My pantry was completely cleaned out in October. Then during the holidays, when I did lots of cooking and baking, it became a disaster area. OK, it is not just during the holidays that I love to bake. It is a year round addiction. (I haven't baked yet this year.)
The two areas of greatest concern seemed to be related to baking. There was the shelf with flours and sugars. It should be simple enough to organize flour, but I seem to have acquired quite a variety: all-purpose flour, Italian 00 flour, whole wheat, cake flour, bread flour, vital wheat gluten (what the heck is that, and what did I make with it?), pasta (semolina) flour. Then there is the regular sugar, baker's fine sugar, powdered sugar, brown sugar, and of course, everyone has some turbinado sugar, right? I really should have taken a "before photo", but I forgot.
Let's talk about nuts! We have almonds, (whole, sliced, slivered and ground), pecans, walnuts, pine nuts, hazelnuts, pistachios (whole and cleaned), dried cranberries and cherries, lemon peel, candied ginger, raisins, chocolate chunks (the chocolate chips live in the freezer), and I made Brad take the cashews and peanuts to work!
Lots of clips and ziplock bags! YUCK
I got some wonderful air tight containers with pop lids (made by 0X0) from Santa.
I organized the flours and sugars and went back for more. Why not make it easy to see my polenta, risotto, orzo, and several other kinds of pasta?
Hey, I bet these will work well for other stuff too!
Nuts? No problem!
Oh how I love a clean pantry. Now I feel like baking!
Comments (11)
Wow, you are extraordinarily well organized, Palma!
Posted by sandrac | January 8, 2009 12:37 PM
Posted on January 8, 2009 12:37
I wish I was your next door neighbor! You have everything anyone could ever need to borrow :) The end results looks wonderful. Isn't that a wonderful feeling?
I have been attacking piles and clutter during my break. It is finally looking organized and clean once again. Now off to vacuum and wash curtains...
Posted by girasoli | January 8, 2009 1:38 PM
Posted on January 8, 2009 13:38
Good job, Palma!
What kind of a store did the containers come from?
Posted by nancyhol | January 8, 2009 2:15 PM
Posted on January 8, 2009 14:15
OMG Can you fly here and do mine!!!???????
Posted by Ida | January 8, 2009 2:26 PM
Posted on January 8, 2009 14:26
Brad got them online through King Arthur Flour. I got more at The Container Store, and then a few more at Bed, Bath and Beyond. The website says they also are carried at Lowes.
Website is www.OXO.com
Posted by Palma | January 8, 2009 5:59 PM
Posted on January 8, 2009 17:59
I LOVE it! You are Queen of Organization and I bow down to you!
Posted by Barb Cabot | January 8, 2009 6:54 PM
Posted on January 8, 2009 18:54
You have inspired me! I have the same sort of chaos going on with zip locks and bags of this and that-it drives me crazy-I'm going to follow your lead and deal with it!
Posted by janie | January 9, 2009 6:24 AM
Posted on January 9, 2009 06:24
Oooh, great job! I need to get more containers and deal with my own pantry clutter.
During my vacation I alphabetized my spice drawers. My husband remarked "I think it's time for you to go back to work."
Posted by Amy | January 9, 2009 8:14 AM
Posted on January 9, 2009 08:14
Good job! The vital gluten is added to the flour when you maqke bread to make sure it rises nicely...the box should tell you how much to use - I think it's 1 tbsp. per cup of flour.
For the nuts, I always toast mine as soon as I buy them, then store them in the fridge in airtight containers. If I won't be using them for at least a month I put them in the freezer. If you have the frezzer sapce that might free up some pantry space!
Posted by Barbara | January 9, 2009 5:06 PM
Posted on January 9, 2009 17:06
lol@ Ida
palma,
here's a tip from rachael ray. she says nuts last longer if stored in the freezer
niice pantry.
Posted by Gerardina | January 10, 2009 2:18 AM
Posted on January 10, 2009 02:18
Yes, I also have huge bags of pecans and walnuts in the freezer.
Posted by Palma | January 10, 2009 8:16 AM
Posted on January 10, 2009 08:16