kitchen essentials

I would kill for this much space & layout

I was recently asked for advice on stocking a kitchen-pantry basics, good things to keep on hand and the like.

I am a very "use what you have" type of cook and like to have things that stay fresh for a long time and stock up on non-perishables for a quick addition to a weeknight meal.

Below are some basics broken out into: must haves, perishables, things that freeze well, and some extras worth having around.

kitchen must haves

seasonings:

• salt: sea or kosher salt + table (iodized) salt
• pepper
• red pepper flakes
• cayanne pepper
• dried parsley,  basil
• cumin: essential for any mexican feast
• cinnamon
• nutmeg: the key to all of my bechamel sauces

other pantry basics:

• extra virgin olive oil
• vegetable oil
• vinegar: I prefer red wine for dressings & white vinegar is good to rinse fruits and veggies in
• honey
• flour: I keep AP + whole wheat
• sugar
• chocolate chips: for whipping up chocolate chip cookies on the fly
• baking soda: in a airtight container or bag it stays fresh for a while
• baking powder
• brown sugar: put a slice of white bread in there for a few hours when it needs to soften; store it in an airtight container to prevent hardening for the future
• pasta: I like to keep several types on hand, both whole wheat and regular, penne, spaghetti and elbow macaroni are good to have on hand.
• rice: long grain white rice
• canned tomatoes: I prefer whole or crushed
• chicken or vegetable broth
• canned beans: I like to keep at least one of cannelini, red beans, black beans and garbanzo
• wine: I keep one bottle of white in the fridge for sauces, and at least two unopened bottles of red for drinking and 1-2 opened bottles of red that are no longer drinkable, but perfect for a red wine sauce or to add to tomato sauce
• at least one box of cake mix and jar of frosting: you never know when you will want an impromptu cupcake :)
• crackers of some sort: trader joes have delicious raisin rosemary crisps, and they really hold up nicely with any cheese
• nuts or trailmix
• granola bars
• one box of cereal
• nestle quick mix: essential for hot cocoa
• mini marshmallows: see above

perishables (I chose ones that keep for a pretty long time)

• lemons: they are great to add to sauces, water, or to freshen your garbage disposal
• carrots: also great for sauces, soups, stews and roasting, add color to a dish
• shredded cheese mixture: trader joes three cheese blend is great to add to eggs, melt on top of burgers, use in tacos, or whip up a quick mac n cheese with
• goat cheese: one of my most used ingredients and a staple in my kitchen. you may have noticed it in a few of my recipes
• fresh herbs: some keep longer than others-rosemary lasts a while and is great to roast with veggies or chicken; parsley is my go-to herb and if you chop it you can freeze it and use for about a month
• eggs: useful for making homemade pasta, breakfasts, as a binder for burgers or meatballs
• garlic
• onion: until sliced open you can keep it for a few weeks
• BBQ sauce: essential for Mikes (and my) sanity
• ketchup
• dijon mustard
• hot sauce: I like to keep franks and tabasco on hand
• butter: obvious
• cream cheese: also obvious

things that freeze well

• chop meat: for burgers, meatloaf, tacos midweek, just pop it from the freezer to the fridge in the am before work
• chicken
• herbs: pre-chop and double bag
• pre-frozen veggies: good for soups
• tortillas: freeze then double bag to avoid freezer burn, pop in the micro for a few seconds
• bagels, any breads: also double bagged, pop in the micro for a few seconds and then toast/pop in the oven

extras worth having around

• milk, cream: for obvious reasons like cereal and coffee, but also for hot cocoa, mac n cheeses and cream sauces
• another fresh vegetable: zucchini is my favorite, or arugula
• isreali couscous: a great sub for pasta or rice
• cookies: double stuff or seasonal oreos are my go-to
• dark chocolate covered almonds
• marcona almonds: great for a cheese plate spread and a delicious snack
• pizza dough: pre-made will last about a week in the fridge and you can use just about any pantry basic to make a pizza or mini calzones

Do you have any pantry essentials that are missing? What do you like to keep stocked?