Guest Blogger: Kitchen Staples
As I open up my cupboard, trying to decide what I want to make for dinner, it makes me smile to see those regular foods that are/will always be there. You know what I’m talking about…you may call them your “staple food items.” Yep, every cook as ‘em. Even when you are low on groceries, you always want to have these. Without these items, there are a lot of meals, you simply cannot throw together.
With that said, everyone has their own list of “staple items.” You may a novice in cooking reading this thinking, “What kind of items should I always have stocked in my home? I don’t even know where to begin!” Well, that’s okay. Today I want to share with you my list that you can use as recommendations for some foods that you could buy on your next grocery run that are versatile for many meals.
Baking
Baking Powder
Baking Soda
Brown Sugar
Butter (Imperial)
Powdered Sugar
Shortening
Vanilla
White Sugar
Yeast
Spices
Cinnamon
Garlic Powder
Nutmeg
Onion Powder
Pepper
Salt
Oils, sauces, condiments, etc…
BBQ Sauce
Grated Parmesan Cheese
Ketchup
Lemon Juice
Margarine
Marinade
Mustard
Olive oil
Pasta Sauce
Salad dressing
Soy Sauce
Tomato Paste
Tomato Sauce
Vegetable oil
Vinegar
White Wine
Other items
Canned Veggies (tomatoes, green beans, corn, etc..)
Chicken Breasts
Eggs
Fruit (either frozen or fresh)
Ground Beef
Oatmeal
Pasta (spaghetti, elbow, etc..)
Skim Milk
Wheat Bread
Rice
Okay. Don’t be overwhelmed. This may seem like a lot. However, after a few years of cooking, I have figured out the items that I regularly need to have in order to put together quick meals whenever I am low on time, energy, or money. I didn’t start out with this long list of staple food items. As I grew in my cooking, my list also grew. Start small and allow it to grow.
So hopefully this is helpful! Tell me…what are some of your staple food items?
Glad to see that grated parm on there! =D
Another on my list of must-haves is Basil…. I put it in everything!
O I agree! I could put basil on almost anything! I can’t wait for the summer so I can grow some again!
Peanut butter, butter, and eggs! Out of the 3, eggs would be at my top. They can be used for any meal, in any form and deliver filling, high protein.
My husband would agree with you! He loves eggs! I have to be in the right mood, but they are very tasty in asian dishes!
I second basil, fresh is divine but even dry makes every salad it’s best…also black beans, chick peas and apple sauce (a nice substitute for oils in baking) Granola and a variety of dried fruits as well as walnuts, canned tuna is usually n there too.
You mentioned vinegar, a great one- I keep a large one in my laundry room too 😉
Melissa
Melissa your pantry sounds so healthy! Good job! Black beans is a staple in our house too! Thanks for stopping by come again!
Love the list of staple items! I made a similar post with a link to a website that list other staples as well as recipes you can make from those staples! http://leahjayewright.blogspot.com/2012/02/menu-planning-recipes-and-free-download.html
Also, Im your newest follower! Love all of your homemade items!
Thanks Leah! I will sure check out your post! Thanks for following!