Pantry CHALLENGE + pantry TOUR

I'm joining Jessica from ‪@threerivershomestead‬ for her annual pantry challenge called the Three Rivers Challenge. In this video, I share my three rules, my goals, and a tour of the pantry from which I'm working. Let's do this!
#threeriverschallenge
Instagram: @homemaking.with.joy
I'm Rachel: wife of 6 years, mom of 3 little boys, and caretaker of my home. I seek to pursue excellence in my home--learning skills that challenge me to be a better individual, wife, mother, and homemaker. I enjoy learning and teaching others how to try old-fashioned skills like cooking from scratch, baking bread, gardening, preserving, stocking a pantry, and more. It brings me joy to care for my family well!

[@sharonsplace5146]

Hello Rachel. New sub here. I am 73 and can nearly everyday in the warm months and about once a week in the winter. I have been canning since I was about 19 years old. I love it. I have a full pantry which includes several freezers. It makes me feel so good to see young homemakers that stay home and work so hard for their families. I did the same as a young woman. But, I also admire the women who have to work outside the home and take care of their families too. I know they have to make sacrifices to do so. I congratulate you for what you do. I also am doing the challenge by not buying anything that isn’t totally necessary. My goal is to try to use up what I have. I cook a lot and feed more than just myself and my husband. So God Bless you and good luck with the challenge

[@quilterjanet]

Hi Rachel, If you have a pressure canner that will hold that turkey... put it in frozen with an onion, celery, bay leaves, peppercorns and water to 2/3 full... pressure cook it for 2 hours. Let it cool. Pull out the meat and let it cool, pull it off the bones, put it in jars with the broth, put bones back in with same ingredients again and pressure cook for 90 min and then can it. Best turkey I've ever tasted, but canning it for future is also a bonus.

[@frankieodom]

I am 74 and started canning about 9 years ago. I learned from all the you-tuber homemakers. I can mostly protein. My husband also loves our grocery store. I feel like I have a restaurant in my home because I can whip up a great meal in about a half an hour or less. So much variety. I am a new sub. You are right about being a homemaker. It is an important job and you have to be smart to multi task all the things a mom does.

[@itsallperfectlynormal9805]

Suggestion for that turkey! Look up a few videos on breaking down the bird. I like to dry brine the breasts the day I break it down. Those get roasted the next day. On breakdown day, I roast the carcass and wing tips for stock. Typically, I'll freeze the legs separately for smoking and the thighs and wings to roast another day. The breast becomes lunch meat after that first dinner. Slices up nicely on a mandolin, or strips for salads. I wish it's something I'd have thought of years ago. You don't have to cook the whole bird at once! Broken down, it stores in much less freezer space, cooks up much faster, and stays juicy and delicious.

[@givengrace3162]

Hi Rachel! You made me laugh when you said your hubby said you were cheating by shopping, lol! I totally get that. I just did my prep grocery pick up and I always feel like I'm cheating as well. The first time I participated, I didn't prep shop, which forced me to be very creative. It was so satisfying. These last few years, I've prepped, so while we are saving money and rotating through our pantry and freezers, we also have our comfy foods. I think I prefer not prepping, although I did for the same reason you did. My son, although a teenager, enjoys his goodies, as does my hubby. That said, we are all on board to see what we can come up with. Lots of homemade goodies...God Bless!

[@Frdunsing]

Amen & I agree with that beautiful prayer 😊 Thank you Jesus ❤

[@homemakingwithjoy]

Praise God from whom all blessing flow!

[@shannidm]

Turkey bag. Upside down. I usually buy a turkey about 16lbs. It cooks for 3-3.5 hours. Season/ brine it and cook in the brine. Best turkey. I baste the bottom just to help keep bag from sticking. Super tender, super easy for beginners. We don't do a roasted turkey for display.

[@ethelkalsow582]

Here's a easy almost sweet baby rsys BBQ sauce 4 cups ketchup 3 cups brown sugar 1 1/2 cups molasses 1 cups apple cider vinegar 3/4 cup water 3 TBS worchestshire sauce 4 TBS dry ground mustard 3 TBS smoked paprika 2 tsp. Granulated garlic 2 tsp. Cayenne pepper or chilli powder 2 TBS canning salt 1 TBS black pepper Heat on medium mix well thicken with permaflo after it boils. Wish to mix well. Boil 15 minutes put in hot jars boiling water bath 20 minutes use pints or jelly jars

[@annlockey8552]

Glad I found your channel😊 I love watching Three Rivers she's Awesome 👌 😊

[@homemakingwithjoy]

So glad you're here! And yes, Jessica is awesome. I admire her greatly!

[@longarmsupplies]

You're doing great! I'm participating on the side, no videos. We pretty much live life like this all the time but saying I'm participating in a challenge gives me permission to try new recipes and think outside the box for a month. Have fun to everyone that is participating, publicly or privately. I hope you all have the same joy seen in this awesome young lady!

