Yesterday the realization crossed my mind: what would I do if a friend did a favor for me and said I could repay them with a Beef Wellington dinner? Well right this minute I would rather shove my chef's knife through their gut then make it for them - 1)because that had better be a pretty big favor they did for me and 2)because you don't climb Mt. Washington when all the daily exercise you get is rising from the lazy boy, walking to the fridge and back again! It is time that I get back in the cooking game but before I begin training I must first make sure the pantry is properly stocked, so today we will walk though that first step.
What a well stocked pantry needs to feel loved:
*Baking Products - flour (unbleached white & whole wheat), sugar, baking powder, baking soda
*Canned Beans - I always have Garbanzo (chick peas/ceci beans), also good to keep black beans, pinto, cannelini, or kidney on the shelves - I keep red, green and brown lentils in the house but you know the Armenians, we love the lentils!
*Canned Fruits & Frozen Vegetables - canned pineapple and frozen corn are the two musts in my house, but I also keep frozen broccoli, and frozen peas in the house they just make 'throwing together dinner' so much easier
*Canned/Powdered Milk - I would keep one container of something like Parmalot milk which doesn't have to be refrigerated in case of emergency or for when you just must have milk and yours has gone bad! A box of non fat dry milk solids also comes in quite handy for baking and sauces
*Canned Tomato Products - diced or crushed and a can or tube of tomato paste - they should only have 3 or 4 ingredients (tomatoes, citric/ascorbic acid, salt, water) that is it! Always have 2 or 3 cans on hand they are perfect for the finishing touches on sauces, soups, quick salsa, meatloaf, salads etc
*Cereal - something like corn flakes which you can have for breakfast and also use as a "breading" on chicken or fish and always ROLLED OATS (not the quick 1 minute ones) which can be used for cookies, breading, granola, meatloaf, fresh baked bread etc
*Dried Fruit & Nuts - apricots, prunes, raisins, cherries, cranberries = staples.period.
*Dried Herbs/Spices - these are a little more expensive to purchase but get some of the staples (basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano, vanilla, nutmeg) and then wait for Spice Island to put coupons out for $1.00 off or for your store to have a sale and grow your collection that way - dried is a much more economical way to go then purchasing fresh every time you want to include herbs in your meal
*Oil - some people have an oil for everything - I have three - olive oil for cooking, extra virgin olive oil for salad and "raw" flavor, and a cooking spray like Pam
*Pasta,Rice & Grains - different shaped pastas, white rice, brown rice, quinoa, coarse bulghar, pearl barley, couscous, and millet or amaranth if you are feeling adventurous!
*Peanut Butter/Eggs - who doesn't love this! creamy or crunchy you pick but ALWAYS the NATURAL...get a carton of 100% liquid eggs or 100% egg whites and freeze it - that way if you need eggs in an emergency you can thaw the container and measure out what you need!
*Vinegar - balsamic, red wine and rice - white vinegar's only good use is to clean the coffee maker so keep a bottle on hand for that task :)
That's all true! But you seem to be missing one very happy ingredient that I think every chef and food lover always needs to make a perfect meal! That would bet a bottle of red wine :)
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