As hard as it is it admit, fall is coming and there is nothing we can do about it. While it looms ahead of us, let’s prepare for the beginning of this new season and all that comes with school and routines and (possibly) a fuller calendar. Today we are going to prep for fall and begin with how to Empty the Kitchen.
The past month and a half our family has been emptying the pantry and freezer. While summer usually lends itself to a lot of grilling, we have been opting for roasts in the crock pot and bacon in the oven. Using up what we have has been a priority as we prepare for harvest season: produce to freeze and can and fresh meat from local farmers. Before school begins, before we stock up, it’s time to empty the kitchen. Let’s use up what we have to prep for fall.
Empty the Kitchen
Step 1: Throw stuff out.
Food waste is prevalent and also annoying. It’s inevitable there is something expired or not edible in your fridge, freezer, or pantry. Do a quick look through and throw out anything past its prime. Hopefully this won’t take much time and there won’t be much in the trash. But if there is, give yourself grace and let this be your motivation to not let this happen to the rest of the food in your house.
Step 2: Take inventory.
Let’s peek inside our fridge, freezer, and pantry to take inventory of what we have. We can’t use it up if we are clueless what’s hiding behind the leftovers. Go through each space and pull things in sight that need to be used up. Take note of any meals to make with the items in those spaces.
For example, as I have been trying to empty our kitchen, I noticed a few racks of ribs in the freezer and baked beans in the pantry. Last week we had just that for dinner along with some cucumbers from the garden. I also noticed we had some roasts and homemade beef broth in the freezer. Even though it’s summer, there will be roast at dinnertime.
When we know what we have, we can use what we have.
Step 3: Meal plan
If you’re like me, meal plans ebb and flow depending on the literal season of the year and the current season our family is living in. Whether our calendars are fuller or slower, whether we are spending more time riding bikes or on the soccer field, whether we are traveling or at home. Whatever season you’re in, find a meal plan strategy that works for you. Use the inventory you found in your spaces to make a plan for the next week or two. Maybe you have so many leftovers you need to do snack boards with leftovers for the next several nights. Lucky you, dinner check check check! Maybe you have random cuts of meat in your freezer that need used up. Or maybe you have a bunch of veggies on the verge and need to find some dishes to get them on plates and out of the fridge. Make a meal plan to use the things you have.
I’m competitive by nature and sometimes I like to make it a game to see how long I can go before I put in an order for grocery pick up. It’s silly, but it helps me be creative with the things already sitting in my fridge. See how long you can go without hitting up the grocery store. Pancakes absolutely count as dinner, friends.
Emptying the kitchen can be fun. It’s the perfect time to do it before we stock up for the second new year coming at us so very soon. Back to school is close. How will you Empty the Kitchen?