[@homemakingwithjoy]

Good for you for living like this on a regular basis--it is a goal of mine. I appreciate your encouragement and hope you have fun thinking outside the box during the challenge!

[@kathyhilliard4153]

Our favorite way to use our canned pork is to turn it into fajitas.

[@homemakingwithjoy]

I would never have thought of that but it sounds great! Thank you for sharing!

[@gardenrowes]

I’m doing the pantry challenge for the first time this year and am excited!! Thanks for sharing how you’re doing it, and all your pantry goodies!

[@EmeryShae]

If you are still wondering how to make a turkey, look up Living On A Dime and their turkey recipe. Super simple and delicious. Not dry at all.

[@kimberbeardsley156]

Granola, yogurt and hard boiled eggs are a great church day breakfast, I noticed behavior issues more with boxed cereal. Also a make a head breakfast casserole works great, they can even be froze ahead of time. Turkey, let it thaw out and count how many days it takes, ta k e out all inner packages and neck, roast in one of those tasting bags with just salt and pepper and it will turn our perfect. Then when more confident, try new recipes. Happy New year!

[@AmyKreiger-oi6qu]

I’m going to say you can EASILY go more than one month!! I’m thinking you can make two without much worry! 🤣 Great prep, Rachel!

[@homemakingwithjoy]

Thank you!! I'm proud of how I have accumulated it!

[@abarn9541]

You'd be really surprised how quickly it goes down - especially if you have kids!

[@LindaASJ]

I learned so much the first time I did the challenge years ago. Now I do 3 months and I’m always prepared

[@homemakingwithjoy]

Way to go! I learn something new every time I do it. 🙂

[@ritabaker3113]

Amen. New year’s blessings

[@user-xo6hz8ik1n]

Looks great however buckets should be off the cement floor. I would put them on boards.

[@unouluvem95]

Please cook the Turkey during the pantry challenge. Learn this skill. It's like cooking a chicken but larger scale. My boyfriend and I love to make a turkey in the winter and eat on it for a long time. Since it's only two of us. But, the leftovers are amazing for making a fun thanksgiving kind of meal, also you can put turkey in a lot of things. I love just making a sandwich later on with the leftovers or eating it with some potatoes or making it into a skillet meal. It's all fun, please share your experience with that. I bet you will find it's much much easier than you think. I have tomatoes, venison, a whole turkey and a whole chicken I'm going to try and preserve this next 2 months. I'm also participating in the pantry challenge 80% of the time.

[@carriecreates1207]

Good ideas! Good luck!! You have a very nice pantry, I am happy for you! I will watch and cheer you on!!

[@homemakingwithjoy]

Thank you so much! I appreciate the encouragement!

[@loisbowen2397]

You will do just fine cooking that turkey. One of my daughters made her very first Christmas dinner recently and it was very impressive.

[@homemakingwithjoy]

Good for her! She was brave and made it happen. I figure I have certainly cooked more difficult things than a turkey!

[@cyn4rest]

Impressive pantry! Good job, Rachel. BTW, a tasty pantry dish I use to make is: Spanish Treat O’Wheat. Create similar to Spanish Rice, but add chicken, beef or venison, etc, for protein boost. Rolls or tortillas, and fruit for desert - all out of your pantry! Enjoy. I use to cook wheat berries for breakfast overnight in crockpot (or thermos) and use leftovers for Spanish Wheat. Another good use is smoosh the cooked wheat berries and put in meatloaf or Tuna Patties - good filler/binder and nutritional boost. Have fun. Happy New Year from our home to yours ❤🎆

[@shannonnewman9202]

You can do a simplified May Thanksgiving (6 months off actual Thanksgiving, so no one’s sick of turkey) to test roasting your own turkey!

[@homemakingwithjoy]

That is a GREAT idea!!

[@brandyweidner602]

I just found your channel!! Excited to do the challenge also ,, Jess on " farmers table " has a delicious turkey recipe in fact I made it myself super easy jess has the " roots & refuge" channel also

[@homemakingwithjoy]

Welcome! Yes, I'm familiar with Jess. 🙂 I will check out her recipe. Thank you!

[@ritamailheau771]

Very inspiring! Thank you for sharing your journey.

[@homemakingwithjoy]

Thanks for watching!

[@fromthehutt9508]

I’m thinking of joining the three rivers challenge as well. I see a lot of similarities in our pantries and I also have three kids. Cooking turkey is sooo easy, just dive right in, timing the sides is harder than the actual turkey.

