra money. It's nice to have a roast in the freezer and be able to eat like kings despite the income!

I make my own jams and jellies too. Also like to make caramel apple butter - anything that goes on toast or bagels!! I'm not a canner, so all of my preserving is done either with a dehydrator or the freezer.

Dehydrators are just the best. I bought an Excaliber dehydrator 2 years ago and just love it. One of my favorite things to dehydrate was tomatoes. Once dehydrated, you can break up the slices into small bacon-bit sized pieces and use them in place of tomato paste in recipes. We had a crazy summer and I didn't get any spaghetti sauce frozen....I am already feeling sorry for myself - having to eat Prego (which used to be my favorite in my pre-gardening days). Now the stuff tastes like plastic to me. Once you get used to the real, homegrown, right from the garden to the freezer stuff, the store-bought stuff just isn't the same.

I also like to (when I have time) make brownie, pancake and corn muffin mixes ahead. Then I'm not always hauling out all the ingredients every time. Isn't it amazing the time you can shave off your routine if you just take the time to get organized in the first place? Someday.....I WILL get it together!!!

This is a great thread...I love everyone's ideas and the lists!

I'd love your Lipton onion soup mix recipe if you have it handy and don't mind sharing. I use the packaged so often.

More on stocking up. When stocking up, always purchase dry goods in bulk if you can. Its usually cheaper to purchase 25 lbs. of rice, 50 lbs. of grain/flour, etc. Make sure you have containers at home to keep your dry goods in. I purchased large gallon pails from the bakery and I keep all my stockpile in them. I never have to worry about bugs or mice getting into my dry goods.

When it comes to storing flour, always freeze it first. In fact, you can keep it in your freezer right up until about 2 hours before baking. You never have to worry about bugs. Even with my grain, I store it in the freezer until I'm ready to grind it. Whatever is leftover and I haven't used on the day I grind it, goes into the freezer.

I also like to stockpile tp, toothpaste, deodarant, pampers, etc. When they come on sale for a good price, I purchase half a dozen or more. Its great to have a stockpile of these. You seldom have to run out to the store because you have run out of deodarant or tp. When we first moved here, almost 2 years ago, men's deodarant was on sale for $1.99. I purchased 25 and we still have enough for the next good sale.

For spices I purchase all of mine at the health food store and then store them in canning jars. I find purchasing them in bulk is cheaper and much fresher than buying small cans or packages of spices at the grocery store.

CJ,
Good idea about the bulk spices. It kills me to have to spend $5.00 on a tiny bottle of spice that I need for a recipe in a pinch. I keep most of my extra dry goods in our freezer - our basement isn't mouse proof!

Health food stores that carry items in bulk are a great resource. They carry organic oatmeal for much less than the name brand at the grocery store. Also nuts are usually a much better deal there. The other thing I like is that they usually keep all their grains in the freezer. I like to do a lot of baking - I should check into getting my flour in larger bags than the 5 lb. bags. I usually try to stock up when it's on sale, but it seems like I always run out before the next sale comes around!

Here's the Lipton Soup Recipe:
3/4 c. minced onion
1/3 c. beef boullion
4 t. onion powder
1/4 t. sugar
1/4 t. crushed celery seed

5 T. of mix = (1) 1.25 oz. pkg.

A couple more things to add to the list:

~popcorn (I use it to munch on, but I also grind it up to make cornmeal)
~bean mixes to make soup with (I purchase these at the health food store)
~cocoa
~tea (we don't drink coffee)

For storing grains, whole rice, wheat, buckwheat, oats, rye and barley etc. store well at room temperature as long as they are in airtight containers like closed plastic bags or glass jars with screw lids.

Partially process grains like oatmeal, coucous, and flour will keep longer if frozen.

I stockpile only the basics. I have really simplified my cooking and we eat very simply now. I am learning how to make good meals from basic whole ingredients. I still use some processed stuff liked canned soup mostly out of convenience. I could cook without it if I had too.

How often do you grocery shop and how long would you like your stash to last? Are you rural?

CJ,
I know you've referenced using a grinder for your grains a few times - what kind of grinder do you use and is it something new that can be purchased commercially or is it an oldie?? Also, maybe this is a stupid question, but I never realized you could grind popcorn! I guess I thought cornmeal was made from field corn, but maybe I was wrong!

Thanks for any help/advice you can give me regarding grinding your own grain!

Farmgirl - I have a Whisper Mill which you can see in this link. It is the absolute best. I grind all my own grain. I purchase organic grrain from the health food store in 50 lb. bags. Because I purchase 2 bags at once, they give me 20% off. It is very important though if you grind your own grain, if there is any leftover, to freeze it (especially hard or soft wheat). Remember is doesn't have the preservatives in it. It can go rancid very quickly. The neat thing about grinding your own grain, is the wheat berry which has all the vitamins, etc. is still there. Since we have done all our own wheat grinding, my family has never been healthier.

http://www.grainmaster.com.au/

Yes, I grind popcorn and make all my own cornmeal. It makes wonderful cornbread. Country Gardener, who is a member here, gave me the recipe and we love it. Thats one of the first things the kids ask for when I'm baking. You can also grind rice, etc. There are only a couple of things you can't grind up.

