Pondering The Perfect Pantry

Pondering Your Pantry

  For many of us, when it comes to a pantry, we get overwhelmed with the idea of filling it.  What to fill it with, to be specific, There are so many items you could possible want to have in a pantry.   As daunting as it may seem there are a few essentials you should always have on hand.  I will give you a list of the things I find important to have on hand. But you will also need to think about the type of cooking you do and come up with some additional items for your own pantry.

   For example, I make a lot of cakes, and cookies, so I go through a lot of bakers chocolate, choc. Chips, flour and shortening.  For my Pantry, I always have those things on hand.  I like to keep stocked up by buying in bulk the items I use the most , which saves me $ and then even more money when I buy sales items.  So most of the time I will buy bulk when it is on sale, making it much more Pocket friendly.   For those things that you use a lot, remember to always have a back up.  Another example from my own kitchen is Chicken Base, which is much like chicken Bullion but better, I go through a jar every month so,  I always have 2 extras in my pantry, when I see I have one left, I put it on the shopping list.  I think that I might die if I run out of this stuff; it is like crack for my cooking. 

   It is important to be efficient in the kitchen, especially for those of us who are busy working, mothers, wives or all of the above.   One of the biggest ways to be efficient is to have a stocked and organized pantry; it is not only efficient, it is cost effective as well. So below is my list of things to always have in my pantry.

  When you don't have a built-in pantry, there is always a way to add a pantry.  One of the funnest pantries is using an old cabinet with shelving. Most of us don't have a specifically built-in pantry, so we must improvise.

  A well-thought-out storage pantry can save money, time and the inconvenience of not having the most simple items to make a great meal. A great well conceived pantry can produce great meals on the spot. Amazing is what you are.

Hopefully this will give you a running start to stocking a working pantry.

OILS, VINEGAR, SAUCES, & WINE

• Whole grain mustard
• Ketchup
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Sesame oil
• Balsamic vinegar
• White wine vinegar
• Chicken stock
• Soy sauce
• Tomato sauce
• Tomato paste
• Wine (red, white, or both)
• Canned diced tomatoes

DRIED HERBS

• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Cumin
• Dill
• Basil (can also be bought fresh)
• Rosemary (can also be bought fresh)
• Thyme (can also be bought fresh)
• Smoked paprika
• Dried oregano
• Fresh nutmeg
• Curry
• Red pepper flakes
• Cinnamon
• Kosher salt
• Sea salt
• Fresh ground pepper (not per-ground pepper!)
• Season Salt (my fave. Johnny’s Seasoning)
• Taco seasoning

BAKING GOODS

• All purpose flour
• Brown sugar
• Granulated sugar
• Confectioner’s sugar (powdered sugar)
• Baking soda
• Baking powder
• Pure vanilla extract
• Honey
• Chocolate Chips
• Cocoa Powder
• Baking Chocolate
• Shortening
• DRY GOODS
• Cream of chicken soups
• Canned beans (black, pinto, white)
• Taco shells
• Yeast

PERISHABLES

• Onions
• Lemons
• Potatoes
• Eggs
• Fresh garlic
• Salted butter
• Unsalted butter
• Chicken Base (Better then Bullion)

  It doesn't matter where I live, I will design a specific area for my storage pantry. Whether it be slide out drawers under a bed or a cabinet used for an end table.

  Find your best place for your storage and keep accurate records of the supplies stored there. Keep your use-by storage date rotated. Always use the oldest dated items first. Then have a list up-to-date  so you can keep track and know what you have and how soon it needs to be used.

See you next time.
Darcy