Are you ready to embark on a journey of culinary exploration? Maybe you are like me, and just looking to survive the next feeding challenge with a household of bustling kids. Every season of life, I find value in stocking the pantry. In summer time, it helps encourage independence in my children as they can grab snacks and healthy options while I work the farm. In the winter, it helps give meal security when the roads are less driveable with winter snowfall. Sundays are also much more enjoyable without the mad rush to the grocery store. Makes it easy to rest and enjoy the day.

Pantry stocking is not just about filling shelves with cans and boxes; it's about creating a world of endless possibilities. By thoughtfully curating your pantry, you are equipping yourself with the tools to whip up delicious meals, even on the busiest of days. So let's dive in and discover the joy and convenience that comes with a well-stocked pantry!

A well-stocked pantry allows for quick and easy regular cooking. It also provides you with nutrient packed meals on a fly, when you would be tempted to order out or go out to eat. While the initial investment is substantial, a well-stocked pantry actually SAVES money. You can make a budgetary plan, track sales and order in bulk when items are more affordable.

Some simple ways to plan on stocking a pantry:

• Look for Key Items on Sale- Especially during the holiday season, items are on sale. Holiday sales is when I stock up confectioners sugar, brown sugar, canned corn and other key ingredients to the holiday feast. I buy more than I need for the holidays, as I plan on stocking the shelves for at least 6 months to 12 months.
• Buy in Bulk- Grocery Store Customer Service Counter can assist you in bulk ordering. In fact, even items they don't carry usually in the store are often available through their shipping aggreements, and they can buy them in crates, flats and boxes. I use this method for my gluten free flour. They discount the shelving fee, as it will come straight off the truck and into my trunk, so I save a bit. There is a crate/box number and cost actually printed right on any tag on the shelf. It's that small number you may need glasses to see, but it's there!
• Organize a Pantry Swap- We have had our fair share of over buying items by mistake. I go to the store and get BBQ sauce and the same week, my husband goes to the store and buys BBQ sauce in jumbo size! One time we had 5 ketchups, 6 mustards, 5 BBQ sauces and not enough ways to use them! My dear friend had the same mistake happen with quinoa, her and her husband accumulated 5 bags in a short month. We decided to swap!
• Start Growing Your Own Pantry Items with a Victory Garden- Many shelf stable foods are extremely easy to grow even in the short growing seasons in the Pacific Northwest. Beans, onions, potatoes are very easy to grow even in poor soil and easy to quickly dry and store all winter. A dehydrator can help extend this to dried fruits. I purchased a dehydrator for $40 and have loved snacking and adding dried fruits to all types of foods: salads, desserts and cakes.

Being a supportive spouse and parent can be extra challenging with the constant need for health meals and a balance diet all on your shoulders for the entire household. Child-rearing with a spouse that has limited capacity or is disabled can be an even greater reason why you need to have organization and structure in your kitchen.
An ordered kitchen is not only peace of mind for you, the supportive spouse, but can actually ENHANCE independence for others in the home. It can even create needed order and structure for the spouse with disabilitie. an orderly kitchen creates less distraction and more calm. A great example of this, is setting a coffee counter or cupboard that olds all the necessary components to a great cup of coffee. The person will be less distracted by other tasks in the kitchen, if their eyes and attention remain on the task of making coffee.

Whether you just moved into your home, relocated from a station in the military or are trying to create more order in your home, filling a pantry from scratch May take more ingredients than you would think, but will make meal prep and planning much simpler and future shopping trips much shorter. These are shelf stable items that complete almost any recipe you dream of or find. They are also the backbone to many dishes in all ethnic backgrounds. Did we miss one? I would love to hear about it and how you use it in your kitchen!