A Well Stocked Pantry

I received a request to write about helping the novice cook. I thought about that request and it would have been easy to write about different techniques or simple recipes. But, then I thought about what I wish someone had told me when I first got the cooking bug.

 Once you get bitten by the cooking bug, you’re going to want to become the best you can be and eat the best you can make a soon as possible. If you buy yourself a piece of fish, beef, chicken or pork, you can take it to Italy, Ireland, China or Marrakesh just by using certain herbs or spices from your pantry. That is what I find exciting about cooking.


But to be able to do that, one needs a well stocked pantry. It is the most important things to have. However, when I started I wondered what went into this pantry. Over time and plenty of trial and error, I have created a list that I consider is a requirement for a well stock pantry. Everything that is on this list is in my pantry. With these Items I can create any meal that I want and if I am pressed for time, I can make a fast, delicious, and nutritious meal that my children love.


I know that this list seems large but I say go and buy everything on it. It will not cost you an arm and a leg and it lasts for months. These items sit in your pantry waiting for you to use. Having these basic items allow you to do anything you want to your food. The rule that I live by is there should be enough in your stores to feed you and your family if you get snowed in….so stock up!


One thing I want you to remember that there is nothing low quality about canned tomatoes, canned tuna, or frozen vegetables and fruits. I use frozen vegetables as much as I can because you can now by them already diced. In fact Kroger® now carries frozen vegetables mixtures of onion, celery, and carrots, the classic mire piox of French cooking and the mixture of onion, green peppers, and celery, the holy trinity of Cajun cooking, that makes preparation time a breeze.


Let’s take a look at the list:

Basic Spices:	Frozen Stuff:	Canned Stuff:
Sea Salt	Peas	Crushed Tomatoes
Table Salt	Green Beans	Diced Tomatoes
Black Peppercorns	Sweet Corn	Tomato Paste
Dried Chilies	Fruits	Garbanzo Beans (Chick Peas)
Nutmeg	Shrimp	Cannellini Beans
Ground Cinnamon	Ready Made Pie Crusts	Black Beans
Dried Oregano	Filo Pastry	Kidney Beans
Fennel Seeds	Puff Pastry	Black Beans
Coriander Seeds		Tuna (Oil or Water)
Cumin (Ground or seed)		Coconut Milk
Chili Powder		Olives
Five Spice Powder		Anchovies
Paprika (Sweet and Smoked)
Oils and Vinegars:	Baking Stuff:	Other Stuff:
Extra Virgin Olive Oil	All-purpose Flour	Dijon Mustard
Olive Oil	Self-rising Flour	Whole Grain Mustard
Canola or Vegetable	Bread Flour	Yellow Mustard
Sesame Seed Oil	Whole Wheat Flour	Dried Pasta
Peanut Oil	Cornstarch	Egg Noodles
Red Wine Vinegar	Baking Powder	Quick-cook Couscous
White Wine Vinegar	Dried Yeast	Basmati Rice
Balsamic Vinegar	Superfine Sugar	Brown Rice
	Brown Sugar	Nuts (Your preference)
	Powdered Sugar	Mixed Seeds
	Unsweetened Cocoa	Saltine Crackers
	Oatmeal	Broth (Chicken, Beef, and Vegetable)
	Maple Syrup	Jarred Pesto
		Curry Paste
		Soy Sauce
		Ketchup
		Tabasco Sauce
		Steak Sauce
		Mayonnaise

I feel this list will allow you to create any type of dish that you wish.  There are spices for Mediterranean, Chinese and Indian cuisines, there are basic ingredients to bake bread, create a wonderful marinara sauce which to serve over pasta, or create a wonderful soup.  Once you know what is in your pantry, your refrigerator, and freezer, you will never again wonder if you have anything for dinner.  Your problem now will be with all these choices what should I make for dinner?