Secret Weapons in Your Pantry

Secret Weapons in Your Pantry

Thursday, July 10, 2008

filed under: food

When your afternoon plans run into the evening... don't panic! Here are some easy tips on which items to keep in stock at all times so you can feed your family--plus a few more--with little or no notice.

Here's what Diana Phillips, The Diva of Do-Ahead, suggests keeping in your pantry at all times. Whether you have unexpected arrivals, or you need a jump start on planning the perfect gathering, The Diva of Do-Ahead has created a list of necessities:

Download list here

Extra virgin olive oil
Good-quality all-purpose olive oil
Canola oil
Sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil
Balsamic vinegar
Red wine vinegar
Dijion mustard
Best Foods or Hellmann's mayonnaise
Prepared horseradish
Ketchup
Tabasco, or your favorite hot sauce
Anchovy Paste
Canned green chiles
Canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
Chicken broth
Beef broth
Lobster stock base
Canned chopped calms
Rice (converted and regular long-grain)
Pasta (different shapes)
Worcestershire sauce
Soy sauce

Toasted sesame oil
Hoisin sauce
Fish sauce
Coconut milk
Peanut butter
Jam
Canned regular and marinated artichoke hearts
Canned plum tomatoes
Canned beans: black, white and pinto
Pimento-stuffed olives
Capers
Old Bay seasoning
Sea salt and coarse kosher salt
Peppercorns
Dried herbs and spices
Nonstick cooking spray
Semisweet chocolate chips
Unsweetened chocolate bars or cocoa powder
Store-bought hot fudge sauce and caramel sauce
Vanilla paste
Cream sherry

Here's the list and a few examples of how you can use these items:

Sun-dried Tomatoes- These can be used in any sauce to add flavor to a simple pasta.

Italian Tuna and Artichoke Hearts- Mix these items in a green salad and it suddenly becomes a main-entree salad.

Coconut Milk and Peanut Butter- This will make an amazing sauce on top of grilled chicken.

Rice and Pasta- Can always be used as a great side dish for any meal.

filed under: food

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11 comments so far | Post a comment now >>

Who keeps (or even buys)that stuff in their house?

- Anon

Posted 07/10/08 09:43 PM

are you for real , how about something that the average mom would use. what the he** is Hoisen Sauce ?!?!?!?!?

- bonnie

Posted 07/11/08 11:43 AM

ok most of this is do-able

- arlene

Posted 07/11/08 12:33 PM

Ok, even though I know what all the items are, I still wouldn’t have them in my house. Let’s think normal, everday people and not a celebrities kitchen please.

- Judy

Posted 07/12/08 01:34 PM

Yeah, this list is worthless if it isn’t followed up with a list of recipes that actually use all of this stuff.

- Kate

Posted 07/15/08 01:14 PM

Even if I had all of this in my pantry I wouldn’t know what to do with it. How ‘bout something practical like Kraft Mac&Cheese and Top Romen? Cook with some frozen mixed veggies and top of with some hot sauce and you got something with at least a little nutritional value that your kids might eat. Mine would take that over anchovy paste any day!

- Annie

Posted 07/26/08 04:41 PM

Keep things around quick to throw in a skillet together and a simple salad for impromptu dinner.

- kilala3535

Posted 07/27/08 09:13 AM

Thank you I just got a few more thing to buy i don’t have in my pantry. I am alway looking up recipe’s. One thing i can not get was the fish sauce.Their have been times i needed it.As you can tell, I am trying new things all the times.

- Anonymous

Posted 07/27/08 10:00 AM

I agree, even if you list this stuff. Without a few recipes, I wouldn’t know how to throw this stuff together. I get the olive oil, and pasta. I wouldn’t know where to get sun-dried tomatoes in oil. Throw in something like canned clams, and some garlic, I’m sure someone could come up with some sort of half decent tasting pasta dish. However, I’m not big on pasta. Without a few recipes, it’s a pointless list and you just have a pantry of stuff you’ll never use.

- Anne

Posted 07/28/08 08:08 PM

i wish you could give us a few of those,that every pantry should have. otherwise, those secret weapons will remain a secret.

- Anonymous

Posted 07/31/08 10:28 AM

This is a handy list. I have had most of these item in my pantry at one time or another and they can save the day, or at least a meal. I would add numerous whole grains (Steal cut oats, Rolled oats, bulgar wheat etc)and a couple of bulk whole grain mixes like tabuli and hummus. Recipes would be handy. However, just having these items on hand will trigger the ideas when something is needed.

- Diane

Posted 11/30/08 05:56 PM