Welcome to my Pantry

I spent today organizing and cleaning my pantry.  I threw out the last of the Neocate and got a little emotional placing it in the trash (it was expired or I would have found a family to give it to).  I had Hazel do it and I said "look, Hazie, that was your food!"  She said something like "yup, I remember drinking that nasty stuff 3-6 times a day and loving every ounce.  Thanks for taking such great care of me and finding nutritious and palatable entrees for my little allergic self."  Yeah, it was something like that.  There was also some of the rice crackers that she ate in there that were the only thing aside from Neocate that Hazel lived on for a year.  I don't have a "before" photo for two reasons.  First, I just forgot to take one and second it would have been super embarrassing!  It was bad!  Just imagine boxes of food falling all over the place and wheat berries all over the floor.  Yuck!

Here is the "after":




I got two large bins to put my pyrex containers separately.  I hate the plastic food-saving containers so I just use the pyrex but the lids and containers still get lost and separated.  I'm hoping this way they'll be separate from the start and easier to find matches.  Hopefully. 






I bought a cricut machine from one of the moms from Cannon's soccer team.  I put it to good use labeling all the grains and sweeteners.  I also labeled a little box with Hazel's name full of the foods and treats she can eat.  Now I can leave her at home with a little more peace of mind.  She has her soft-baked allergy free brownies, animal crackers, almonds, dried cherries, fake cheese sauce, egg replacer and smarties.






Here is my other favorite part, the grains and legumes.  Who knew I had so many?  I got some great containers and labeled them.  Sucanat is a sugar replacer (evaporated cane juice) that I use in our pancakes and waffles each week.  Quinoa (KEEN-wa) is a grain and it's super delicous and light.  Just in case you were wondering.  Before  Hazel, I had no idea what those things were.  It's so nice to have it all in nice containers instead of in half-opened bags all over the shelves. 





And that's how I spent my Tuesday!