Monday, June 28, 2010

Our Favorite Things: Pantry Edition

Welcome! Thanks for stopping by. This is the third installment of the Favorite Things series, the goal of which is to share your favorite products/services with everyone. In this edition, we'll share food-related items (assuming that's what you have in your pantry, haha.) The important thing to remember is that opinions shared here have not been impacted by any free offers or gifts; they're strictly based on my opinion (take it or leave it :)

One of my top favorite items in my pantry is my pickle relish, but I can't write about that, because you can't have any!haha Sorry, but as far as I know, my pickle relish (a homemade gift from my friend Dawn) is not available for sale, nor are her delicious pickled green beans. (I guess you'll just have to suffer on that, sorry.)

Another top favorite in our pantry is Betty Crocker mashed potatoes.  They're super easy, inexpensive, convenient, and everyone loves them. The website claims that they "Taste as good as homemade!" and I'm happy to report that they are definitely the next best thing (but half the work and a tenth of the time), and they come in all kinds of flavors. Our favorite is Creamy Butter, but they also have Roasted Garlic, Four Cheese, and other combinations of the same. One box holds two envelopes, and we usually make both for our family of four. They're made with "100% real mashed potatoes" and (I'm sorry to say) some ingredients I can't pronounce, but I'm good with that; they haven't killed me yet! I highly recommend these potatoes for those times when you just want to serve a decent meal that makes everybody happy.

I realize this is kind of contradictory to what I stated earlier, but I am very, very happy that my favorite peanut butter includes just that: peanuts (and a little salt.  Smuckers Natural Chunky Peanut Butter is my absolute favorite, and when I don't have any to put on my favorite whole grain bread toast, I get very, very crabby. While my family mostly still prefers Jif, I am working on switching them over, because I'm trying to cut back on unnecessary salt and sugar, and the Smuckers is every bit as delicious. I guess I should add that the chunky variety is not for wimpy bread, but seriously, are you really putting natural peanut butter on crazy, processed white-flour "bread?" Come on over to the whole grain side! It's awesome over here!!

Okay, since I'm on the subject, I am in the market for a hearty, whole grain (as in sunflower seeds, crunchy, slice-your-own bread.) I really love LaBrea, but two stores that I buy it have switched to something inferior :( I sort of liked Breadsmith's whole grain bread that I tried last week, but it came already-sliced, and we like it a little thicker. Plus, it was just "okay." What it boils down to is this: If I'm going to eat carbs, I want them worth something. Suggestions are welcome.

That's it for me! I look forward to your suggestions on all things pantry-related. For favorite recipes (including my yummy summer favorite, Black Bean Watchamahoosit check out Mrs.4444 Cooks! For previous "Our Favorite Things" editions (including links to other contributors) check these out:

Bathroom
Kitchen
For Lawn/Garden/Garage Edition, tune in July 9th (I'm leaving time for the holiday). Guys, this is a special invite to you, but I know you ladies have stuff to offer, too. See you then!

Now's your chance to link up your favorite recommendations on today's topic. Here's LinkyTools, for your linking pleasure...

23 comments:

  1. Smucker's is my favorite, so I agree with ya on that one...BUT, I'll pass on the instant mashed potatoes...sounds too much like instant milk, ick.

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  2. The other day I had a craving for mashed potatoes and realized I had run out. I did not have time to go to the grocery store, but the corner store was still open and it's right by my house so I ran over there and picked up the instant potatoes.

    It's the first time I'd tried them as I do not like powdered milk or eggs, I was surprised that I loved these!!! They really are tasty!

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  3. I love Betty Crocker's potato kits! I keep a few in my pantry for when I really don't feel like peeling potatoes and what not.

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  4. I love the new design!!!!!!!!!!!

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  5. I'll have to try those potatoes... my husband is such a stickler about "instant" & refuses to eat them. But I've slid some through that he thinks I've handmade! HAHA! So this will be my next James Bond move on him.

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  6. Middle son made our menu for the other night, and when he said mashed potatoes, I asked him if he wanted real or instant (while I was squinching my eyes tight and repeating in my mind "instant"). He said instant! I grabbed a box of Betty and off I went! Don't know what I'd do without her!

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  7. I just can't seem to wean my family from the Jif. They won't even try anything else!

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  8. Love the new look!

    Thanks for the blog hop. I needed a little levity today.

    I love Smuckers Natural Peanut Butter too

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  9. Uh instant potatoes and peanut butter?? Are you pregnant??

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  10. I love your new design; but I really loved the old one too..
    I am all about the Smucker's and the whole grain bread!

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  11. Love your new look! I can't wait to fill my pantry with yummy stuff....Have a wonderful week!

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  12. The whole grain pasta actually taste no different than the white..takes a little longer to cook and is a bit heavier..
    The whole grain rice I am not liking at all!

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  13. I wantedto participate, but Harry and David do not have their salsa or this pretzel dips or their regular dips online... So I have no pictures. :( I know, I could pull out the old camera, but with getting everything ready for our trip... I'm afraid I will mis place the camera on the desk and bad things will come to me...

    I love Harry and David!! Of course I like all natural peanut butter too!!! :)

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  14. Those potatoes also make a great filler to potato soup...we love em round here too!

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  15. I may have to try those potatoes. Neither Josiah nor I like mashed potatoes. Bert loves them but since no one else does he rarely gets them. Maybe this would be a good compromise. I have tried other BC potatoes (like the 4 Cheese, the Au gratin, the Sour Cream & Chive ... sliced or grated rather than mashed) and liked them.

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  16. Love the new look! As for bread, if I am in the mood for bread I will always go to the bakery counter and get their freshly made breads as they taste so much better. But for everyday I actually quite like the Pepperidge Farm 9 or 15 grain bread, it isn't too bad at all.

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  17. I love the Smuckers all natural peanut buttter...that is what I grew up on and I still prefer it to this day. My hadn't been convinced yet, either.


    Your new look is awesome! I love it!

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  18. I love your new look almost as much as I love some instant potatoes!! Yumminess in a box!

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  19. Not so sure about the boxed taters, I grew up on "MaMa's" mashed so I'm not sure I could tolerate instant. ;)
    I am going to have to look for the smucker's pb. I use the Natural Jif but it does have added sugar. I am with you on the whole grain bread, so yummy!
    A bit of a funny/sad aside on that...a couple of years ago I was hosting a playdate/lunch and the other mom was helping me make lunches for the kids. I handed her the pb and the all-fruit spread, along with my whole grain bread. She looked up and said, ok, where is the cheap stuff you give the kids? I don't want to waste this.
    Needless to say that lead to a very interesting conversation....

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  20. I have been out of the blog-world for a bit, sorry I missed this one! I will try to remember to do the one coming up, but I think I might just have too much crap to sort thru for my fav thing in the garage! lOL

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  21. oh I love the new layout! very cool!

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  22. A nice hearty bread that I keep in the freezer is Ezekiel bread. I find it in the "organic" grocery stores as I call them - Natures Sun, Fresh Market, Whole Foods - I'm sure there's a store near you that sells it. look in the freezer section.

    I grew up on 100% natural peanut butter that you had to stir up because the oil had separated. Good Stuff.

    Kristin - The Goat

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  23. I finally got around to joining you for this one! As usual, mine is lots of blah blah blah about just a couple of things ;)

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