Building a Pantry from Scratch with Kris Bordessa

Sustainability Book Chat

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Description

In this episode, Deborah Niemann welcomes Kris Bordessa, author of Attainable Sustainable and the new follow-up, Attainable Sustainable Pantry. Kris shares her inspiration behind writing a book focused entirely on pantry staples and kitchen self-reliance, especially after the overwhelming response to her first book.

Whether you’re a complete beginner or already comfortable in the kitchen, this conversation is packed with practical tips, money-saving ideas, and sustainability-minded advice for taking control of your food.

What You’ll Learn

• Why Kris’s second book is a deep dive into pantry-focused self-reliance
• How to replace boxed foods like pancake mix and instant oatmeal with homemade versions
• What to do when you run out of ingredients like brown sugar or oat flour
• Kitchen tools that make homemade cooking more accessible (hint: stand mixer wins!)
• Tips for using up food instead of throwing it away (like turning failed bread into croutons)
• Easy ways to start preserving food without a pressure canner, including:
• Quick pickling
• Dehydrating
• Freezing in oil
• Unexpected DIY recipes like crystallized ginger, red wine vinegar, and garlic powder
• Kris’s favorite pantry snack: homemade cheese crackers (goodbye, Cheez-Its!)
• Why this book is especially timely for anyone struggling with rising grocery costs

Resources Mentioned

• 📘 Attainable Sustainable Pantry by Kris Bordessa
  • Buy on Amazon
  • Buy on Bookshop
• 📘 Attainable Sustainable: The Lost Art of Self-Reliant Living
  • Buy on Amazon
  • Buy on Bookshop
• 🧂 National Center for Home Food Preservation (used for vetting preservation recipes)

Connect with Kris Bordessa

• 🌐 Website: attainablesustainable.net
• 📱 Social: @AttainableSustainable on Facebook, Instagram, and more

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