Holiday Grand Plan - Pantry, Closet Week

This week we turn our attention to the pantry and closets of our homes. I have two 'pantry' cupboards, they are always pretty organized as I like for everything to be in their spot. In pantry one I keep all baking needs, from my large kitchen aid mixer, containers of flours and sugar, and a basket of my most used cookbooks. Pantry two stores all the small appliances. Pantry cupboard three will be built soon (always nice to have a handy husband with power tools); it will hold the microwave, a pullout unit for the garbage, open baskets for onion and potato storage, and containers for cereals and other frequently used breakfast items.

Living in an Edwardian home you realize the value of space, as we have one closet, and we installed it this summer! We removed a 'not to code' 1/2 bath and installed a closet in the kitchen. This is the most used entrance into our home so we really needed a space for coats and boots. I installed a wire organizer; top shelf holding baskets of seasonal items (mitts, scarves, and extra slippers), a long bar for coats, and a shoe shelf with lots of room below to store boots. On the side wall we installed double hooks to hold our shopping bags and the dog leash. A tall galvanized bucket fits well into the corner to hold wet umbrellas. Left to install is the light, and the door w/hardware.

Majority of the preserves and canned goods are on a free standing shelf in the basement beside our chest freezer. This space is dry and keeps an even cool temperature. For large bag items, like rice, cereals or pasta, I stack into baskets, each basket is then labelled (example: rice elbow pasta). We will be placing our meat order from a local farmer in two weeks - so right now we are trying to empty the freezer so I can give it a good scrub before it is filled to the top again! I like to support local if possible, and find the quality and cut excellent. Our usual order consists of beef, pork, lamb, another farmer provides whole chickens. They are grass fed, no hormones or shots, lived 'on the land' and then humanely processed. As my childhood years where spent on the family dairy farm, and my husband's family are organic ranchers - this is important to us.

Cleaning, Orgainzing area:

• Pantry and additional Closets
• Pantry/closet cleaning checklist

Holiday Prep:

• Work 1 hour at least on your holiday crafts
• Make one meal for the freezer
• Make one batch of holiday goodies
• Buy 1/8 of gifts
• Take or find family photo for insert into holiday card
• Prepare for extra guest needs
• Buy extra batteries (time change is coming soon - so remember to purchase for your fire alarms too)
• Purchase two items for your holiday meal needs

Enjoy your day!