Meaty Monday

I have pantries on my brain.  I love a stocked pantry.  I have a few reasons I like pantries.  I grew up in the country, when it snowed, it could be days before you were able to leave the farm to go to town.  If you didn't have something you needed you had to do without.  Or walk to a road to somewhere you could get a ride and hope what you needed was available once you arrived.

I have also had times when I was injured or sick and unable to work, having a pantry meant there were ingredients to cook with for my preferred meals instead of having only the cheapest of food available.  

When you cook with ingredients, food shortages are much easier to work around.  No bacon, substitute ground pork flavored with sausage spice.  Or a slice of ham.  Skip the  bacon!

Spices don't last forever, but I keep mine in small jars, with larger canning jars sealed with my seal o meal gadget to keep fresher.  Another way spices last better is to get the whole seed when able.  Cumin, pepper, anise and mustard seeds are just some of the choices.  Other seasonings I pantry are granulated garlic, onion flakes, and dried celery, since I cook for one often.

I have found instant potatoes I like, try different choices until you find your favorites.  I use them if I have potatoes, because it is much easier to cook small portions this way.  Potatoes are best kept in a cool spot, a cellar if you were to have one.  I use so few on my ketovore diet that the Costco dried hashbrowns, and Auguson farms potato gems keep me supplied.

I have baking supplies.  They are stored in 2 quart canning jars.  I don't have much because I don't bake much.  The keto "treat" thing just doesn't work well for me, makes me want to overeat.  I like how I feel without the sweets and overeating so I rarely bake treats.

Eggs last awhile, I like the box the larger amount came in from WalMart, but I wasn't impressed with the eggs.  Seemed thin and runny.  I may use the box for my fridge/egg safety and get better eggs elsewhere.

I can or freeze meat.  I love home canned chicken for soups and salads, it has the perfect texture.  I also like roasts canned for soup, stews and even a quick "stirfry".  I have plans to can some chile verde this week, when I do so, I fill in the canner with beans.  I soak dry beans then can them to have ready to cook into a quick dish.

I have three pantry books that are both on my Kindle and in my library, usually near my reading chair.  Alice Waters "My Pantry: Homemade Ingredients That Make Simple Meals Your Own".  Cathy Barrow "Mrs. Wheelbarrow's Practical Pantry: Recipes and Techniques for Year Round Preserving". Daisy Luther's "The

Menu plan for this week

Crab/cream cheese (carryover)

Chili verde (canning some leftovers)

Cod in a lemony butter sauce

Hamburger

Taco salad casserole (meat, seasonings, cheese, sour cream and salsa and avocado)

Frittata and or scrambled eggs