Recipes Food Delicious Quick Eats

The Ideal Stock for your PANTRY for Quick Recipes

A quick cooking style means a neat, organized cupboard. You're time will evaporate if you spend all of it looking for some ingredient, only to remember that you used the last of it day before yesterday.Your first step to Quick Eats is to clean out that pantry. Get rid of that 5 year old box of dried spice you NEVER use. Then head for the grocery and get the things you use the most. I keep a pad of post type notes on the door. When I use the last of an item I write it on the note. Then, when leaving for the grocer I grab it.

Flour and Levening, . ESSENTIAL: all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, buscuit mix, cream of tartar.
  NOT ESSENTIAL BUT NICE TO HAVE AROUND: piecrust mix, arrowroot, active dry yiest, bisquick(TM).

Cereals, . ESSENTIAL: rice, noodles (Preferably non-yokes type), macaroni, spighetti, small pastas, farina, rolled oats, whole grains.
  NOT ESSENTIAL BUT NICE TO HAVE AROUND: cornmeal, barley, stuffing mix, bread crumbs.

Sugar, . ESSENTIAL: Granulated White Sugar, light and dark brown sugar,confectioners' sugar.
  NOT ESSENTIAL BUT NICE TO HAVE AROUND: Various types of syrups, honey, sweetened chocolate.

Beverages, . ESSENTIAL:Instant and Ground coffee, various types of tea, cocoa, instant hot cocoa mix.
  NOT ESSENTIAL BUT NICE TO HAVE AROUND: evaporated milk, condensed milk, canned buttermilk, soda water.

Extracts and Flavorings, . ESSENTIAL: Vanilla, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, steak sauce, liquid smoke(TM), cooking sherry.
  NOT ESSENTIAL BUT NICE TO HAVE AROUND: Chili sauce, hot sauce, brown mustard, tomato sauce, tomato paste.

Fats, . ESSENTIAL: Canola oil, Extra Virgin Olive oil, pure lard.
  NOT ESSENTIAL BUT NICE TO HAVE AROUND: Peanut oil, Spray non-stick.

Seasonings, . ESSENTIAL: Salt, Ground Pepper, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, grated nutmeg, paprika, dried basil, oregano, thyme, onion powder, garlic powder, dried chives, parsley flakes, dried rosemary, dill seed and dill weed, celery seed.
  NOT ESSENTIAL BUT NICE TO HAVE AROUND: allspice, clove, dry mustard, bay leaves, majoram, sage, savory, mint, MSG.

Miscellaneous Items, . Vinegar, food colorings, grated cheeses, onion soup mix, soups.

{Written by Jim Whitney}