The simple joy of an organised & well stocked pantry.

I dedicate this post to my good friend Wendy, who is also my able assistant in my janeCOOKS Cooking Classes.
Why? because it was Wendy who gave me the idea to stamp my own jar labels and it is Wendy who will also benefit from my now reorganised Pantry.
As we embark on Term 2 of janeCOOKS Cooking Classes , Wendy will be glad to access the newly organised pantry, to gather the ingredients needed, for the recipes we will be demonstrating in the classes.
I have designed and overseen the installation of two kitchens, in the two homes we have owned over the past ten years. Both times I decided on the pantry space, size and location first, then really designed the kitchen around the pantry space.
A big pantry is just one of the simple joys of a kitchen that works for you. Your pantry stock above all else, needs to be accessible and every pantry needs a clean out, at least annually, to rid yourself of the clutter and items that have reached there used by date. These out of date discoveries, can be quite amusing, and the more out of date some items are, such as jars of ground spices, it makes you realise how long it is, since you either added spices or did a clean out!!
This school holidays, although I had many other things I needed to do, I chose to clean out and reorganise my pantry. Although some may find this strange, I thoroughly enjoyed the task! I wiped out the shelves, I washed out all my glass storage jars. I then made some new fun labels for the jars, using some adhesive labels, rubber alphabet stamps, ink stamp pad and contact plastic.


I visited the local supermarket for more jars and labels, I reorganised the space to make the jars more accessible and then I made a list of any stock that was needed.
I placed a large order with my organic suppliers www.lettucedeliver.com.au and once that arrived yesterday, I refilled all the jars and I stacked the shelves high.


Now all my jars are labelled and filled, my pantry is full and it is looking good.
What can I say, but going to the pantry for ingredients at my place, is just one big happy experience right now.



One of the keys to enjoying your cooking is preparation and the first step to preparation is to begin with an organised, well stocked pantry. In the next "In the Pantry" blog post, I'll talk about some of the essential ingredients, every pantry needs to have. In the meantime be inspired to visit your pantry, big or small and give it a makeover, you'll enjoy the outcome. I am expecting that Wendy will be nothing but impressed, when she arrives again at my pantry next week! I can just hear her saying "Oh Jane...it looks amazing!"


Check out janeCOOKS Cooking Classes at www.janecooks.com.au you can even watch a promo video of the classes!
janeCOOKS provides healthy, practical & entertaining cooking classes, showing you how to prepare wholesome everyday food for life. Cooking healthy food, that tastes great, using fresh local, seasonal & organic produce.
janeCOOKS located on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, provides interactive, educational cooking classes. You will be inspired by Jane’s passion for cooking and creating wholesome, everyday food for life. You can taste & see for yourself, whilst enjoying Jane’s energetic down to earth presentation style.
You will leave the cooking classes with recipes in hand, wanting to cook & eat well more often, inspired and equipped to do simple, healthy, everyday food for life for your family & friends.