Pantry Challenge

Spring Cleaning Your Pantry!

The weather is warming up and if you’re like me, you’ve got the windows open and you’ve already started doing some spring cleaning! Of course, it’s great to tackle all the grime and dust that builds up in places around your home, but there’s one area that most people tend to forget about in their cleaning frenzy… the pantry!

Are you up for the challenge? Then join our Spring Cleaning #PantryChallenge! It’s the perfect time to clear out your expired food items and re-organize your food storage space to be more functional for the whole family. I’ve established a How-To-Guide on cleaning your pantry, fridge and freezer! It’s easy to follow and you can do it on your own time.

#PantryChallenge Goals:

  1. Get rid of expired food in your pantry, freezer and refrigerator.
  2. Guide your meal planning to utilize items you have on hand.
  3. Give you inspiration to make better choices for you and your family!

Let’s Get Started

Pick your zone! Start in the pantry, fridge or freezer. Where you start doesn’t matter, as long as you take the first step. Just know you will repeat these steps with each space.

Step 1: Take EVERYTHING out
I mean it… EVERYTHING! If you keep any small appliances or other non-food supplies in your pantry, clear them all out. This will help you start fresh and keep things organized where they need to be. Plus, it’s a good chance to dust off the ones you haven’t used in a while or consider donating items you haven’t used in a REALLY long while!

Step 2: Toss all expired food
I can pretty much guarantee that you’ll have some items in your house from 2017 or before. (I’m guilty, too). Toss them out and keep only the items that you and your family will eat. For non-perishable items that are not expired and you don’t see your family utilizing, donate them to your local food shelf.

Step 3: Write it down
Write down all food items that you are keeping. Find a blank notebook, scratch paper or an app in your phone… whatever works for you! Make 3 columns – Pantry, Freezer & Refrigerator. Write down all the items that you still have on hand, make sure to exclude all the items that were outdated and donated.

Step 4: Scrub-a-dub-dub!
Clean & wipe down the space. Now that everything is out, give it some good old-fashioned elbow grease and get cleaning! Get in those corners and be sure that your food is being stored in a clean place. This would be a good opportunity to add or replace shelf paper in the pantry or add a coat of paint to brighten up the space too!

Step 5: Re-stock
Put all your items back in. Keep them organized as you go by putting like items together. This is a good time to add new shelves or bins to help keep your food organized. Double check the food as you return it to the space to see if the cans or boxes may be dusty too. Wipe them down if needed so they don’t dirty up your nice clean shelves.

Smarter Meal Planning

Take the list that has all the food items you have in your pantry, fridge, and freezer. Are you overwhelmed? It’s amazing how much food we have on hand, yet, we can still come home and think “We have no food in this house!” (I’m guilty, too!)

The last step to our #PantryChallenge is my favorite part! I challenge you to use the list of food that you have on hand and create as many meals out of it as you can! For example, if you know you have pasta and lean ground beef, perhaps you make spaghetti and meatballs one night. Or if you have a variety of canned beans, maybe you try out some chili.

The goal is to plan meals that utilize the food you have on hand to help you use up the food that’s been sitting in the cupboard for quite a while. So, get creative with your meals or find some new recipes! (We have lots of great Dietitian’s Choice recipes right here on CelebrateMore!) By planning ahead, it’s easier to plan healthier, more balanced meals for the whole family. Plus, your shopping list should be much shorter if you’re utilizing what you already have at home, saving you time and money at the grocery store!

Share your photos with us!

Take a before and after photo… You’ll be glad you did! We would love to see the progress and improvements you made in your home with the #PantryChallenge! So, show off a little on how you are reducing food waste and stretching your food dollar. Share your photos on Instagram and tag us @Coborns_Stores. We would love to know what other tips you might have when it comes to spring cleaning your pantry!

Cheers to spring!!
Amy, RD, LD

Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Jayne

Wow! We are getting so close to Thanksgiving and I’m already starting to plan. This year I don’t have to cook the entire holiday meal because my daughter-in-law just called me and invited me over for Thanksgiving Dinner and I’m going to take her up on it. 

