Pantry List

One of the keys to easy cooking is a well stocked pantry.  I've included a list of what's in mine.   From time to time I'll update it after I realize that I've forgotten to include something. 

Please, please don't think you have to have everything on the list.  It's meant as a guide.  If there are things you know you don't like or would prefer to substitute, by all means do so.  As I mentioned in the beginning, cooking is meant to be easy and I'll also add fun!!!

Canned Goods & Bottled Items

Canned tomatoes, tomato paste

 Reduced-sodium chicken broth, beef broth and/or vegetable broth

 Clam juice

 "Lite" coconut milk for Asian curries and soups

 Canned beans: cannelloni beans, great northern beans, chickpeas, black beans, red kidney beans

 Chunk light tuna

 

Oils, Vinegars & Condiments

 Extra-virgin olive oil for cooking and salad dressings

 Canola oil for cooking and baking

 Flavorful nut and seed oils for salad dressings and stir-fry seasonings: toasted sesame oil, walnut oil

 Butter, preferably unsalted. Store in the freezer if you use infrequently.

 Reduced-fat mayonnaise

 Vinegars: balsamic, red-wine, white-wine, rice (or rice-wine), apple cider

 Asian condiments and flavorings: reduced-sodium soy sauce, fish sauce, hoisin sauce, mirin, oyster sauce, chile-garlic sauce, curry paste

 Kalamata olives, green olives

 Dijon mustard

 Capers

 Ketchup

 Barbecue sauce

 Worcestershire sauce

 Flavorings

 Kosher salt, coarse sea salt, fine salt

 Black peppercorns

Onions

Fresh garlic

Fresh ginger

Anchovies or anchovy paste for flavoring pasta sauces and salad dressings

Dried herbs: bay leaves, dill, crumbled dried sage, dried thyme leaves, oregano, tarragon, Italian seasoning blend

 Spices: allspice (whole berries or ground), caraway seeds, chili powder, cinnamon sticks, ground cinnamon,coriander seeds, cumin seeds, ground cumin, curry powder, ground ginger, dry mustard, nutmeg, paprika, cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper, turmeric

 Lemons, limes, oranges. The zest is as valuable as the juice. Organic fruit is recommended when you use a lot of zest.

 Granulated sugar

Brown sugar

Honey

Pure maple syrup

 Unsweetened cocoa powder, natural and/or Dutch-processed

Bittersweet chocolate, semisweet chocolate chips

Grains & Legumes

Whole-wheat flour and whole-wheat pastry flour (Store opened packages in the refrigerator or freezer.)

 All-purpose flour

 Assorted whole-wheat pastas

 Brown rice and instant brown rice

 Pearl barley, quick-cooking barley

 Rolled oats

 Whole-wheat couscous

 Bulgur

 Dried lentils

 Yellow cornmeal

 Plain dry breadcrumbs

 Nuts, Seeds & Fruits

 Walnuts

 Pecans

 Almonds

 Hazelnuts

 Dry-roasted unsalted peanuts

 Pine nuts

 Sesame seeds

Peanut butter

 Tahini

 Assorted dried fruits, such as apricots, prunes, cherries, cranberries, dates, figs, raisins (Store opened packages of nuts and seeds in the refrigerator or freezer)

Refrigerator Basics

 Low-fat milk or soymilk

 Low-fat or nonfat plain yogurt and/or vanilla yogurt

 Reduced-fat sour cream

 Good-quality Parmesan cheese and/or Romano cheese

 Sharp Cheddar cheese

 Eggs (large). Keep them on hand for fast omelets and frittatas.

 Orange juice

 Dry white wine. If you wish, substitute nonalcoholic wine.