[@homemakingwithjoy]

It can't hurt to try! 😊 And totally--timing the side dishes seems to be the most difficult part of every meal for me! 😅

[@sharrilswindle752]

Just found your channel..and subscribed..you will do fine on your channel..Love Ruthann from Homesteading with the Zimmermans!! Such a good teacher ..You may also wanna check out Heidi From Rain Country Homestead, I have learned tremendous things from her.she does her extensive research and all her stuff is free too..also Becky from Acre Homestead her old ones also are fantastic.and Racheal from1879s homestead and Cassandra from becoming a farmgirl ..she lives in a townhouse but she is doing everything.Great videos.. Best wishes on the 3 rivers challange!!

[@homemakingwithjoy]

You're speaking my language! I already follow all of those ladies except for Heidi. I will check her out. Thanks!

[@cherylpeters8466]

Such a pleasure watching you

[@janew5351]

Just like you I buy Classico pasta and reuse the jars and lids. Often store bought soup jars are also reusable. Just got my first icing bucket from my grocery bakery dept.

[@cbordes1]

Very nice pantry stock. You’ll be fine during the challenge. Just commit to using as much as you can with as much variety as you can. TFS

[@homemakingwithjoy]

I often get in the habit of making the same things...this should shake up my routine a bit!

[@DoubleVisionHomestead]

Great pantry!

[@homemakingwithjoy]

Thank you!

[@c.gaisser7506]

First time watching you, and I like your personality, don't change! You should try Alton Brown Roast turkey recipe, in my opinion is the best, we been making for 15 years! Is so moist and flavorful, and the carcasses produced a very tasty broth.

[@homemakingwithjoy]

That's so kind of you--thanks! I will definitely look that up. I appreciate the suggestion!

[@Cookingwithapril]

Hey Rachel. New friend here. Great points. I don’t think it’s cheating. I wanna do this but I am not sure I have enough to make it through an entire month. I hope we can stay connected.

[@homemakingwithjoy]

Everyone has to start somewhere! Thanks for watching. 😊

[@sharonjennings1282]

Mice pantry! If you don’t want to buy cereal you can always do overnight oats or oatmeal /fruit/ peanut butter home made breakfast bars! I have things to use up as well. Come on January!

[@homemakingwithjoy]

Ooh, I have a recipe for breakfast bars saved, but I forgot about it. I'll have to give those a try. Thanks!

[@sharonjennings1282]

Omg. MICE pantry😅. I really need to proofread haha.

[@homemakingwithjoy]

😂😂 I knew what you meant!

[@EricaD61]

Im not filming it either. Lol. I will give it a go this year. 1 month at least. Maybe into February but im not sure. I need to clean out some of my freezer space for sure!!

[@homemakingwithjoy]

Way to go! It feels good to make use of the food that we have. I'm so thankful for a full freezer!

[@sherylh4780]

Nice job!!!!!

[@homemakingwithjoy]

Thank you!

[@janeandrews4850]

I had 3 children under 4. I thought taking 2 was hard till I had to take 3 shopping. Then I thought taking 2 was easy.

[@homemakingwithjoy]

It seems that way with every new child! Now, when I only have to watch one child at a time, it's SO easy. 🤣 I would not have said that as a new mom.

[@asmallholdinginwales]

I have inventories on clip boards hanging above my four freezers we raise our own meat and need to know what we have and where I have shown the freezers on several of my videos.

[@teresahendley5659]

Would love to have the recipe for the pickle relish and to know what kind of pickles you use.

[@homemakingwithjoy]

This is the recipe I use. I only use 1 cup of sugar, though. It's plenty sweet! leitesculinaria.com/100649/recipes-sweet-pickle-relish.html

[@ksmill09]

What is the temperature of ur basement? I’m wanting to make some shelf’s in my unfinished basement like u have but it is warm through the winter months.

[@homemakingwithjoy]

Our basement is temperature controlled like our house. It is usually 66-70 degrees.

[@jenmv3483]

What are your thoughts on Einkhorn? Tried it?

[@homemakingwithjoy]

I know a lot of people who like it, but I have never tried it. I'm content working with wheat. Perhaps someday I'll branch out into other grains. :)

[@susannadeau311]

Is your basement heated? I'm scared to put my jars there in winter. How can you water bath can quart jars? They're supposed to covered 1-2 inches of water and there's not enough room

[@homemakingwithjoy]

Yes, my basement is heated. Every water bath canner that I have seen and used is tall enough to can quart jars.

[@stacyfredette260]

We did the same for December budget.

[@homemakingwithjoy]

Glad to know I'm not alone! 😁

[@JennyRom]

Do you have a recipe for the sweet pickle relish?

[@homemakingwithjoy]

Yep! I use this recipe. I only use one cup of sugar, though. It's plenty sweet. leitesculinaria.com/100649/recipes-sweet-pickle-relish.html

[@sallybedwell1354]

You need my freezer system so you always know what is inside.

[@annhendrick8681]

Please share it with all of us!

[@viralprimenetwork]

Absolutely love your pantry challenge and tour! . We'd love to connect and hear more about your creative challenges. Could you share your email with us?