Well, I learned a whole lot about expiration dates this week. There was a bunch of random instant soups and jellos tucked in the back of the pantry that I’ve had for god knows how long and it turns out that even though they are probably chock full of delicious preservatives, they were still expired! Who knew?!

I also did some refilling of spice jars and consolidation. I would love to buy some glass jars for flour and sugar, but I am saving my budget for some bigger pieces – we’ll see what’s left at the end.

Finally I did a good fridge scrub down and it already seems like it is working better – it likes to be clean too!

Here is my before pantry pic:

And after:

I added a third basket to keep things in better order – 1) Rice, beans, lentils 2) Flour, sugar, salt, spices 3) Pasta! 4) The small ones hold the baking powder/soda, vanilla/vanilla sugar, and other small baking supplies (there are three of them).

I started thinking about my unnatural obsession with these baskets I bought at the dollar (5 shekel) store and that I use all over the apartment. The basket obsession is clearly something I inherited from my mom, but because we live in 450 square feet and my parents in 2000+. I have successfully taken the basket organization method to a whole new level.  Hurrah.

The energy drinks?? You want ‘em? They’re yours. We got them from the bf’s brother after his wedding and we don’t touch the stuff.

More clean kitchen pics:

I want to put something up above the toaster oven.  I have this great old vintage apron but I am not sure how to hang it.  I also was thinking maybe some sort of short and wide poster.  I’m a renter, so I’d rather not paint an area like that – too much work to paint and then unpaint when I move out.

Oh and I baked hamentashen this week for Purim, yum!

Lastly, this week’s flowers hanging out with my rosemary plant (which protects the flowers from the cats):

Feeling great so far!