Pantry Planning
We're often asked which is more important — what you eat, or the simple fact of getting together. That's an easy one. Although you should aim for meals that are appealing, tasty, balanced and healthful, family always trumps food.
Still, if you're calling everyone to the table, you have to have something worth calling them for. The clever cook will do this without enormous outlays of effort, money or time. The trick is to have a repertoire of short cuts, easy meals; dishes that are pretty good. Don't think gourmet, think get it on the table. Keeping your pantry well-stocked gets you that much farther ahead.
Read through the lists that we've put together. See what makes sense in terms of your family's tastes, your budget, your cooking ambitions. Add the staples and highlights that make the list yours. Then click on the links. You'll find recipes to help make the most of your last-minute meals.
Boxes
pasta, noodles, rice
Cans
tomatoes, corn, black beans, chick peas, tuna fish, canned chicken, clams, broth, unsweetened fruit, soup, evaporated milk
Bottles
oil, vinegar, soy sauce, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, fruit juice, salad dressing
Jars
peanut butter, honey, jam, olives, nuts
Frozen
peas, carrots, quick-thaw servings of meat and fish
Fresh-but-long-lasting
garlic, onion, apples, oranges, lemons, squash, carrots, potatoes, eggs, butter, cheese, yogurt, tofu, ultra-pasteurized milk, bread, tomatoes
Spices, Seasonings & Staples
Flour, sugar, salt, pepper, bread crumbs
here is where you call on your ethnic heritage, your personal preferences. Little bottles of seasonings and spices can have long, happy lives on your refrigerator door.