One of the reasons I am able to whip up a good meal for my wife almost every night is that I keep my pantry stocked. There are a host of things that I know I’m always going to need so I keep them on hand so I don’t have to keep going to the grocery store. (Actually, I like going to the grocery store but my wife says I spend too much money because I can never just go to ONE store.)
A lot of things that I buy last a while so I don’t have to get them all of the time. Only fresh stuff is on my weekly list.
Here is a beginner’s shopping list for a stocked pantry:
- Kosher Salt. (You’ll be amazed at how much better this stuff tastes.)
- Black Pepper. Get a BIG container.
- Garlic Powder. Same as above.
- Italian Seasoning.
- Hot Sauce. Get a couple of different styles. Mexican and Louisiana are my favorites. Stay away from Tabasco. It’s good but it makes everything taste like Tabasco.
- Worcestershire Sauce.
- Soy Sauce.
- Olive Oil.
- Ground Cayenne Pepper.
- Canned Diced Tomatoes.
- Vinegar. I keep several bottles. White Wine, Red Wine, Apple Cider and my favorite, Balsamic.
- Dried Beans. Get several kinds.
- Canola Oil. Good for frying. Better that using your expensive Olive oil.
- Pasta. Lots of different shapes.
If you keep these on hand, meal time will be much easier. Next time, I’ll talk about stocking your freezer. Until then, go cook something.
The Survival Gourmet
Tags: Announcement, Gourmet