If you don’t know already I love to cook so I volunteered to bring a couple things and I just have to share what I am bringing because they are fabulous. The first recipe I decided to make something a littler lighter. It’s called Grapefruit & Pomegranate Salad. It has so many awesome flavors in it like avocado and feta cheese! It’s sure to be a favorite all year long as well as a great side dish for the Holidays! 

Then I’m going to bring something hot since it’s been so cold lately! So I have this awesome recipe for Cranberry Brussels Sprouts with Bacon. It’s a favorite for us because we are mad about Brussel sprouts in our family. Again, this is an extremely easy recipe and is ready in no time. The best part is the easy clean up and only needing one sheet pan to make it! 

These recipes will really delight your guests and make your Thanksgiving prep work so much easier. Enjoy and have a wonderful Thanksgiving meal!!!

Jayne, 
Coborn’s, Inc. Merchandising Specialist Team Manager – Bakery & Deli

Happy New Year From Your Coborn’s Dietitians

Amy

For those of you who are starting off 2018 with goals related to health & wellness, kudos to you! It’s a perfect time of year to get into a new routine. As far as better nutrition, just remember that it’s up to you to purchase good items at the store and eat your meals and snacks throughout the day to prevent yourself from getting too hungry!

The biggest struggle for individuals seems to be meal planning. Typically, dinner is the hardest for most families. With activities in the evening and coordinating when everyone will be home, planning dinner can be difficult. Others may struggle planning for dinner if they are cooking for just 1 or 2 people as well. Continue reading

Coborn’s Valentine’s Day Dinner

www.cobornsblog.com - Family, Friends & Food with Jayne

Jayne

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and if you are like me and don’t venture out to a local restaurant to celebrate I’m here to help you plan out your romantic meal at home step-by-step and it’s easy to do. Don’t worry I’ve got your back!

If you want to wow your significant other let’s start in the Meat Department at any one of your local Coborn’s stores. The days leading up to Valentine’s Day just stop in and ask for the pre-cooked Prime Rib in the heart shaped containers. Don’t forget to ask them about Johnnie’s French Onion Aujus also. This pre-cooked Prime Rib is fully cooked so all you have to do is place it in a glass dish, pour a little of Johnnie’s French Onion Aujus over the top of the steaks and then place them in your oven at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes and you have the most succulent and tender steak imaginable.

If you want something different in the steak family we also have Ribeye’s or Surf n Turf which is a New York Strip and Lobster. Don’t forget to melt a little butter to drench your lobster in or a wedge of lemon to serve on the side, but you better hurry in because the heart shaped containers are only available while supplies last.

To add to that wonderful meal don’t forget a little dessert and we now have a new item that I am so excited about. Stop in the Produce Department and ask for the strawberries dipped in chocolate placed in a heart shape container. I also can’t forget that the strawberries are drizzled with white chocolate, which is my favorite flavor and it truly puts the whole dessert over the top.

Now Valentine’s Day is not Valentine’s without a little wine to serve with your meal and I have a perfect wine that pairs so well with steak orDSC02776 seafood. It’s called “Wente Southern Hills Cabernet Sauvignon”. It is a full body red wine and has black cherry and plum flavors along with an undertone of coffee and spice.

Now last but not least don’t forget to stop into our Floral Department for those beautiful roses to impress your friend. You put this all together and I know you will have a magical evening.

Since it is Valentine’s Day, I want to show my appreciation for all of you! I am going to make it even easier for you to impress that special someone in your life with a little giveaway! I’m going to give one lucky winner a head start with planning that special meal. Just “Like” & “Share” my video and you will be entered into a drawing to win a FREE Prime Rib Dinner along with one dozen roses!!!

Enjoy and Happy Valentine’s Day to all!!

Jayne
Coborn’s Inc. Meat and Seafood Merchandiser