The Great Pantry Purge

I'm not quite sure when I realized that our pantry was a disaster, but it was sometime during the Christmas break.

I worked from home for the Christmas-New Years week rather than driving in to a nearly empty office. I suppose, working from home put me in constant proximity to my pantry.

And that's when I realized that my pantry was out of control. Bits and pieces every where. A small bag of spices here. A can of some random thing there.

We are going to clear out this pantry, I told The Boy. We must use up the older random things in this pantry - and in the freezer and the refrigerator.

This is going to be the Great Pantry Purge, I declared.

I decided to build my weekly menu plan around the bits and pieces so we use them up and can start afresh. So that's what we've been doing for half a month.

Source

What interests me most about this process is how it's spread like a purge-contagion throughout The Hayley House...I'm purging closets, files, untested recipes, unread/unloved books, and clothes.

It feels good. I highly recommend a good purge now and then.

Here's a quick use-it-up recipe:

• Leftover roast chicken
• Leftover penne pasta (about 1/3 box), prepared according to instructions
• My sauce aux champignons
• 2 T dried parsley

Combine all together, top with a light dusting of parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs. Bake for 15 minutes at 350F.