The well-stocked pantry

It depends upon what part of the country you live it as to what you'll consider to be the essentials of a well-stocked pantry. Here's what works for me, with the addition of some items that I don't actually stock but that I believe a lot of folks do! It's absolutely essential to keep the basics on-hand if you are going to be doing OAMC or OAWC, or even Once a Week Food Prep! Trust me, everything just flows better and you save a lot of time!

So, what have I missed? I'd love to here what is an essential in your part of the country: for example, I don't do a lot of Mexican cooking, although I'm learning, so what would be the essentials for that?

If I get some knowledgeable replies, I'll post suppliments with your suggestions! How's that? :-)

Categories:

Baking Staples
* flour
* baking soda and powder
* cornmeal
* cornstarch
* matzo meal
* cocoa powder, baking chocolate
* dried fruits like raisins, cranberries, figs
* nuts
* powdered milk
* vanilla and other extracts

Canned or Bottled Goods
* whole and crushed tomatoes
* tomato sauce and paste
* variety of canned beans
* chicken, beef, and/or vegetable stock
* olives, at least green and black
* tuna
* peanut butter, tahini
* artichoke hearts, in water
* ketchup
* mustard
* salsa, pesto, tapenade, and/or bruschetta
* hummus

Fats and Oils
* butter
* olive oil
* canola oil
* sesame oil

Frozen Items
* emergency stash of egg-substitute
* extra bread products, including bagels
* vegetables like corn, broccoli, edamame, green beans
* fruits like blueberries, strawberries, raspberries

Grains and Legumes
* variety of rices
* variety of pastas
* couscous
* oatmeal and other cereals
* variety of dried beans
* dried split peas
* barley

Herbs, Spices, and Seasonings
* whatever you use most often, but at the very least:
* salt
* black peppercorns
* basil
* oregano
* rosemary
* thyme
* bay leaf
* chili powder
* cinnamon
* crushed red pepper
* variety of sauces, like soy, worcestershire, tabasco, and teriyaki

Liqueurs, Wines, and Vinegars
* cooking sherry, favorite white and red wines
* favorite liqueurs for flavoring
* variety of vinegars, like balsamic, cider, white wine, red wine, and rice wine
* non-stick cooking spray, preferably olive oil

Miscellaneous Grocery Items
* crackers, flat bread
* matzo
* garlic
* onions
* potatoes
* sun-dried tomatoes

Sugar, Honey and Other Sweeteners
* sugar, preferably raw
* brown sugar
* honey
* molasses
* maple syrup
* jam

A different topic...disaster stocking

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