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Friday, November 12, 2010

Clean your kitchen before the holidays

In another week, my refrigerator will be filled with Thanksgiving specialties.  Finding room for that jar of olives, sparkling cider or tray of cheese will be a challenge.  That's why I start now clearing out my fridge, pantry and cabinets.

This weekend, commit some time to review the contents of your food storage centers.  Here's an easy guide for each:

Refrigerator:
  1. Throw away anything with mold or beyond an expiration date.
  2. Combine like items (I tend to have multiple condiments in my fridge).
  3. Use up all leftovers in the next few days.
  4. Make a list of items that could be used in a menu this week.  (Example:  I've got mango chutney, spaghetti sauce, 1/2 empty container of frosting, taco shells and bruschetta mixture.)
  5. Prepare your menu to use these items.

Pantry/Cabinets:

  1. Remove all items.
  2. Check expiration dates and discard items far past the safe date.
  3. Make a list of items that are close to expiration date, and plan to use in the coming week.
  4. Set aside items to donate to a food bank.
  5. Combine like items.
  6. Sort food items in logical groupings as you replace them.

Not only will this effort create space for holiday goodies, but you'll avoid buying duplicate items, thereby saving you money.  It's just good stewardship!

How do you get your kitchen ready for the holidays?

Grace & Peace,

Glynnis

1 comment:

  1. Hi Glynnis,
    I had to laugh when I began to read this post...I try to get everything ready for thanksgiving and shop the week before. But not this year...other plans in the works...
    Woke up Tues morning to the freezer side of our side by side thawed...Fridge still working that morning, by afternoon fridge started warming...
    Threw out half of the stuff in the freezer - that was warm. Transferred all the fridge stuff to coolers and went to get ice to fill them up. Fride repairman showed up wednesday and fixed the fridge. Wake up at 3:34 AM thursday morning to find the fridge door standing wide open and temp at 60 degrees... We beat the technology but the 2 year old beat mom and dad with an overnight drink..so to say the least my fridge and freeze now have room for all of our holiday goodies.... God is so good that we did not have all of our Thanksgiving stuff in the fridge and freezer when all of this happened... Just thought I'd share so you could smile and laugh with us! Blessings!

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