Getting in a Pretty Pickle - Starting to Untangle things Part One

 and unfortunately it is not the preserves type of pickle.  

The Pantry has become untenable again and is due another clear out.  Those Preserving jars that are full in my main Pantry need to be taken out so that I can get the stuff that does belong in there in.  I haven't even been shopping yet for my major stock up.  The next few days therefore I am going to be seriously tackling the Pantry.  I may then have some room to move in the dining room.

A lot of the upper shelves in the Pantry when I re-filled it after decorating in the Pantry earlier in the year, are by their very nature full of home preserved foods which I do use on a regular basis.  However, the main Pantry is more of a dry Pantry and I have ingredients in boxes that need to go into the Pantry. Therefore all the Preserves are coming out and I will re-organise the dry ingredients in boxes into the Pantry.  That in turn should free up other tubs for sorting other items into.  I intend to pop the Preserves into a box or boxes to start with, and then once the Pantry has for the best part been sorted set about the under-stair cupboard where most of my Preserves are stored in any event. I will need the space in the dining room to be able to do this in any event, until the under-stair cupboard is all sorted out and I can then begin the process of re-stocking and re-organising after the painting, decorating and new flooring being put down.  Things came to a stop a while back on this however it needs tackling to free up more space which I intend to get stuck into.

I also have some preserves to make this week as well, but more on that later in the week.  I will therefore have more jars to add to the stash at the end of the day so I need to get a wriggle on.  Need to do a little and often on this to keep things moving.

I also have a lot of lovely containers destined for the Pantry which also need encompassing in the Pantry.  At the moment I need a large tub to put them in which is not available but hopefully that will come in due course. I have large tubs in the bottom of the Pantry with ingredients in as well, but they need to be more easily accessible, so it is very much wheels within wheels and might involve putting into jars (when available) and also re-packaging.  This sort of thing is akin to working the Pantry and constantly re-stocking, re-evaluating and planning.

This year may not have been what I wanted it to be on the preserving front, but next year is going to be a different kettle of fish altogether as I have new items to try and other ingredients to incorporate.  I have been researching and coming across projects that I want to have a go at.  The main one of these is to get the garden going early next year and to have a garden.  Growing something is better than nothing. I will never not grow something again it has driven me crazy this year although it was decided upon with the best of intentions.

The success on the food storage is that I now have a freezer and my fridge items are being used up, or preserved into something whether that be by freezing or by water bathing/heat processing.  I have much more control and less waste as a result which I am very pleased about.  The complementing fridge and now freezer are working very well together and a lot of useful storage for fresh and frozen items.  So a good balance all round.

Now to try and restore order elsewhere.  The Pantry has to be kept sorted at all costs and it is a constant work in progress.  Managing the Pantry well although a lot of work to start with pays dividends long term.  I still have quite a few things that I want to incorporate into my Pantry which involves some crafting items, the pretty bits if you like, but also some practical and individual crafted storage items as well.  Hopefully will be able to set too and bring things into fruition soon.

Always wheels within wheels with me, as there is usually something running alongside everything else.

I am hoping that this will not take me more than three to four days. (Wishful thinking on my part). Therefore plan of attack is:

• Sort out Pantry and reclaim it;
• Remove all homemade preserves and put in a box or boxes for the time being.
• Re-organise the shelves;
• Sort out one of the shelves in particular for dried items (if not in jars in packaging) so that it is easily accessible;
• Top shelf in Pantry is for storage containers (all the way around) only if possible - might have to store in a tub in the bottom of the Pantry.  Will see how things pan out;
• Put some more of the storage crocks stored in the bottom of the Pantry into use (a lot are empty at the moment);
• Sort out the Poly boxes in the bottom of the Pantry;
• If I end up with empty poly tub or boxes, they can be pressed into use elsewhere;
• Finish off sorting the Pantry and getting everything organised for ease of use;
• Because I am vertically challenged, I need the small step-ladder these days and it is currently in the front bedroom.  That will need rescuing.  I have another step ladder which is slightly taller that can be used in sorting stuff up on to the wardrobes in the bedroom.

This will do initially.

Once all this is completed I have further plans, but first we have to get through this. I am not sure how long it is going to take me, but I will get stuck in. This will be an achievement in itself.

The Pantry of all the rooms in the house, is the room that probably receives the most organisational attention as I have to be able to find things and also keep an eye on stocking things up. A very useful room in which I have invested an awful lot of time and money.  It will be good to get it back up and running properly and efficiently again.  At least all the decorating and the flooring has been accomplished this year and for that I am very grateful.

Once all this is sorted I then have some kitchen tasks to accomplish and get out of the way with.  However I will give designated posts on those items, as most of them relate to making useful stuff for the Pantry shelf or other food storage.

Upwards and onwards.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

x

NB:  I was part way through doing all of this when things really went to pot and real life got in the way.  This was compounded by Missy being poorly.  However, as my posts tend to be linked, I include this post, to illustrate what I had planned, and how far had managed to get and where I took up the pieces from.