Stone Soup
My dad used to tell the story of stone soup (Google it if you don't know it!) at campfires. This story inspired me...
As I use bags of dried beans or pasta and jars of dehydrated onions, garlic, parsley, etc., I pour the last bit of each into a quart canning jar. After filling that jar with a nice assortment, I stick it in the freezer for longevity. Once it's in the freezer, I can add the last bits of frozen veggies as I use them (like green peas, which always seem to be rattling around in a mostly-empty bag in the freezer until they spill) as well.
On busy days, I pour the contents into a pot with broth or water, add fresh cut-up vaggies (and maybe a protein), let it simmer for a long time, and there you have it: easy homemade soup! This takes care of those bags in the cupboard.
