So I sat down today and realized that it is almost 3 months until Pesach (11 weeks but who is counting?! Not me, nope, not me) I took a look around my kitchen, and realized my pantry and freezer were FULL. As in, the only room to be found in my kitchen is in the refrigerator itself, and there wasn’t a ton of room there. I even have big bags of individual snacks (for the DCs to take to school) overflowing onto my kitchen table.
Short of staging an intervention (DH has threatened, but I countered that since I know I have too much stuff and plan to use it there was no need for drastic measures) I decided I have to come clean in the literal sense. I have to start cleaning out what is in my pantry and freezer.
I stared into my freezer wondering what to make for supper. I pulled out half a pound of veal stew meat, and a pound of dark chicken cutlets. Add to this 5 Gefen frozen cubes of basil, 4 garlic cubes and 4 parsley cubes. Then add a large can (the 28 oz one) of crushed tomatoes, 2 regular size cans of chopped mushrooms, about 2 cups of dry red wine, salt and pepper. Bring this to a boil, then reduce to low for the better part of 1 and a half to 2 hours, or until the mixture reduces by a third.
I added this to some frozen broccoli, Uncle Ben’s boil in the bag rice, and some pine nuts I toasted in a dry saute pan with a spray of Pam. It made a comforting, hearty meal, but one where you don’t feel like you need a nap after.
My goal is to reduce what is in my pantry by at least 2/3 between now and 3 weeks before Pesach – that gives me 8 weeks. DH says I should just open the cans and serve them, but where is the fun in that?!
i love doing cleaning-out-pantry (and freezer) weeks where i try to shop as little as possible and use what i have! this looks like a great and healthy meal
I hope this post inspired me to use the stuff I have in my bursting pantry instead of buying new things. Every time I go grocery shopping, I buy something new that I don’t have in the house but it is all building up!
Pesach coming early?
So funny, I had the same thought this week and my post about spice cake mentions cleaning out the cupboard! We must all be thinking about Passover. I love creative and useful things done with odds and ends and leftovers.
I can’t believe Pesach is so soon! I love the idea of shopping in your own pantry for dinner ideas!
Wow, this year is flying by. My pantry is full too, I have to get cooking.
OY, I need to do that too but I don’t know where to start….
I say just find one place and start. For me its the main pantry and freezer. I have two smaller pantries as well and I cant go there right now!
That’s a wonderful start! I love meals created out of stuff you already have
OK so hubby always wants me to “WORK THE HOUSE” as he calls it – make a meal out of what we have around – mostly for $ reasons now we can add to it the looming Yom Tov of Pesach — thanks for the inspiration!
We recently went through the pantry and spice cabinets. It’s always embarrassing to see how much I have yet how often we keep buying more. I always feel good when I start cutting in to our ridiculous stash. Your cabinets look so neat and organized!
THANK YOU for bringing up the pesach thing… I have been saying this for three weeks now! You make me feel so normal!
Seriously? Pesach? OK I’m starting to panic now!
Hi, just wanted to say i liked this article. it was practical. keep on posting.