Tarheel Heather Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 What are your staple items that you keep on hand in your pantry? I love the concept of 30 min. meals, but really, I have none of that. So, what do you keep handy for quick meal prep? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mysticamethyst Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 frozen veggies different shaped pasta cream of something soups chicken breast hot dogs beans and a few jars of a tomoat sauce spuds and instaspuds With that we can make a few different kind of meals and have left overs. So, I try to keep those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Dominion Heather Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 I keep: Frozen hamburger patties that I can fry and crumble for a little bit of meat to add to bean tacos or spagetti sauce Cheese in the freezer canned beans tomato sauce butter, milk and flour to make a white sauce for pasta, or tuna casserole, or whatever pasta, lots of different kinds frozen broccoli and peas canned tuna whole wheat burritos bagged lettuce As an aside, one of the best books I ever read was My Life in France, by Julia Child. It inspired me to stop using so much ready made stuff when making it myself was just as easy. Thanks to Julia, I can now make a mean sauce! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich with Kids Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Here are my staples: bananas apples onions potatoes Peanut Butter Jelly Wheat bread butter Chicken (usually whole) ground beef roast ham for sandwiches cheese cream of mushroom soup spaghetti spaghetti sauce frozen waffles syrup frozen broccoli, carrots, corn tortillas onion soup mix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milovany Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Not necessarily in the pantry, but on hand: Pasta Rice Eggs Spaghetti sauce Diced Tomatoes Frozen vegies Black beans Garbanzo beans (for hummus) Tortillas Cheese Refried beans (although I made some yesterday, very yummy) Onions Sweet peppers Ground beef Ground turkey Frozen chicken breasts and thighs Cream soups (although I prefer making this from scratch) Tuna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatieJ Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Canned chix and tuna and salmon frozen chix breast Mac N cheese pasta spagh sauce and tomato saucec canned mushrroms frozen veggies pizza crusts various cheeses tortillas and taco shells frozen hash browns Baking mix for pancakes, coffee cake and crustless quiche type dishes beans onions, potatoes, tomatoes, carrots and peppers rice ( brown quick cooking ) applesauce, canned fruit chix broth Sometimes it helps to do the work ahead and freeze it..as in: I bought burger in bulk and would fry ahead of time and freeze in meal size containers. thaws quickly for tacos or sloppy joes or even spaghetti meals. also bought burger n bulk and would get out my Bosch and make large batches of meatloaf/meal balls. A bag of frozen meatballs would work too. turkey breast which I cooked over night in crockpot. I could usually get 4 meals out of one cooked turkey breast. Sandwiches, a casserole or two, turkey and potatoe hash and then finally soup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TammyinTN Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 coucous take 10 minutes tops, rice, tons of different veggies canned and frozen. The basic flour, sugar, eggs, milk and loads of different cheeses in the refrig. Onions, peppers, celery, chicken broth, beef broth, cream of soups...etc I also keep loads of veggies chopped up in ziplocks for quick stir-fry with rice or coucous and omelets. I keep deli sliced type of meats for sandwiches or subs. I also keep frozen biscuits and quick dinner rolls in the freezer, great when you want breakfast for dinner. Pasta sauce with mixed veggies is delicious. Alfredo with chopped ham and peas is yummy. Potatoes for potato soup. Quick corn break mixes. I also keep frozen Pepperidge farms Italian breads. They are great with pasta dishes or stir-fry. Hope this helps. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarheel Heather Posted August 8, 2008 Author Share Posted August 8, 2008 This is great! Thank you all very much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DB in NJ Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Take everybody else's lists and merge them together. That's what I keep in my pantry and/or freezer. Well, that....and peas. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarheel Heather Posted August 8, 2008 Author Share Posted August 8, 2008 Take everybody else's lists and merge them together. That's what I keep in my pantry and/or freezer. Well, that....and peas. :D Peas are great!;) And will you plan my dinners??:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Things kept on hand are: pastas - angel hair, rotini, elbows rice couscous - flavored. I haven't found a good recipe to flavor plain couscous tomato sauce Canned veggies - kidney beans, peas, green beans, corn, olives, black beans and mixed veggies jam, jelly and peanut butter muffin mixes, cake mixes and Bisquick (makes so many things) crackers - saltines and triscuits. Great with soups and salads potatoes, onions, carrots, celery, bell peppers, lettuce, cucumbers cheese - both american and cheddar. Sometimes mozzarella, provolone and swiss eggs, milk, butter pepperoni slices, sliced meats for sandwiches meat - types of beef, chicken parts, pork parts (ham, bacon, chops, tenderloin, sausage, smoked sausage) fruit - apples, mangos, pineapple (fresh and canned), bananas With the exception of paper products, drinks, and toiletries. That is my shopping list. