Handy Pantry List

Well it is almost time for the kids to go back to school and that means it is time for you to get your pantry back in order.  Here is a list of some good pantry stocking items to keep on hand.  Start building up your baked goods ingredients, so when your kids say mom can you make some cookies or brownies you can say sure!

What I would do is cherry pick your sale items until you get your pantry built back up.  Watch the sales at the stores.  A lot of the stores have "in house" specials, which are unadvertised.  Just take 10-20 minutes and walk through a store and look at the things that are on sale, that you didn't know.  Trust me I know we don't all have time.  But once you start doing it.  It will become part of your routine.  It only takes 21 days for something to become a habit!

Have these items in your pantry and you will always have what you will need for almost any recipe I post on here! 

Dry Goods:
Baking supplies:  Different kinds of chocolate chips, chocolate squares.  Baking powder and cocoa.  Baking soda, Biscuit mix, aka, Bisquick.  Canned frosting and Boxed cake mixes.  Brownie mixes.  Coconut Corn syrup, Cornstarch, Cream of tarter, Flour, Food coloring, J-ello, Honey, Pudding, Marshmallows, Rice Krispies, Evaporated Milk, Condensed Milk, Muffing mix, Pam cooking spray, Olive oil, Vegetable oil.,  Oats, Salt, pepper, shortening, Brown sugar and white sugar..

Canned goods:
Applesauce, beans: all kinds, black, northern, kidney, green etc., chicken and beef broth, creamed soups, fruits and fruit cocktail, green chilies, canned jalapenos, mustard and ketchup, mushrooms, olives, peanut butter, salsa, sauces: Alfredo, picante, process cheese, spaghetti and taco, tomatoes: diced, whole, sauce paste and stewed.  Canned tuna and Chicken.

Seasonings:
boullion granules, beef and chicken, Tabasco, onion soup mix, taco seasoning, ranch dressing seasoning.  Vinegar: cider, red wine, rice and white.  Worcestershire sauce.

Starches:
Bread:  pita or sandwich
Crackers:  graham, butter saltines, Garlic Triscuits, croutons, dry bread crumbs, Noodles: variety, small shells, big shells, spaghetti, elbows, rotini etc.  Rice, Stuffing mix.

Refrigerator Items:
Butter, Cream cheese, eggs, Parmesan Cheese, Jelly, Syrup, Mayo, Milk, Juice, Minced Garlic, Fresh Garlic, mustard:  Dijon and yellow, relish, biscuits, crescent rolls, pizza crust, salad dressings, shredded cheeses, mozzarella, shredded cheddar, Mexican blend, sour cream, soy sauce, tortillas and whipped cream!

Frozen Foods:
Bread dough, Chicken breasts, Fruits, ground beef, Meatballs, pasta, pastry shells, Pork chops, frozen veggies, cool whip, vanilla ice cream!

Dugeon office Part 2

Ok so I think I may found something to put the cookbook magazine's in.  I found these at where?  The dollar store!  Are they not cute, I mean they were only a dollar! I spent $40 bucks on some baskets however they did not fit, and yes I did take them back!

So I am going to post a pic side by side tell me which is better?
I think  I like it with the blue baskets and I think I will go get 2 more for the bottom shelf!

"The Dungeon Office"

I got home from work tonight and I said to myself, 'self, no wonder you can't finish your cookbook, look at the mess you have been living in.' So I decided to tear apart the dungeon office.  I definitely have not been organized!  So I am really embarrassed to say that I took 2 before and 3 after pics.  At least I am  organized now!  Only so much you can do in a 6x6 space!

Did I do OK?  I have a hard time keeping my fav cookbook mags away from the desk. 

Let me know what I can do better here!

Looking for something to put the mags in.  I bought the top basket thinking they would fit and they won't!

This is sooo bad that the calendar on the wall said APRIL!

after. and i bought a new lamp!

New lamp on top of some cookbooks. 
It is a little short, but better than the
clunker that I had before!

And of course,

 Mangia!

Thanks to the Woodington's

Everyone knows that my dream is to finish my cookbook, but I also have a dream of being a caterer.  I love to cook for family and friends and most of all I love to see their happy faces after they eat!   On Friday my friends Becky and Jeff Woodington, along with Brad, Mary, Bob and Sue allowed me to cook for  their parents anniversary party.  I had a great time from planning to shopping to organizing and finally cooking the food.    The most pleasing part of Friday is that everyone came up to me and said that everything was wonderful and that is very pleasing to hear.  Could this  be a beginning to a wonderful thing?  A special thanks to my mom and dad for their help I couldn't have done it without them.  Also, a special thanks to Becky and Jeff, one of the nicest couples in the world! 

Congratulations Bev and Bob on 50 years together!

Mangia~

Garden Update

Cukes and Zucchini! Here is a green pepper!

Wow, look at how everything is flourishing!  can't wait to start picking and cooking with them all!

My Momma~

Dear all family and friends....

We have had a very hard week in the Brandi family, we lost my Uncle Joe on Father's day evening and his funeral was on Thursday.  Joe was my father's last living brother.  Uncle Joe was a Veteren of the US AIR FORCE and he loved to golf back in the day.  I know that he always drove  a Ford.  He will be missed by all of us, especially his grandkids whom loved him soooo very much!

But on Friday the best news came yet.  My mom had her checkup appointmen with her Chemo DOC and he said that she is in the clear for now.  He is going to have her get another PET SCAN in September, just to monitor and make sure it stays away!  She is going in for some other tests but he said nothing to be worried about.  She looks great and I think she feels great too. And I have never felt better knowing that she is out of the woods!

I love my mom so much and I tell her that everyday when I leave for work or if I call her.  I try to call her during the day to check on her and my dad, but the last few weeks have been crazy and I haven't had the chance to..... I will get back on my schedule tho!

This is a weekend for celebrating!

Part of my fam!  Sus, Dawn, Al, Mom, Kellen, Mary, Jon, Fred, Steve, Brett and My dad

Garden update!~ It is growing!

this is a cherry tomato!that is a flower, it will be a cucumber when it grows!

I cannot believe it, but the garden is growing.  Take a look at th pics this is week 2

I am sooooo excited!

Thanks to the best dad in the world for watering it everyday!