The other day I was told by a reader that she struggles as a newlywed with cooking because she doesn't know where to begin. Not even with shopping. Some people who are intimidated by cooking don't like to make something new because they see spices they don't have and to them it looks like a lot of ingredients for one dish. But once you buy it, you typically have it for the next time. And a well stocked pantry has begun.
So I am sharing my pantry (and fridge) staples here that are always in my house. When something runs out, I write it in my agenda for the next week's shopping trip so I don't forget it. And there are things that I know I just have to buy every week. I think the key to good menu planning begins with organization. Keep your pantry cleaned up and organized and a quick glance in there will remind you what you are out of for the next trip to the store or the farmers market. Once I finish re-organizing my pantry in the new house, I'll take photos of my pantry and show you what works for me. In the meantime, here is a list of what I cannot live without.
Pantry
Pastas of all sizes
Rice and risotto
quinoa
grits
cous cous
bread crumbs
crackers
vinegars (white, cider, red wine, balsamic, sherry, rice)
oils (olive, canola, safflower, peanut, pumpkin seed, sesame)
dried mushrooms
nuts (almonds sliced and whole, peanuts, walnuts, pecans)
oats (old fashioned, quick cooking, steel cut)
artichokes
anchovies
sardines
tomato soup
chicken broth or stock
at least one can of pumpkin, year round
beans (black, kidney, white, any really)
green chilis and chipotle chilis
diced tomatoes (regular and with chilis. I also keep one jar of prepared tomato sauce for emergencies)
brown sugar
maple syrup
molases
honey
sugar
flour (all purpose, cake, white lilly, whole wheat)
cornstarch
baking soda, baking powder
cocoa powder
semi sweet and unsweetened chocolate
vanilla
kosher and table salt
pepper corns and table pepper
spices of all kinds (I keep 12 that I use more frequently, then I have a bunch of containers I bought for one thing once upon a time)
pam
Fridge
milk
buttermilk (I freeze what I don't use for later)
cream (you never know when you're going to need whipped cream!)
butter (at least 2 boxes, but I usually buy at Costco, so I freeze a few boxes)
sour cream
cheeses (cheddar, pepperjack, parmesan, mozzarella, some kind of nutty swiss like gruyere, blue)
eggs
bacon
jams, jellies
mayo, ketchup and mustard in about 20 varieties (slight exaggeration)
tabasco, Franks and sriracha
white wine for cooking
lemons
parsley
at least one of: chives, basil, thyme, sage, scallions
a couple of potatoes
tomatoes
lettuce and spinach
mushrooms
carrots and celery
onions, garlic and shallots
a few different types of bread and a loaf of white bread in the freezer to make bread crumbs
In the freezer
peas
carrots
corn
pie crust
usually a few peeled bananas that were past their prime
buttermilk (I freeze what I don't use by the half cup)
chipotle peppers
