Pantry Essentials

Canned Goods

Beans: Pinto beans, black beans, cannellini beans, kidney beans, garbanzo beans

Tomatoes: Large can of organic whole tomatoes, smaller cans of diced tomatoes and tomato paste

Artichoke hearts

Refried Beans

Canned chiles (chipotle in adobo, green chiles, jalapenos)

Canned tomatillas

Olives (whole, sliced, chopped, various varieties)

Evaporated milk

Tuna

I also keep enchilada sauce on hand (you never know…)

Dried goods:

Jasmine rice

Brown rice

White rice

Risotto rice (Arborio or Carnaroli)

Dried pinto beans

Dried black beans

Lentils

Barley

Pasta (I keep like 14 different kinds on hand, but just keep your favorites)

Extra Virgin Olive oil

Canola Oil

Vinegar: Red wine vinegar, balsamic, and white wine vinegar are staples. I also keep a variety of flavored vinegars on hand

Apple Cider Vinegar and White vinegar

Worcestershire sauce

Pam (oil spray)

Chicken Broth, Various boxed soups, beef broth, etc.

Clam juice

Whole oats

Polenta

Corn meal

Raisins

Baking:

Flour (white, whole wheat, bread flour, cake flour) I like the King Arthur flours. I also keep Wondra flour on hand for sauces

Sugar (white, powdered, and brown sugar) I also keep raw sugar on hand

Several kinds of chocolate (chips, dark and bittersweet, unsweetened cocoa)

Vanilla (and any other flavorings you use in your baking)

Honey

Molasses

Baking soda

Baking powder

Cornstarch

Kosher salt and fine sea salt

Whole peppercorns

Ground black pepper

Ground white pepper

Mayonnaise

Mustard (dry mustard, yellow mustard, Dijon and a whole grain mustard)

Soy Sauce

Peanut butter

Sun dried tomatoes

Roasted red peppers

Spices: I must have 50 different spice jars, but the essentials, of course are cinnamon,allspice, bay leaves, basil, cayenne, cumin, chili powder, oregano, thyme, paprika, garlic powder, garlic salt, cream of tartar, sage, cloves, whole nutmeg

In the freezer:

Breadcrumbs (I keep adding to these with leftover bread)

I buy chicken thighs and breasts (boneless and bone-in) in bulk (organic) and wrap them individually and put them in labeled Ziploc

bags. I usually keep a pound or two of each on hand all the time) Is that too anal?

Puff pastry

Ground meat

Frozen shrimp

Italian Sausage

I also like to buy fresh salmon, cut it into 6-8 oz portions, wrapped individually

Pesto sauce

Peas, corn, spinach

Assorted nuts: pine nuts, almonds (whole and slivered), chopped walnuts, pecans

I also keep on hand:

Onions

Shallots

Garlic

Potatoes

Avocados in various stages of ripening

Lemons

Cherry tomatoes in the winter

In the fridge I always keep…

Yogurt

Jack and cheddar cheese

Parmesan cheese

Feta cheese

Sour cream

Corn tortillas, flour tortillas

Salad greens

Parsley

The usuals…eggs, milk, butter, etc.

Active dry yeast and instant yeast

Catsup, mustard, mayo, relish

Cream cheese

Buttermilk