What To Stock in the Pantry (cream, chef, Southern, vinegar)

[no kudzu]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

I would ditch #14 since spices and herbs are covered in #6 and go with canned/jarred items like beans, artichoke hearts, hearts of palm, peppers, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, capers and pestos which are great for pasta dishes and salads. I would also add balsamic vinegar which is not only good for dressings but terrific as a marinade. Also the new, healthier low-sodium soups/stocks in cardboard containers are a modern day must-have in my opinion as well (#16).

How could I have forgotten Balsamic vinegar? But the bold items I rarely buy, only for special recipes. Still thanks for the comments.

[SATX56]

..a frying pan to straighten out the old man. J/K Or one can actually cook meals in it!

[thatswanlady]

I would really second the vote for a well-stocked spice cabinet. Ever since I branched mine out years ago, I find I have very little need for pre-made spice blends anymore (except for my semi-shameful love of taco seasoning). However, if she's not too comfortable with cooking, the spice blends can also help her get her feet wet.

Both white rice and brown rice are good -- I rarely use white rice, but there are some recipes where it's preferred.

I also have a wide array of hot sauces -- Tabasco, Sriracha, Cholula and several others, but those three are a good start. With a 4 year old, I'm not sure how much heat she'll want to cook with, but those sauces can be great at the table for people to customize their heat levels.

[Sgoldie]

This is a basic one I came up with -

1) Salt & pepper
2) Garlic powder, dill, rosemary, lemon pepper, turkey seasoning, cinnamon.
3) Beef stock, chicken stock, dry gravy mix & others
4) Mayo, mustard, catsup, horseradish sauce, blue cheese dressing and others.
5) Peanut butter & jellies
6) Cake mix, cookie mix, muffin mix, frosting in can
7) Flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder
8) Olive oil, spray oil, crisco
9) Canned soups (low salt)
10) Spaghetti sauce, chopped tomatoes
11) Crackers, chips, cookies, popcorn
12) Jello & pudding - instant
13) Bbq sauce, steak sauce, soy sauce
14) Sprinkle cheese, bread crumbs
15) Spaghetti, macaroni, rice
16) Cereal - cold & hot
17) Pancake mix & syrup
18) Pickles, baked beans, chili
19) Nuts, raisins, chocolate sauce
20) Aluminum foil, plastic wrap, sealable sandwich & quart bags, garbage bags, sponges w rough side, dish soap, dishwasher soap, antibacterial spray cleaner.

[Jkgourmet]

You forgot BBQ sauce and mayonnaise. If she's a good southern girl, she want both. (Duke's mayo if you can find it, is the southern favorite. Personally, I prefer Best Foods Light)

[weezycom]

Under #4, I would add worcestshire and soy sauces

[hey teach]

I would add corn meal, eagle brand milk, pet milk, italian bread crumbs, cocoa, wax paper, Lawry's seasoning salt, Zatarain's cajun seasoning, Tabasco Sauce, Texas Pete, Tiger Sauce, and a Aloe Vera Plant.

[jade408]

I'll +3 the spices. You can make so many dishes with spices.
I'd add and array of oil.

My pantry has apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, balsamic, rice vinegar and champagne vinegar. All bases for tons of dressings and marinades.

I also recommend a few varieties of oil. I've got walnut, many kinds of olive (buttery, peppery, grassy, lemon, chili, basil...and a bunch more), grapeseed, coconut and walnut as well. All used in different dressings.

[elnina]

Originally Posted by no kudzu

I have a young friend who will be married soon to a wonderful young man who has full custody of his 4 year old son. she will be a SAHM. she has asked her mother's friends to please make a list of what we would consider essential pantry items for her new home which has a large pantry.. She already has all the pots and pans and kitchen gadgets and storage items she needs so she is only interested in edible items. She asks us to limit our list to no more than 20 items. What would your list look like? Here's mine. I've grouped some things together so obviously it is more than 20 individual items. She is hoping all the different lists will help her make some good choices when she makes her first major shopping trip.

Does she likes to cook? It would be a waste of money and effort if she hates to cook or would not know what to do with all that stuff.
She might be a person who prefer TV dinners and fast food....

[rainroosty]

What the heck is a "SAHM"?