Not Made Of Money

When you’re trying to come up with a meal in a hurry, there’s nothing like having a fully-stocked pantry. There’s no limit to the things I can whip up when my pantry is full. If you’re new to the idea of stocking a pantry, though, you may be a little overwhelmed trying to decide what things are essential to have. Grocery stores are full of things that look good, but may not work well as stock items.

To be honest, no one can tell you exactly which items you should include in your pantry stockpile. Some of these choices have to be made based upon what your family eats. If you’re into pasta, for instance, you’ll definitely want to include some different types of pasta. On the other hand, if your family likes sweets, you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of baking supplies on hand.

Although you have to decide for yourself what things you have to have in your pantry, I thought I’d tell you about the things we keep in our pantry. This list should get your mind working to help you create your own list.

Baking Supplies – Flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and basic ingredients are “must-haves” in our house.

Peanut Butter – Peanut butter can be used while I’m baking, but it also works well for snacks (celery dipped in peanut butter) or a quick lunch (peanut butter and jelly sandwiches).

Canned Vegetables – Side dishes are easy when you have a few cans of your favorite vegetables on hand. You can also use them as ingredients in stews and casseroles.

Potatoes – Potatoes can be turned into a multitude of things. Mashed potatoes, chunky French fries, and hash browns are some of our favorite options.

Favorite Spices – Don’t forget to have plenty of spices on hand to add flavor to your favorite recipes.

Favorite Condiments – Kids love ketchup, but don’t forget some other condiments, too. Mustard, BBQ sauce, mayonnaise, and relish are always available in my pantry or refrigerator.

Canned Meat – In a pinch, canned meat (chunks of chicken or tuna) are easy to turn into sandwich materials.

Canned Soup or Dry Soup Mix – Use soup to create tasty casseroles or other meals. On a cold winter day, you can even take the easy road and heat the soup. Nothing hits the spot on a blustery day like a warm bowl of soup.

Pasta – I love to treat the family to the occasional dish of pasta, so I keep a variety of noodles ready to cook in the pantry. Bow-tie pasta, spaghetti noodles, and shells are just a few of the options you’ll find in the pasta section of your grocery store. Don’t forget to keep a jar or two of sauce on hand, too.

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