Food Storage Week

American Thanksgiving reminds us to be grateful for our bounty--and in most homes, that blessing is most clearly seen in the larder. Refrigerator, freezer and pantry hold a wealth of foodstuffs--and with holidays ahead, these food storage areas will be called into front-row service.

This week, we'll declutter, organize and clean food storage areas. Whether you have a single shelf and refrigerator-top freezer unit or dedicated areas for pantry and freezer storage, it's time to bring order to the larder.

Holiday prep chores run in harmony this week. We'll inventory the freezer and pantry, take advantage of seasonal sales to stock up, and build frozen assets to see us through December's busy evenings.

This Week's Focus: Food Storage Areas

Reading Assignments from Houseworks:

• Get organized in refrigerator, freezer and pantry - page 114-123

  Tackle clutter, organize and clean food storage areas with these great ideas.

• Top tips for grocery shopping - page 96

  Save money at the supermarket ... all year long!

Inspiration from the Web:

• New Year Resolution: Clean Out The Refrigerator
• Organized Pantry: A Beginner's Guide to Pantry Pride
• Feed the Freezer: Complete Freezer Cooking Guide
• Sneak Up on Freezer Cooking
• Frugal Holiday Meals: Beat the Holiday Grocery Game

This Week's Houseworks Checklist

• Declutter, clean and organize food storage areas this week. From refrigerator to freezer, cupboards to pantry, this is the week to cut clutter, clean and organize food storage areas.

  FIrst priority: a refrigerator clean-out. Make space for holiday cooking by tossing expired bottles and jar, and bring holiday sparkle to the Great White Whale with a top-to-toe cleaning session.

  In the freezer? We'll cull the clutter, organize the contents, and make room for holiday baking and the fruits of a freezer cooking session.

  Finally, dry storage areas deserve a shake-down, too. Toss stale or expired food items, clean shelves and organize the survivors for efficient holiday cooking.

  Ready? Set ... bake!

This Week's Holiday Prep Checklist

• Clean out the refrigerator. Seasonal cooking requires storage space, so clean out the refrigerator now. .
• Clean out the freezer. Make-ahead baked goods and holiday freezer meals need room, too. Clean out the freezer to create a home for holiday goodies to come.
• Set up a freezer inventory. Keep track of your frozen assets with a freezer inventory form.
• Organize and inventory the pantry. The year's best sales on staple foods lie just ahead. Know what you need--and make space to store it--with a pantry inventory form. Set aside foods you won't use to donate to holiday food drives. A
• Stock up on seasonal staples. It's loss leader time at the supermarket, as merchants compete for your holiday food dollar. Take advantage of low prices and stock the pantry.
• Plan potluck meals. If you're part of family, church or social groups that hold Advent potluck dinners, be ready. Our potluck meal planner will help organize and delegate community dinners.
• Add freezer meals to the freezer. Whether you do an at-home freezer cooking session, try the new meal assembly franchises or simply cook some extra pots of chili or spaghetti sauce, stow away a few pre-cooked freezer meals. In December, you'll appreciate having dinner ready to go on busy nights.

This Week's Christmas Planner Pages to Print:

Freezer Inventory Pantry Inventory