Building a pantry

Mini Horses

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MUCH depends on purpose and length of storage. If you're talking just yr to yr or two "normal"...or a SHTF prep. :idunno

First, make a list of what you will eat. Next look at nutritional value of those. Look for proteins, carbs, vit/ min...balance. I look for 2yr use for most veg types & a year on meats -- for what I'll eat. Guess we're not considering the freezers :lol:

Next I try to grow most popular eating for me. But will buy if value there with expense of time/material to can is there. This being my normal, yearly method. Plus I can some convenience things.
 

Baymule

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1. Tomatoes in all forms. Whole, peeled and cored, sauce, spaghetti sauce, salsa, etc.
2. Vegetable Soup from whatever is in the garden.
3. Chicken-home raised
4. Broth
5. Jams and jellies
6. Fruit
7. Green beans
8. Pickles-you have my recipe!
9. Peas although I like them better when frozen.
10. Pinto beans because I want beans now and didn’t think ahead enough to soak them overnight and simmer all day.
 

canesisters

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I've been seeing alot of those sheet pan soup recipes lately. The ones where you roast a bunch of quartered tomatoes & onions, a whole garlic, some herbs & probably other things. Then toss it all in a blender, add a little liquid (milk or broth or whatever) & tahdah, soup!
I'm thinking that several jars of a tomato base & several versions of a squash/pumpkin base would be good to have.
Tomatoes in several forms are a given.
Beans - plain as a base, with ham 'better than bouillon' & onions, & baked beans.
Chicken/turkey & broths. Beef : cubed & ground & broths. Pork.
I keep a gallon bag in the freezer for all the veggie scraps & make broth when it's a cockpot full.
Corn. Potatoes. Butter beans & string beans.
A few meals in a jar would be handy. Beef stew, chili.
 

murphysranch

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Spices. Open up the container, separate into smaller piles, then vac pack into small bags. They will last a long time and it will surely spice up whatever you're going to store for longer term.

I also vac pack rice - both white and brown. And two types of sugar too.
 

SageHill

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Tomatoes
Potatoes
Jams/Jellies/Preserves
Chicken

I've done the roasted veggie soups - and roasted tomato soups - DEEEEELISHHHHHH - but I put those in freezer ziplocs, and freeze laying flat (easier on freezer space). I'm a bit of a stickler on safe canning practices so when I can I follow the recipe exactly (changing only dried herbs and spices).
There's a few FB groups that are safe canners Safe Canners for Beginners and Experienced and Canning and Preserving With Love With Bernadette nice people in both groups and willing to help.
 
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