It hasn't been a year yet (barely 6 months) since I've truly started cooking (true cooking involves a recipe, a plan and actually caring about the food you're making) and I've noticed that there are quite a few recipes that use the same ingredients. There are also at least 3 meals I can think of this second that I can make in an emergency because the ingredients are those that won't perish quickly and so I always make sure to have them on hand.
Also, when I got my first apartment I really could have used a guide when I went shopping to stock the cupboards. Had I been able to find one, I probably wouldn't be so late in starting my culinary fixation.
C'est la vie!
However I got here, here I am, giving you a guide that I could use myself. Please remember that this is great for my family and the foods we regularly eat (and recipes I am attracted to making) so feel complete freedom to add your own ingredients or spices if I have left your favorites out.
*I wish I were a pro and had everything organized by location in the grocery store, but instead I'm listing them as I find them in my own kitchen. Welcome to the layout of my pantry & spice rack!*
Green Beans
Peas
Mixed Vegetables (great for emergency meals & pot pies)
Sliced Carrots (great snack kids love, emergency meals, filler)
Olives
Pineapple
Pinto Beans
White Beans (use in place of Great Northern)
Tomato Sauce (not to be confused with spaghetti sauce)
Tomato Paste
Diced Tomatoes (with AND without italian spices)
Canned Mushrooms (sliced or whole in jar)
Chicken Broth
Beef Broth
Cream of Mushroom Soup
Cream of Chicken Soup
Cream of Celery Soup
Beefy Mushroom Soup
Cheese Soup (or Nacho Cheese Soup)
Spaghetti Sauce
Spaghetti Noodles
Elbow Noodles
Egg Noodles
Instant White Rice
Secondary less used rices would be converted white & wild
Saltine Crackers
Barley (buy it once and it will last a long time)
**Brown Sugar
White Sugar
All Purpose Flour (the bit healthier unbleached if possible)
Secondary less used flours would be wheat & bread
Baking Soda
Baking Powder
Iodized Salt
Ground Pepper (I use only in recipes calling for measured amounts of pepper)
Peppercorns (use in place of ground at each opportunity)
Pure Vanilla Extract (splurge, you'll notice the difference)
Cornstarch (!!!!! Makes anything thicker & does not dilute flavor)
Parsley
Basil
Whole Bay Leaves (always use 1 in place of bits, just pluck out before serving)
Oregano
Thyme
Paprika
Cinnamon
Ground White Pepper (cannot see it in food & is MUCH stronger)
Onion Powder (I use in place of onions *shudder*)
Chicken Bouillon (adds flavor or broth in an instant)
Beef Bouillon
Italian Seasoning
California Seasoning Garlic Salt (my fav spice bar none)
Garlic Salt (the kind with Parsely is our go-to spice)
Garlic Powder
Minced Garlic
Dried Onion Soup Mix
Packaged Spices I Can't Live Without:
Meatloaf Seasoning
Country Gravy Mix
Mild Chili
Taco Seasoning
Lemon Juice
Honey
16oz Brick Cheddar Cheese
Butter Sticks
Worcestershire Sauce
Soy Sauce
Ketchup (I prefer Heinz. This is a base for a lot of great sauces)
Pickles
Applesauce
Tuna
Buy in bulk & vacuum seal:
Burger of some sort
Ground Sausage
Chicken Breasts
The majority of the list are things that you should pounce on during store sales! I'm that crazy lady you see with 25 cans of Pinto Beans in my shopping cart. When they're on sale for a dollar apiece, I don't mind the weird looks I'm given! Pinto beans are good for almost anything... soups, tacos, burritos, chili, dip....
With this list you can easily make a last minute wonderful dinner or a gourmet slow cooked delight.
**not recommended to innocently holler "where's my brown sugar at?!" When frustrated in the middle of a newly renovated Target filled with black people.
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