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynn Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 pasta(all kinds) and sauce cream soup, peas, egg noodles and tuna (tuna cassarole) beans(black/pinto) and rice chili mix, black beans, kidney beans, diced tomatoes for chili and I always make sure I keep a few pounds of hamburger in the freezer pancake mix and good maple syrup peanut butter/jelly variety of soups (preferrabley progresso that I find on sale and purchase by the case also, campbells tomato soup, chicken noodle) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DB in NJ Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Peas are great!;) And will you plan my dinners??:D Of course! BTW, are you done painting those cabinets yet??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gretchen in NJ Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 I use the list on page xii in The Martha Stewart Cookbook Collected Recipes for Everyday in the section entitled, "The Pantry." I must admit that I started maintaining my pantry this way pre-homeschooling. I adjust the list to fit the seasons and my families likes and dislikes. Oh! I forgot. Peas! we just love peas in my house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammyla Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 I keep a pretty well stocked pantry year round but really beef it up just before winter. I love fewer trips to the grocery store January through April. Rice tons of pastas canned tomatoes tomato paste potatoes (during winter I bake a bunch at a time and freeze them.) beans canned and dried lots of cheeses bread flours & apf yeast croutons ;) baked beans tuna onions salmon Mayo mustard garlic stuff for pancakes and waffles eggs ham butter olive oil frozen veggies precooked meat like chicken frozen Knorr soup mix to spice different things up like soup & spinach dip Knorr bouillon Worcestershire Sauce Teriyaki Sauce Soy Sauce Sugar Crackers cashews Window winter herbs like rosemary, chives and anything else that will grow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarheel Heather Posted August 8, 2008 Author Share Posted August 8, 2008 Of course! BTW, are you done painting those cabinets yet??? Yes! I am done painting! The cabinets that is, I must do the trim work. I am going to wait for it to cool off some before I paint again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarheel Heather Posted August 8, 2008 Author Share Posted August 8, 2008 I use the list on page xii in The Martha Stewart Cookbook Collected Recipes for Everyday in the section entitled, "The Pantry." I must admit that I started maintaining my pantry this way pre-homeschooling. I adjust the list to fit the seasons and my families likes and dislikes. Oh! I forgot. Peas! we just love peas in my house. I had that book and I remember that list. I am so intimidated by cooking though. It's terrible if I make something and it turns out yucky. I feel so bad! I'm taking baby steps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gretchen in NJ Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 I had that book and I remember that list. I am so intimidated by cooking though. It's terrible if I make something and it turns out yucky. I feel so bad! I'm taking baby steps! I know this may sound silly, but I would start with her salad dressing recipe. Once you get that down pat, then you can start shaking it up a little. Like substituting rice wine vinegar for the balsamic vinegar for an Asian twist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarheel Heather Posted August 8, 2008 Author Share Posted August 8, 2008 I know this may sound silly, but I would start with her salad dressing recipe. Once you get that down pat, then you can start shaking it up a little. Like substituting rice wine vinegar for the balsamic vinegar for an Asian twist. Me thinks I need The Idiots Guide to Cooking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gretchen in NJ Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Me thinks I need The Idiots Guide to Cooking! :lol::lol::lol: Heather! LOL! You are too funny! Turn in the TV food network and become a sponge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarheel Heather Posted August 8, 2008 Author Share Posted August 8, 2008 :lol::lol::lol: Heather! LOL! You are too funny! Turn in the TV food network and become a sponge. About that, I can't watch Rachel Ray, she usues her hands too much. That Giada, well, does anyone look that good while they cook? I haven't watched Paula Dean, and that barefoot one, that's not happening. I have tried to get dh to watch Bobby Flay since he bought the mother of all grills, we'll see. I do watch Iron Chef, think I can pick up anything from that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gretchen in