Packing Your Pantry
As promised, I’m going to talk about what I keep in my pantry. I have a few categories that wouldn’t really qualify as items in your physical pantry, but I keep them on hand anyway. And can I just start by saying how much I hate the word PANTRY? Every time I type it or say it, I think, “Panty.” Then I start thinking about those panties that have secret pockets in them and what people might put in there. And no one wants to think about that. How about we say cabinets? Or create a new word? Suggestions?
Dry goods
Cans of crushed tomato
Chick peas
Kidney & Canellini beans
At least two different shapes of pasta (I like spaghetti & penne)
Peanut butter
Tortilla chips
Rice
Barley
Bullion cubes
Silken Tofu
Frozen
Chicken drums & thighs
Sweet Italian sausage
Ravioli
An assortment of veggies like corn, green beans, peas, & spinach
Fresh
Potatoes
Onions
Carrots
Celery
Garlic
Ginger
Lemon juice
Soy sauce
Assorted salad dressings
Salad fixings
Ground meat
Assorted cheeses
With the above ingredients, you can whip up countless meals, including marinated chicken with rice and veggies; potato soup, cream of vegetable soup, chicken noodle soup, spaghetti and sausage or meatballs, hummus and chips, red and white soup (recipe coming up on Wednesday,) chicken stir fry with barley, pasta salad, fresh salad, Thai style lettuce roll-ups, mac and cheese, arroz con pollo, oh man, I could go on and on. All these meals can be made quickly, within 30-40 minutes, and offer various levels of nutrition. From comfort food to healthy meals, there’s something for everyone.
What are your must haves that are stocking your cabinets? What go-to meals can you whip up with a moment’s notice? And can you please help me come up with a new way of referring to my –ick- pantry?
Thanks for reading!
Sara
6 comments:
Sounds a lot like what I keep in my panties ... er, pantry.
Haha! Not surprising. I keep a lot more on hand, but these are the best for real meals. Can't wait to raid your pantry this weekend! (Not panties!)
I keep raw fish, various chemicals, and pop tarts in my pantry. That's okay, right?
Canned tomatoes have been getting a bad rap because of BPA levels. I use them a lot as I make dinner every night for my family. What are your thoughts?
Rob, you don't surprise me. Coleen - I've heard a bit about the BPA issues. Have you tried any glass-jarred tomatoes? I do keep Wegman's Organic Crushed Tomatoes on hand, but I also try to stock my freezer with tomatoes from the Farmer's Market to avoid any additives. Once those run out... well, I'm out of luck. Have you heard of any other solutions or brands that are BPA free?
They say Trader Joes has a Tetra pack box of tomatoes, but really, for my general grocery shopping cans of tomatoes are easiest. However, I am interested in this freezing of tomatoes you speak of. I have a deep freezer now and could do this, but what is the process? I don't can, so I always thought tomatoes weren't an option for storing.
Post a Comment