A Well Stocked Pantry is Within Reach
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I don’t know if it’s the change of season that motivates people to start cooking more at home, but lately, I’ve been getting questions about the foods I keep my pantry and refrigerator stocked with so I can come up with dinner ideas without constantly running to the store.
I love keeping a well stocked pantry. It makes me feel organized, self sufficient and on the ready.
I try to keep items on hand that enable me to make a variety of things, whether it’s soup, a stir fry, marinated chicken/beef, or just tacos, it doesn’t matter. Stock your pantry and you’ll be set.
Do I still dread the age-old question, “What’s for dinner tonight?” That would be a resounding yes!! But can I figure out an answer and produce a yummy meal with some thought? The answer to that is also a resounding yes!! And in the end, that is truly my goal; and it seems….yours too!
You may already have useful items in your pantry but can’t think of what to make. In that case, there is a great website: Supercook.com. It is so helpful. Enter any ingredients that you have on hand and it starts suggesting different dishes for you to prepare. It’s amazing!!
Okay, so let’s get going. Here’s my pantry list. You can print it out below with my FREE DOWNLOAD. If you want to shop on Amazon for a few items, I’ve included all the links below. Here is a link to join Amazon Prime if you don’t already belong. Amazon Prime is great, fast, and shipping is free. What more could you want? Oh yea, a list…well now you have that, too!!
Spices
- Table Salt
- Kosher Salt
- Pepper
- Cinnamon
- Paprika
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Mixed Italian Seasonings
- Cayenne Pepper
- Chilli Powder
- Cumin
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- Taco Seasoning
Asian
Condiments
- Ketchup
- Dijon Mustard
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Salsa
- Hot Sauce
- BBQ Sauce — We prefer Sweet Baby Ray’s
- Mayo — Hellman’s is our preference
- Hot Sause
- BBQ Sauce
- Olive Oil — I prefer Extra Virgin because it’s lighter in taste
- Tomato Paste — Get the tube as it lasts longer, you really never use a whole can at once
- Marinara Sauce
- Diced Tomatoes in the can
- Chicken, Vegetable, and Beef broth
- Canned Vegetables — Green Beans, Black Beans, Corn, Peas & Carrots
- Panko Bread Crumbs
- Pasta
- Rice
- Canned Tuna Fish — We prefer it in water
Baking
- Flour
- Baking Powder
- Baking Soda
- Corn Starch
- Wondra Flour — Great for making gravy, no lumps!!
- Sugar
- VanillaExtract
- Honey
- Maple Syrup
- Chocolate Chips
Misc.
Print out your FREE COPY of THE WELL STOCKED PANTRY. I’ve also included a blank grocery list for you to fill out in the future. Make some copies of it…Why shouldn’t your list look pretty all the time?
Now, do you need to buy all the things that I choose to keep in my home?
No, definitely not. But my suggestion is to read through the list, print it out, and buy what is good for you and your family.
Do you have to buy it all at once and break the budget?
No, definitely not. Build your supply slowly. Since these are just part of the ingredients, you don’t use them up in one recipe, so most things are going to be bought infrequently.
So print it out and build your pantry supply and go as slowly as you want.
Don’t forget to add things back to your shopping list before you run out. NOT AFTER!! Wouldn’t that defeat the wholepurpose of this post?
Another thing to think about is having the correct staples to save leftovers. In addition to storage containers, you might want to keep some of these on hand. Here’s a picture of my kitchen drawer, if you don’t have a drawer to dedicate to these kinds of things, you can use a holder and attach it to the back of a cabinet door. Check out my post on Kitchen Organization for other storage and kitchen ideas.
Food Storage
Tin Foil
Saran Wrap
Parchment paper
Ziplock freezer bags — gallon and quart size
Ziplock sandwich bags
Check out my Refrigerator & Freezer list here. Combine both of these lists and you’re good to go.
Did you know that Alexa Echo 
and the Alexa Dot can make shopping lists for you, which you can then bring up on your smartphone or other electronic devices when you’re at the supermarket? It’s the greatest thing!! Now my family helps me with the shopping list by saying, “Alexa, add ketchup to the shopping list.” It’s as easy as that. And they no longer have the excuse that we ran low but couldn’t find the shopping list. It’s my new favorite gadget.
Now that we’ve got you all set up with a stocked pantry, the other half is Stocking your Refrigerator and Freezer. Then you will certainly be all set. Check out my post here. There is a free printable for that as well.
So what did I miss? Do you keep something in your pantry that I don’t? If so, what is it and what dish do you make with it? Please hit reply or share in the comment section below!
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