10 Pantry Staples You Can't Do Without
Having these items on hand can make life a lot easier -- especially around dinner time.
- Dried beans (black, split pea, navy, or black-eyed pea): Slow cook or boil beans on the stovetop for a warm, satisfying meal. They also make a great taco or burrito filling the next day.
- Pasta: With a shape for every taste, you can easily transform your kids' favorite pasta into a main or side dish.
- Tomatoes/tomato puree/tomato paste: Aside from the starring role tomatoes play in homemade spaghetti sauce, you can spread the thicker tomato paste on ready-made pizza crusts or English muffins.
- Peanut butter: Try mixing some peanut butter with boiling water and a splash of soy sauce for a peanut dressing to toss with noodles or drizzle over warm spinach leaves. And, of course, a PB & J just wouldn't be the same without the PB.
- Old Bay seasoning: This seasoning is not just for shrimp boils anymore. Old Bay blends in nicely with burgers and turkey meatloaf. It even adds zest to evening omelets.
- Shallots: Sliver or dice a garlic-scented mini-bulb and sauté it as a flavorful ingredient for meats and soups.
- Extra-virgin olive oil: Great for when you sauté vegetables and stir fry chicken strips. And because olive oil is high in monosaturated fats, it's perfect for homemade salad dressings.
- All-purpose, unbleached flour: While any all-purpose flour will do, stick with the unbleached variety to thicken sauces and light gravies.
- Cane sugar: This staple can lend a subtle sweetness to suppertime recipes. Use it to whip up cake batter and cookie dough, too.
- Rice (brown or jasmine): A healthy accompaniment to a variety of dishes, rice also takes on the flavors it's mixed with, such as light coconut milk or chicken stock.
About the Author:
Joe LoCicero is the founder, with his wife Lori, of Practical Whimsy (TM), a company devoted to family style with products, tips for entertaining, and recipes at practicalwhimsy.com. His books include The Complete Idiot's Guide to Clear Thinking and Cake Decorating for Dummies.
Member Comments On...
10 Pantry Staples You Can't Do Without
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Box chicken stock, can tomatoes, can beans, are always in my pantry you can always whip up something quick when you have these
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this is very helpful. And we alwways keep plenty of rice in our house. You can use the rice in casseroles. For dinner last nite I use rice to make a chicken casserole
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for a quick meatloaf I use a box of stuffing mix and a pack of hamburg and 2or3eggs Mix all together. If not holding together to good add a little milk. I use any flavor of stuffing what ever I have in my pantry. Then before I bake it I put some ketchup on the top of it. And bake and your done. Just bake like you would your regular meat loaf. I do the same for porkpine meatballs but I add a little rice to it. Works good for me and my family like it.
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