Keeping a Well Stocked Pantry
Keeping your pantry stocked with ingredients you will use on a regular basis makes cooking from scratch easy and convenient. After the initial cash outlay for items like a bottle of apple cider vinegar or olive oil, you will be ready, after shopping for main ingredients, to whip up your favorite creations.
Here are the suggested minimum staples we recommend for your home pantry. Depending on what you like, what your dietary restrictions are, and what your family traditions are, your pantry list may look very different from this, but this is a good place to start. (Scroll down for recipes.)
Vinegars
Balsamic, apple cider, red wine, white wine
Sweeteners
Maple syrup, honey, cane sugar
Canned Goods
Diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, marinara sauce, beans, coconut milk, tuna/salmon
Nuts & Seeds
A variety such as almonds, sesame seeds, walnuts, pecans, etc.
Grains (whole)
A variety such as quinoa, rice, oats, barley, wild rice
Pasta
A variety including macaroni, spaghetti, fettuccine, egg noodles, rice noodles, etc.
Seasonings/Herbs/Spices
Sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, chili powder, ginger, oregano, dill, cumin, curry powder, thyme, rosemary, basil
Miscellaneous
Thickeners such as arrowroot powder & cornstarch, breadcrumbs, vegetable and/or meat broth, nut & seed butters
Oils & Fats
Coconut oil, extra virgin olive, butter, cooking oil spray
Condiments
Dijon mustard, soy sauce, fish sauce, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, mayonnaise, salsa, miso, ketchup
Pantry Vegetables
Onions, garlic, potatoes, winter squash (in season)
Refrigerated
Eggs, variety of cheeses including Parmesan, cheddar, Swiss, etc, fresh lemons, fresh ginger root, celery, carrots, plain yogurt
Frozen
Vegetables, fruits, meats, tortillas
Beans/Legumes
A variety such as garbanzos, green and red lentils, red beans, black beans, pinto beans, etc.
Nuts & Seeds
A variety such as almonds, sesame seeds, walnuts, pecans, etc.
Baking Products
All-purpose flour, whole wheat pastry flour, cornmeal, baking soda, baking powder, vanilla
Pantry Recipes
Pantry Bean Soup
Garden Vegetable Chili
Tomato Pasta with Chickpeas
Pasta Carbonara Frittata
Tuna Noodle Casserole
Fusilli with Bacon Tomato Sauce
Italian Chicken Soup
Potato Sauerkraut Soup
White Bean Italian Sausage Fennel Soup
