New recipes in the works.... taking stock and a challenge

 I've been working up a storm in the kitchen recently.  Cleaning, organizing, taking inventory of our "stock", and just doing a little overhauling.  This will give you an general idea of what I've been dealing with.

These are my spice drawers.  The right hand one does contain a single packaged spice mix and our boxed jello (however I also have "bulk" jello in mason jars in the cabinets above as well.)  But the rest is herbs and spices!  There are two thin green boxes stacked on top of each other which contain small quantities of of "potent" spices, things where you only need a pinch or two.
  
This will give you a better idea of the contents of the left drawer.  The tin box is what I pull out and use on an almost daily basis.
                       

And here is the overflow on the top shelf of the cabinet above my spice drawers and I have one of those plastic lazy susan's in my cabinet next to the stove filled with extracts, small jars of powdered mushrooms and veggies, finishing salts, and "ethnic" salts/flavorings.

I also have various sized jars filled with dried mushrooms, candied citrus peels, various dried peppers, dried veggies,  grains, a minimum of 4 types of vinegars, cooking "spirits",  and numerous oils (some out and some in the fridge.)

What "normal" person has all these ingredients?  (and has NO oregano!  how did that happen??)  Did I mention that I use this stuff?  Not ALL on a daily basis but often enough.  And that I also grow my own herbs?  We only had a couple of "staples" in our garden last year but since it is a work in progress more will be added this year.

Because of all the craziness in the kitchen everything else if being neglected, not that my it matters to the rest of my family.  They are loving the cooking frenzy going on! :)  So today a new recipe in is the works... if it comes out as planned it will be the backbone for many a dish to include but not limited to: green chile, BBQ pork, pork "taquitos", and pork fried rice.

I thought you might get a kick out of this shot!  Yes I have to stand a "stool" in order to take photos from above.  You can say I am a bit "elevationally" challenged!  ha ha!  Don't you love my winter Crocs?  I know I do!  I think I will be heartbroken when the liners wear out in them as I wear them ALL winter long!

Have a great day!  Keep checking back and I'll keep you updated on the cooking "challenge" around here.  Oh did I not mention that?  Sorry!! I have challenged myself to use what we have on hand and use "real" ingredients.  NO purchases except for the following: milk, eggs, cheese, fresh and frozen produce (we are running low on veggies.. AGAIN!)  No meat, no baked goods, no cereal, no pasta, nothing!  Peanut butter is also part of the exception as we go through it.  How long will this "challenge" last?  I have no idea.... until we (I) am in the habit of using what we have and not buying needlessly.  The purpose?  To get back in the habit of using whole foods and to eliminate most processed foods from our diet.  To improve our overall eating habits. Yes I say most as there are some things that my husband has requested I do not make from scratch, peanut butter, Nutella,  and certain crackers.  So I will honor his wishes and will continue to purchase these items.  I will say aside from the peanut butter, the Nutella and crackers are items we do NOT eat on a regular basis.  So if you would like to join me, drop me a line.  If I can figure out how to do it I may even turn this into a Linky party with week or biweekly updates.

Have a wonderful week!

Linky Followers widget addition...

I am sure all of you know by now that Google Friend Connect is being retired as of 1 March 2012.  From what I understand this retirement is now across the board, for blogger and all other platforms.  Google is encouraging everyone to sign up for Google+, something I am just not ready for at this point in time.  So in the interim I have decided to add the Linky Followers widget.   Please do sign up as I would hate to see you go simply due to an operational change by Google (trust me I have lost contact with too many friends due to a computer crash which "ate" all my contact data, etc....)

Its really easy to sign up, follow and read blogs through this new widget.

I know the question of can my Google Friends Connect followers be automatically moved over? NO. Google won’t allow access to those accounts which is a good thing because you ought not allow someone else to sign you up for a new service.   It needs to be voluntary.  You need to ask your Google Friends Connect friends (and all your blog readers) to follow you using Linky Followers but its really easy, quick and free?  I think you'll love the tool.  It appears  to be a good way to organize and follow the blogs you love.

And most importantly I want to thank you all for faithfully following along!  I really doubt this blog will turn into one of those HUGE blogs followed by the multitudes and do you know what?  I am completely and totally fine with that!  Do you know why?  Because in all honesty this blog is a journey for me taking me places I've never been,  a window that the Lord has used to open my eyes to many things, causing me to examine myself inwardly and outwardly and to consider the possibilities.  A tool to teach me  "...in whatsoever state I am , therewith tobe content." Philippians 4:11  So I would like to say thank you and hope you will continue to follow along!