NJ Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 About that, I can't watch Rachel Ray, she usues her hands too much. That Giada, well, does anyone look that good while they cook? I haven't watched Paula Dean, and that barefoot one, that's not happening. I have tried to get dh to watch Bobby Flay since he bought the mother of all grills, we'll see. I do watch Iron Chef, think I can pick up anything from that? I would try Tyler Florence. He does several shows: 911 and Tyler's Ultimate. I would record them just incase you need to see a step repeated. I love Iron Chef, but they are not where to start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarheel Heather Posted August 8, 2008 Author Share Posted August 8, 2008 I would try Tyler Florence. He does several shows: 911 and Tyler's Ultimate. I would record them just incase you need to see a step repeated. I love Iron Chef, but they are not where to start. That is true! Not much I could do with any secret ingredient they pull out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PariSarah Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Me thinks I need The Idiots Guide to Cooking! . . . you know, to friends, from time to time. Have I mentioned it here? :D It's called How To Cook Without A Book. It has a suggested pantry list. I think it'll help you do what you're trying to do. It's completely unintimidating, and the focus is on getting you from ingredients on hand to dinner. This is an example of how it approaches recipes--a basic master formula, that will work with any number of variations. You don't need a recipe for cream of broccoli soup, and a separate one from cream of pumpkin soup, and a separate one for cream of rutabaga soup. You just need to know how cream-of-blank soups function, and you can make one without even thinking about it, with whatever veggie you have on hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarheel Heather Posted August 8, 2008 Author Share Posted August 8, 2008 . . . you know, to friends, from time to time. Have I mentioned it here? :D It's called How To Cook Without A Book. It has a suggested pantry list. I think it'll help you do what you're trying to do. It's completely unintimidating, and the focus is on getting you from ingredients on hand to dinner. This is an example of how it approaches recipes--a basic master formula, that will work with any number of variations. You don't need a recipe for cream of broccoli soup, and a separate one from cream of pumpkin soup, and a separate one for cream of rutabaga soup. You just need to know how cream-of-blank soups function, and you can make one without even thinking about it, with whatever veggie you have on hand. You know, I searched before I popsted and saw this on your blog. I may have to venture over to Amazon and add it to my cart! I do want to work on keeping certain items around so that I'm not pulling my hair out fixing dinner. With dh's schedule I can't exactly plan, but I want to be able to fix something! Thanks Sarah! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 For quick meals, I keep quick rices, soups and broths, canned beans of all sorts, canned fruits, canned vegis, frozen or ready-mix breads, and all sorts of dry or liquid seasonings in my pantry. In the fridge, I keep pre-minced garlic, lemon juice, lots of cheeses - especially shredded varieties, bacon bits, dressings, etc. In the freezer, I keep a variety of meats that can be thawed quickly, such as chicken breast fillets, ground round, fish fillets, sausages, etc. I keep extra shredded cheese in the freezer until I need it, along with minced onion and various vegi blends. Some 30 minute meals I do: Red beans or white beans and rice, with cornbread hamburger steaks with mushroom gravy (ground round), mashed potatoes, etc. various chicken dishes that use dressings as flavorful sauces for the chicken pancakes and bacon for dinner! mahi or other fish fillets sauteed in lemon, butter and lemon pepper (or terayaki sauce), steamed vegis, etc. I use a book called Desperation Dinners for ideas for a bunch of stuff I do, too. I think all their meals are 30 minutes or less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyndi60 Posted October 18, 2010 Share Posted October 18, 2010 We eat a lot of soups and stews. We eat meat 2 or 3X a wk. I keep Broth Veg. & Carrot Juice Onions & Garlic Herbs De Pronce Fresh Salsa Salad Ingredients Condiments such as Balsamic Vinegar White Wine Vinegar Rice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyndi60 Posted October 18, 2010 Share Posted October 18, 2010 I use alot of beans too Cyndi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted October 18, 2010 Share Posted October 18, 2010 Pasta, hamburger meat, rice, chicken breasts, frozen veggies, cans of crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, onions, potatoes, carrots, celery, garlic, peppers, beans, tortillas, broth. I also have various things like vinegars, spices, Worcestershire, soy sauce, etc. I can usually make: stir fry, spaghetti (sauce from scratch), chicken noodle soup, meatloaf, black beans and rice or tacos at any given moment. I'm sure there are others meals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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