Fall Pantry Keeps And Throws

 Fall offers a lot in the way of cooking and baking. Yet like anything in the house , the kitchen needs to be cleaned and scoured. There are some ingredients that need to be cleaned and some that need to be kept.  It makes for a more organized area , perfect for the heavy schedule ahead.

Items that need to go are the ones that made summer fun. If you have any ice cream left over from the summer  you can either eat it or throw it out. The sweet creamy treat is still good if you bought it in late August or early September. If you bought it earlier, you can still eat it  but it won't have the same vibrant taste. Sherbet is the same, lasting for two to three months. Luckily ice cream cones can last a surprising two to three years, however they will develop a rancid taste after two years in storage. These can be repurposed in fun Halloween treats by turning them into  cupcake cones. They also make cute containers for popcorn balls and Halloween candies as well as mixed berries. A fun dessert is layering different kinds of berries with whipped cream in cake cups. You can top off with sprinkles. Another long lasting summer treat is a box of Popsicles. These can go well into the new year and keep in mind that they're great for soothing sore throats. If you have boxes from the beginning of the year, throw them out.

You probably spent the summer creating all sorts of mayo based salads and slathering your dogs and burgers with all sorts of mustard and ketchup. Keep in mind that egg based mayonnaise has a shelf life of only two months. You won't die from eating it, but you'll become very sick.A better alternative is vegan mayo which can easily last six months once opened. That barbecue sauce you slathered on all those chicken wings and ribs may have to be thrown out, especially if you opened it in May or June.It lasts only four months. If you have a lot of it and it's still good, then think about adding it to meat loaf or hamburgers. You can also use it for pulled pork or pulled chicken. Horse radish is another condiment that has a short shelf life, expiring after  only four months. Throw it out if you bought it at the beginning of the summer. If it's under three months, then think about using it for roast beef sandwiches or to give salad dressings some zing. Ketchup is still good even after six months while mustard can last up to a year. Those pickles that graced the picnic table in the summer can also grace the winter table.Olives last even longer , staying in the fridge from one year to eighteen months.

It pays to clean out your pantry, fridge and freezer after every six months. It also pays to know what foods have a long shelf life and can be used in some cold weather recipes. See what you have and either use it or toss it.