Sorry for the delay – I was cleaning!!! I am a bit of a pack rat when it comes to food. Things like bars, teas, jello mixes, random baking mixes – you never know when you might want to eat one! But I have stuff in my pantry that is probably 2-3 years old and the clutter was starting to really get to me. Especially when you get as many products as I do and don’t always love them enough to eat the whole box.
So I sat down with myself this morning and said "You will NOT eat this and if you do you won’t even enjoy it." Anything that still looked good (albeit dusty!) and was individually package I’ve put in a bag to give to the food bank. Matt has a big bowl of bars he is going to eat through, and I had to toss a few things that were just bad. (Like a bag of Heath toffee pieces that was one ball of toffee from melting in the summer 
)
Feels SO MUCH BETTER to have an organized pantry!! I am working on my organization, de-cluttering and cleaning skills these days 
(And if you know my house, you know that its’ very uncluttered to begin with but I have lots of pockets of clutter in drawers and cabinets where I throw thing that I don’t know what to do with in order to de-clutter the outside!)
One cabinet in progress:
From the side he looks almost normal!!
But the left side is still puffed. He’s feeling 95% better though, so that’s what’s most important. Nice beard!
Breakfast involved a new food that Matt‘s been wanting me to try for ages: barley flakes. Just like oats but in barley form. Upon first sniff, though, I found them to smell quite stale I’ve got my mother’s nose for staleness and freezer burn, so I’m pretty sure the store probably held them on the shelf too long. But Matt convinced me to try them anyways.
The end result was quite nice thanks to toppings galore 
- 1/3 cup barley flakes, water, milk, pinch salt
- 3/4 banana
- Vanilla
- 1/2 cup pumpkin
- 1/4 cup cottage cheese
- Pumpkin butter
- Nuttzo crunch
- BISCOFF COOKIE!!!!!!!
The barley was gummier than oats and according to Matt, it has more soluble fiber than oats. I was not the biggest fan!
"I on-ce….wa-uz foamed…..but nowwwww amm notttt."
Instead of cleaning, I was supposed to pack for my trip this morning!! Better hop to it.
MY NEW COMPUTER SHOULD BE HERE ANY MINUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
{ 54 comments… read them below or add one }
I think anything taste good cooked in pumpkin and topped with nut butter this time of year
Have fun playing with new “toy” haha. I love new pieces of technology!
I am huge food pack rat. HUGE!
I am also trying to work through my stashes of bars, nuts, teas, and free samples. It makes me feel good to use what I already have…saves money too! Do you have a favorite energy/granola bar of all time?
omg I seriously need to clean out my pantry. Like you, I KNOW there is jello/pudding/randos from many many months ago! Might be a good Sunday afternoon project.
Have fun with your new computer!!
I should do the same thing with my pantry!
And that breakfast looks so good. Yum.
I have that exact blue basket in my cabinet for bars
I try to do a decluttering of my cabinets every month or two – it reminds me of things I need to eat and forces me to create new ideas for meals.
So exciting to get a new computer!
Glad Matt is feeling better!
Reminds me – my pantry is a mess too!
I should get to that …. one of these days.
I’m definitely a pack rat. Not good! My kitchen does need to be de-cluttered too, for sure. There’s probably stuff in there that I don’t even remember exists ahah
Have a good day!
go glad to hear Matt is doing (and looking!) much better.
YAY for the new computer!
have a great day!
Yay for Matt almost being normal
I need to do some de-cluttering too, I just haven’t had the time
MAtt looks SO much better! That’s funny – one of our plans for the weekend is to go through our cabinets/pantry. The husband already started last night, and it looks better already. I agree – it just feels better to not live in clutter!
I’m the opposite of a packrat. I give everything away or throw it out. I actually wish I held onto things more often. Oh well
Glad to see Matt is getting better.
The biscoff cookie on top of oatmeal is such a great idea!
I’m the opposite of a packrat too… although, sometimes it gets me in trouble, like when I throw away important bills or bank notices!
I kept moving, which encourages you to clean out the cupboards… Now that we have a house, I’m worried what I may do!
I am such a pack rat when it comes to food too. Especially now that we are doing the $100 Thanksgiving challenge. Oy vey.
doesn’t it feel so good to de-clutter and get rid of stuff? i like to do that in my closet every once in awhile. yeah for new computers!!
Glad Matt is feeling/looking better! He had it rough there for a few days!
