WFMW: free ice cream
I had a really great idea for WFMW but I didn't follow my own advice to start a draft right away and now it's gone to the place where all my short term memories go.
"Where?" you ask.
If I could remember where that was, I would have a short term memory.
So I'll just tell you what I do with empty ice cream buckets.
We have quite a few of these in the kitchen. They are free (well, after you buy the ice cream...) and sturdy, and they give us happy ice cream thoughts each time we reach for one.
They make a nice large leftover container for large family cooks. The handy-dandy handle makes it easy to grab and haul out of the back of the fridge.
They are good for mini-mop buckets when you want the children to spot clean the floor or cabinets.
My favorite: these are my bulk containers. They're the perfect size for a 5lb. bag of flour or 8-10lbs. of sugar. We also use them for oats, beans, powdered milk, homemade oatmeal cookie mix, rice, confectioner's sugar, granola.
We use big labels on the lid, the front and the back so it's easy to see what's in each bucket.
And the best part is, it's like free ice cream. When you need another container, think of it as buying a 5 qt. container ($4.50 is a good buy for a large container with a lid and handle, right?) that comes with 5 qts. of ice cream, free w/qualifying purchase!
Related posts:
- Coffee Can Ice Cream
- WFMW: Organizing my pantry
- Oatmeal Cookie Mix
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
- Recipe
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Filed under: WFMW: works for me, methods
Up til the part about the handle I thought you were talking about a sqrawny paper gallon container. I was really trying to invision using that as a super container and I just wasn’t seeing it.
Then I realized that you were talking about the BIG kind and I felt rather silly. In that light though, this seems like agreat idea!
WE do this too!!! And the best part is – when the lid eventually cracks under the pressure of constant use (because eventually it will) you have a great excuse to buy more ice cream! Oh, and here’s another good hint (or 2) if you (or your readers) don’t already know:
1) freeze all grains and meals (flour, corn, startch) for 24 hours before string them in a cabinet or pantry – this kills any bug eggs that are naturally there.
2) put a bay leaf in the container and on shelves in the cabintes and pantry and change monthly as this is a natural bug repellent – it even keeps the sugar ants away!
Oh, thanks for the bay leaf tip! I’ll tell my mom – they are having terrible ant problems this year. We’re having more than usual too, but with our house up on stilts the only bug that really plagues us is the daddy long legs. Funny, cuz they look like they’re on stilts too.
Great tip Kim! And to think that I’m heading to the grocery store here in a minute..hhmm…do I hear ice cream calling my name???
What a wonderful idea! Have a great Wednesday – our WFMW tip is up as well!
Brilliant, as always, Kim.
I do something similar with the take out containers from my favorite lunch place. They use these really sturdy black plastic bowls with snap on clear lids for salads.
My husband takes two meals with him most days (when he’s home) & he kept leaving/losing my expensive Tupperware containers. These are just as good & I don’t bite off his head when they go AWOL!
I DO need some bigger-type container for my granola I make! So good to realize next time I get ice cream I can solve that problem, too! Thanks for the tip.
oh sounslike another good advice. We just had a sale 2 for $4.00 5qt ice cream! We bought and stocked our freezer. I will haveto put our sugar in it. I will try the bay leaf idea — I am TIRED of ants. Q: we buy flour 25lb bag fromsam’s. Any advice on how to store it?
thanks,
Letisha
Letisha – we buy 50# bags of wheat and grind it so storage is a must there – I use food grade five gallon stoarge buckets with gamma seal lids. The gamma seal lids are a must.
Letisha,
When I buy the 25# bag, I store it in the freezer (we have a big one) and refill the ice cream bucket as necessary. But I realized I don’t really save much by buying the big one, so lately I’ve switched back to the 5# bags. They’re easier to store and handle, and there’s no opened flour bag to blow clouds in the kitchen or freezer every time it gets bumped.
I am loving this idea! Makes me want to run out and buy some double Dutch chocolate or something! Good one!
I am loving this idea! Makes me want to run out and buy some double Dutch chocolate or something! Good one!
Think we need some ice cream!
Not bad advice.
Thanks for the info. I never knew or thought to put flour in the freezer.
I will for now on.
Letisha
Would you share your oatmeal cookie mix? We do this with our ice cream buckets too. I also use them to store preschool things like counting bears and felt board pieces. -Melissa
I can see I have not been shopping wisely… I have been buying puny 1 gallon paper containers. Now, I see the wisdom in buying the 5 gallon size. Thanks for the wonderful advice… I have seen the error of my ways