Here is what you can grind up:

Wheat (hard & soft)
oats
rice
triticale
dried pinto beans
dried green beans
popcorn
split peas
buckwheat
rye
millet
sorghum (Milo)
soybeans
dried field corn
chick peas

What you can't grind up:
sugar
sunflower seeds
nuts (all types)
sesame seeds
dried fruits (including dates and raisins)
flax seed
coffee peants
peanuts

Dehydrators are great, you need to try yogurt! My friend Strawberry taught me this when I got mine.

You dry little puddles of flavoured yogurts (sugar free is nice) and they come out like little bite size treats of cheesecake. YUMMY

and another thing Strawberry taught me was to dry canned pineapple chunks for the most heavenly fruit candy. It's to die for. We get the big #10 cans of chunks and do it up. I haven't seen any #10's on a good deal for a while though so if you can't get them, just open and dry out a bunch of regular large tins.

Save the juice to drink.

LOL CJ, I'm glad you like my popcorn trick. I love to buy the BIG bags of cheap popcorn to use in my grain grinder for fresh ground cornmeal. Has a wonderful flavour. And what you don't grind, you can pop in a hot air popper.

(which she caught me eating at the keyboard the other night!)

I know I caught her. Ladies, can you imagine that, eating buttered popcorn at the computer. Thats almost has bad as Cheetos!!! She is going going to need a new keyboard, just like I did. You just watch!!!

Yup, I purchase my popcorn from the health food store and they just look at me when I get it. I usually purchase it in 10 lb. bags. Michael loves popcorn too!!

I want to learn how to make yogurt and then to get a dehydrator and do some drying of veggies and fruit. Can hardly wait to pick one up as soon as they go on sale. I'm watching for one.

I second the freezing tip - I freeze all of our flours, rices, pastas, even boxed mac & cheese.....no problems ever....

The worst thing in the world is preparing mac & cheese & seeing little bugs in your water......eeeewwwwwwww!!!!!!!!! ;)

One thing I'm really leery about is rice. I had it stored in a glass jar with a tight fitting lid. I went to take out a cup and guess what, all these little bugs in it. I still have a hard time cooking rice. I now keep it in a plastic container, with a very tight lid and I double check it everytime I do cook rice. I never thought of freezing it, I will from now on.

Your right Debbie, nothing worse that the wrong kind of protein in your food.

I had bugs in my rice once too. I was buying the big 10lb (?) bags for a long time without a problem then one day there they were. :yuck: I went back to buying the small bags of rice so they stayed sealed longer. Never thought to freeze it. duh. :dazed: Though both of my freezers are full to the top now. No room for extra stuff.

bumping up
check out the lipton soup recipe in post #11
& grinding popcorn in #12

do you still do that cj?

I still grind popcorn.

I never thought of grinding popcorn. I grew a small amount last year and was very impressed with the flavor. Store bought popcorn is bland in comparison. So I will grow more this spring and it's good to know that I can grind it for cornmeal.

"Grind" popcorn??? Que - ?

The worst thing in the world is preparing mac & cheese & seeing little bugs in your water......eeeewwwwwwww!!!!!!!!! ;)

<grin> You'd prefer them in minestrone?

consider them a valuable (and completely hygienic) protein-source.

<grin> You'd prefer them in minestrone?

consider them a valuable (and completely hygienic) protein-source.
No thanks! :puke:

Nisaba, you've made heirloom rose. Congratulations. I guess that means your an oldie now. lol

Nisaba, you've made heirloom rose. Congratulations. I guess that means your an oldie now. lol

I've got to get more talkative and catch up with the Aussie!

:icon_lol: :icon_lol: Hope you don't develop an Aussie twang diane....sort of like an overtight violin string!

Nisaba, you've made heirloom rose. Congratulations. I guess that means your an oldie now. lol

=jumps out of her skin=

=looks around=

Oh, yes, so I am! Hooray, and just in time for the new year!

Ahem.

Diane, you've got *no* chance, I'm a major talker.

Maggie, haven't you yet realised that Aussies are the only nationality on earth that talk without an accent? Kiwis flatten their vowels, Americans turn their o's into a's and double all their r's, but there is nothing you can point to in a voice that makes an "Australian accent" - it is hte epitome of an accentless English, in other words, perfect!

I don't double my rrr's. what americans have you been talking to??? LOL LOL

Congrats Nisaba! It was funny because my husband was reading posts over my shoulder and I saw one of your posts and realised that it said you were an Heirloom Rose! I said it out loud and had to explain to my husband how the "titles" on our posts work. Now, you've made the big time!!

at least I'm not a seedling anymore!! LOL

=smile= Nothing wrong with seedligns! And daisys are a smiling, optimistic plant.

LOL it's my favorite flower! LOL
heading to the store today. will be looking for things for the stock pile

The daisy does seem to be the happiest of flowers.

restocked a box of beef stock I used the other day. also, bought another bar of fels-naptha and a box of washing soda. next time will be a box of borax. then I'll have 2 of each of those put back for the homemade laundry detergent recipe.

I order with a friend from soapsgonebuy.com and it's cheaper, just an idea. I have enough of the stuff for a century, I think. Just don't have that much borax or soda.