<p>That's a definite "maybe". </p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>I don't cook.  I assemble meals.  (I stole that from <strong><a href="http://marthabeck.com/" target="_blank">Martha Beck</a></strong> years ago.  She's brilliantly funny.  If she's ever speaking at a bookstore near you, GO!)</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>It's so true.  <span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #993366;">How does any woman who works a full week and attends to hobbies/kids/puppies/life find time to COOK?</span></strong></span>  Are you frickin' kidding me???</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>It's both expensive and unhealthy to eat out all the time, so I assemble.   A typical dinner for me is a grilled chicken burger (from a drug-free chicken who roamed the range), a steamed (and previously frozen) veggie, and maybe some brown rice.  Woohoo!!  Isn't that exciting?   </p>

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<p><strong>Confession:</strong>  I am also addicted to the whole wheat crumbed chicken tenders from Whole Foods.  I'm sure that everyone else who eats them are under the age of 12, but they're fast, healthy, and tasty. </p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>EVERY Sunday my Nana asks me what I'm cooking for dinner, and EVERY Sunday I have nothing stellar to report.  If I baked muffins for breakfast that morning, I throw that into the conversation to appease her.  I am awarded bonus points for always baking them from scratch. </p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>With all of this grandmotherly guilt imposed upon me, I asked Mom for a Cooking Light magazine subscription a year ago Christmas.  Santa Mommy delivered.  Thanks, Mom! </p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>One year and a few weeks later, I have yet to cook a recipe from Cooking Light.  <strong><span style="color: #993366;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That's right.  12 ISSUES and I have not cooked a damn thing. </span></span></strong></p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>Nice, huh? </p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>I originally announced to a friend in a moment of Eureka-ness that I would cook one recipe from each issue for the blog!  And then realized that would suck 12 days from my project.  I'm not so sure I want to do that. </p>

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<p>However!  I am committed to making at least ONE recipe on Day 109.  We'll see how that goes and then proceed from there.  The recipe worries me a bit.  More to follow...</p>

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<p><strong><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #993366;">Now what on earth does this all have to do with the bloody pantry, you ask?? </span></span></strong></p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>When you are born under the astrological sign of Virgo, you crave a neat and tidy home environment.  You surely have bouts of messiness, but before long, you literally clean house.  Along with your cleaning lady. </p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>When you start a blog and adopt a puppy, this all goes to hell in a handbasket. </p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>And the puppy's food, treats, bones, and other paraphernalia take over your pantry. </p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>And then when you have good intentions to cook rather than assemble for a Cooking Light mini-project as well as <strong><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2010/11/" target="_blank">an upcoming Lusty Cooking project</a></strong>, you break out into hives at the mere thought of entering that pantry. </p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p><strong><span style="color: #993366;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And since you are a freak of nature who actually gets excited about cleaning out your pantry, this sadly meets the criteria of your 365 project blog for trying "one soul-scintillating thing each day."</span></span></strong></p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>Oddly, I am not alone.  <strong><a href="http://www.declutter100.com/" target="_blank">Fellow organized types are getting their freak on by decluttering their hearts out</a></strong>.  Go figure. </p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>But enough about them.  Welcome to my pantry.</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P1100178.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-3273 alignnone" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P1100178-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P1100198.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3274" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P1100198-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a></p>

<p>Before (left) and After (right)</p>

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<p><br class="spacer_" /> </p>

<p>Allow me to share with you "items of interest" unearthed in Day 106's Pantry Expedition:</p>

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<p><br class="spacer_" /> </p>

<p>Exhibit A</p>

<p><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P1100179.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3277" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P1100179-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p>

<p>See that white thingamajig resembling Aladdin's lamp?  For those of you who don't recognize it, it's a Neti pot.  Neti pots are used to clean out your sinuses.  The tip inserts into your nose.  It was sitting next to my Almond Milk.  Eeeewwww.  It now lives in my medicine cabinet. </p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /> </p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>Exhibit B</p>

<p><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P1100186.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3275" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P1100186-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P1100202.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3276" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P1100202-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a></p>

<p>Before (left) and After (right)</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>I have now officially moved into 2011.</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /> </p>

<p>Exhibit C</p>

<p><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P1100204.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3278" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P1100204-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p>

<p>Mom bought these for me from The Dip Lady at The Festival of Lights a year ago December.  (What is it with me and gifts from my Mom???)  I e-mailed the Dip Lady as soon as I found these.</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>Me:  I was just cleaning out my pantry and came across your dips from a year ago November!  Eeeekkk!!!  I’m so sad that they got lost in there!  Are they still good? </p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>Dip Lady:  Hi, Michelle.   You are fine to use them and they are good. I have had customers that have had them longer and used them and they are just fine.</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>Whew!</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>Which reminds me...</p>

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<p>A Suggestion to the Spicemakers of the World:  Since you are not as accessible as The Dip Lady, could you PLEASE put expiration dates on your bottles???  Do you think we remember which Thanksgiving we bought the cloves for???  For the love of Pete!!!  Throw us a bone here!!!</p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p><br class="spacer_" /> </p>

<p>Exhibit D<br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P1100194.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3279" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P1100194-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a><br class="spacer_" /></p>

<p>When you don't have human children, you tend to go overboard with the dog. </p>

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<p>Exhibit E</p>

<p><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P11001931.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3282" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P11001931-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p>

<p>These items were trashed. </p>

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<p>Megan, that Emergen-C I administered to you at work the other day expired months ago.  Oops!  </p>

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<p>I am embarrassed to report that I was storing shelled nuts circa 13 months ago.  Ladies, I'm sure you'll agree that no one likes old and shriveled nuts.  Good riddance!  <br class="spacer_" /></p>