What’s in a proper pantry?
No two pantries are alike. Ask yourself these questions to find yours.
Do you make everything from scratch? Or have no time and need shortcuts? Do you bake? Are you vegetarian? Got a taste for Asian food? Or mexican? What time of year is it? What did you make last month? A good pantry has it all.
Some are non-negotiable.
Salt, a sweetener, an acid, and a fat. Each has many options. Kosher or Himalayan salt? You can have honey or just sugar, maybe brown sugar. I know, syrup! Lemon juice or vinegar? Which vinegar? Bacon grease or extra virgin olive oil? Avocado, tallow… oooh, sesame for those quick stir-fries. Your pantry will grow; just keep adding. These things store a long time.
Wouldn’t be the same without some.
Flavors like spices and extracts fit in this category, along with dried and canned goods. Baking needs fall somewhere between these two. Flour, baking soda and powder – I couldn’t live without them, but if you don’t bake, you prolly don’t have all of them.
‘Dried and canned goods’ means more than just a can of tomatoes and a bag of beans. It also includes bread stuff like croutons, and bread crumbs, nuts and dried fruit, and peanut butter, fruit jams, and pickles. I even keep some stuff on hand in the freezer. Berries for a smoothie thaw in the time it takes me to get ready for work.
Then, you have your extras. Think chips, potato or corn. Have you heard of Kale Chips! Maybe Nori for sushi rolls. Make a balsamic reduction. Or frozen leftover ingredients, like meatballs, pulled pork.
Build it over time
Take advantage of sales. Buy meat when it’s on sale, and drop it in the freezer. Almost always, bulk purchases make sense. Oftentimes, you can save a lot of money, if you have a little extra room. And of course, treat yourself now and then. Why live life if there isn’t the occasional flavor bomb?
Better to have it and not need it...
As you can see, I stay pretty well stocked. But with just a fat, an acid, a salt, and a sweetener, I can cook anything! Really. From beef bourguignon to roasted brussel sprouts. I just get fresh meats and veggies, and let my imagination do the rest. Why not hot biscuits smothered in peanut butter and jelly with that beef stew? Maybe I’m thinking sushi? I grab some tuna and a cucumber! Rice and all the trimmings are in the pantry. Lasagna for date night? I just need sausage and cheese. Oooh, maybe chicken and spinach. A proper pantry is the ticket to my culinary adventure!Type your paragraph here
Want some suggestions? Here’s what’s in mine right now.
