A well-stocked pantry is the key to stress free cooking. I like to think of my freezer as an extension of my pantry, and use it to store things like butter, bread crumbs, and certain flours that are not used frequently. Having back up bottles of olive oil, a variety of vinegar, salt and spices among other ingredients will ensure you can always throw dinner (or even dessert!) together at the last minute. Here’s a list of my staples.
- All-purpose flour
- Sugar, brown sugar
- Baking powder and baking soda
- Kosher salt, black pepper
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, sherry vinegar, cider vinegar
- Canned goods, such as a variety of beans, artichokes, coconut milk, tomatoes, chicken broth
- Dried fruit, such as raisins, cranberries, currents, dates
- Variety of pasta
- Grains, such as barley, farro, quinoa, white and brown rice
- Dried beans and lentils
- Spices and dried herbs, such as cinnamon, allspice, cumin, paprika, nutmeg smoked paprika, oregano, crushed chili pepper, ginger, turmeric, ginger, bay leaves, thyme