Like this story?

Secret Weapons in Your Pantry

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.

whats_in_pantry270x200.jpg

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.

Excerpt from Perfect Party Food, by Diane Phillips (c) 2005, used by permission from The Harvard Common Press


10 comments so far

Add a Text Comment
default userpic
Anon on July 10, 2008 9:43 PM wrote:

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

 
Vote up
Vote down

10
agree
default userpic
bonnie on July 11, 2008 11:43 AM wrote:

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

 
Vote up
Vote down

4
agree
default userpic
arlene on July 11, 2008 12:33 PM wrote:

ok most of this is do-able

 
Vote up
Vote down

9
agree
default userpic
Judy on July 12, 2008 1:34 PM wrote:

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.

 
Vote up
Vote down

3
agree
default userpic
Kate on July 15, 2008 1:14 PM wrote:

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

 
Vote up
Vote down

5
agree
default userpic
Annie on July 26, 2008 4:41 PM wrote:

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!

 
Vote up
Vote down

4
agree
default userpic
kilala3535 on July 27, 2008 9:13 AM wrote:

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

 
Vote up
Vote down

2
agree
default userpic
Anonymous on July 27, 2008 10:00 AM wrote:

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.

 
Vote up
Vote down

3
agree
default userpic
Anne on July 28, 2008 8:08 PM wrote:

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.

 
Vote up
Vote down

3
agree
default userpic
Anonymous on July 31, 2008 10:28 AM wrote:

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

 
Vote up
Vote down

4
agree

(not displayed)
  remember me?      
 

Avoid clicking “Post” more than once.

BACK TO SCHOOL
COUPONS & SALES