I wish i was as uncluttered as you! I desperately need to spend some time going through piles and drawers of stuff in my house. unfortunately (fortunately?) there’s always something so much more interesting to do.
my pantry is full of shoes, so I don’t really have that problem…
Matt is looking so much better! Im a food pack rat, too.. I always feel comforted though knowing a have a massive stash of bars. lol
Kath,
Matt is looking so much better…I think it must have been all your oatmeal love.
Wish you could come over and help me de-clutter my house. I swear you should start an organization business. I’ve also always thought you should make a coffee table book with your oatmeal pictures. Two back-up plans in case you ever get bored with the whole nutritionist or Great Harvest thing.
I’ve always wanted to try the barley flakes but can’t seem to find them anywhere. I need to look more closely.
Toppings = the best part!
Kath, I can’t wait to see you tomorrow in San Fran at the Foodbuzz Festival…Safe Travels and can’t wait to see your new computer!!! Glad Matt is feeling better!
You gotta go to a homebrew shop for barley flakes! Also they usually have flaked wheat, rye, and corn! Sounds like some more breakfast options…
glad Matt is feeling (and looking) better!
I’ve never tried barley flakes for a hot cereal, but I love making mixed hot grain cereals with barley in them.
Love the feeling after de-cluttering! Wish things could stay that way!
Glad Matt’s feeling better!
I love the feeling that comes after I de-clutter something! I enjoy cleaning to begin with, so maybe that’s why.
We did the big pantry purge last week. Amazing how much expired junk makes an appearance in there!
giving away food is a great way to de-clutter & benefit others. hats off to you!
I just moved and I STILL feel like my pantry is too cluttered. I blame bulk stores. Too many experimental grains and flours!
I love decluttering! I should probably take a look at my own pantry today…:S
Yay for a new computer! Glad Matt is feeling better
Mmmmm, your toppings always make me want to have some oatmeal, lol. Have fun packing!!
Barley flakes are fantastic…as are quinoa flakes! Glad Matt’s feeling better!
I’m a big food pack rat too. I have pasta and annies mac n cheese, quinoa, lentis…a bunch of stuff I keep meaning to eat but never do.
Glad Matt is almost back to normal!!
I LOVE getting organized like that! It always clears my mind!!
i’m not a huge fan of those denser flakes either – but they do make for a nice bowl of savory oats….
I love organizing my pantry. There, that may be one of the most ridiculous hobbies I’ve ever admitted publicly. Seriously, though, roaming through a pantry can help you find non-perishables you forgot you had and give you ideas for great new recipes.
Have fun with your new technology! Glad Matt’s doing better.
Breakfast looks delish! Yey for new computers! Always fun stuff.
I’ve seen barley flakes at the health food store – but was never struck to actually buy them. I like my oats just fine.
And after reading your description, I don’t think I’ll be buying them anytime soon!
Matt looks SO much better! YAY!
I have a huge box in my garage full of “shtuff” that I know I should just get rid of like you…from bottled carrot juice to teas to all natural energy drinks. It may be giveaway time!!!
Recently I went through my entire stock of goods in my kitchen. It felt so good to get everything organized and sorted by date! It’s always nice to have a well-stocked AND organized kitchen!
Yay on the new computer!
matt is defs looking a lot better! i am glad you cleaned the pantry today! yay for packing and the new computer!!
jenna
Decluttering rocks!
cool i hope you like your new computer.
I am so glad to see Matt looking and feeling better. I felt so bad for him being all swelled up.
This past year I have made an effort to de-clutter and not purchase or bring in unnecessary things into the house. The garage is still waiting for a big decluttering and organizing session!
For Matt:
OK, I know “Operation Get on the Blog” is in full effect, but c’mon… this is going a little bit too far! I think if you would have asked nicely Kath would have taken a picture or two…
Megan,
Oh gosh, hard question!! I really love Peanut Butter Larabars and Clif Nectar Vanilla flavor. I like bars that take me a while to nibble through.
Heather,
It’s been a life-long dream!
I would love an organization business
Kath
Barley flakes, huh? Never heard of them. I’m not the biggest fan of barley in general, though. It’s delish in soup, not sure about cereal.
Jenn
It feels great after I have a organizing and de-cluttering session my house!
I need to declutter. I tend to purchase stuff that looks good to try and then never do. I have a random cake mix in my cupboard from last year when I intended to make a cake.
Yeah for Matt feeling better.
I hope Matt feels better!!! He should go to an allergist JIC to see what else could cause this reaction in him! Good thing it wasn’t anaphylactic!