The Well-Stocked Pantry, essential items for any creative cook, from Thyme for Cooking.

As an adult I have never lived within walking distance of shops of any kind - unless you count 4 km (2.5 mi) walking distance.
For exercise it is; for a forgotten egg in the middle of dinner preparations, it is not.
Since the majority of my adult years have been spent in places where there are vast quantities of snow I have kept a pantry that could feed us for at least a week (admittedly not always well but that's beside the point).

Because my summer cooking differs from my winter cooking, my pantry is also seasonal. Standard pantry items will be followed by summer and winter additions.

The Main Pantry

Olive oil for cooking, I use an inexpensive, low-acid extra virgin olive oil
Olive oil, the good stuff, a nice, flavorful extra virgin for use in salads
Garlic
Onions
Shallots
Sea salt - in a salt mill
Whole black pepper in a pepper mill
Dijon-style mustard
Whole grain brown mustard
Prepared mayonnaise
Ketchup
Soy sauce
Worcestershire sauce
Lemon juice
Dill pickles
Capers
Olives, both green and black
Chicken stock (broth), liquid, paste or granules I can't buy stock so I use granules. It took awhile but I
Beef stock (broth), liquid, paste or granules      found some that are not too salty and have a good flavor
2 kinds of bite-size pasta, farfalle, rigatoni, fusilli, penne
Orzo
Arborio rice, for risotto
Basmati rice
Brown rice
Quinoa
White kidney beans, cannellini
Red kidney beans
Molasses                                                                           top of page
Sherry
White and red wine
Balsamic vinegar
White Balsamic vinegar
White wine tarragon vinegar
Sherry vinegar
Sesame oil or Walnut oil

The Herbs: dried or frozen for winter; fresh for summer

Basil
Bay leaves (laurel),
Chives
Fennel seeds
Herbes de Provence
Marjoram
Parsley
Oregano
Rosemary
Sage
Summer savory
Tarragon
Thyme

The Spices

Chili powder
Cloves, ground
Cloves, whole
Cinnamon, ground
Garlic powder
Ginger, ground
Dry mustard
Whole mustard
Mustard seeds
Nutmeg - whole in/with a nutmeg grater or ground
Paprika, sweet
Dried onion flakes
Dried shallot flakes
Sesame seeds, toasted

For the Fridge - and used most weeks

Eggs
Parmesan cheese,     most often in winter                                     top of page
Gruyère cheese, most often in winter
Butter, I don't now and never have used margarine - personal preference
Creme fraiche or sour cream
Greek and/or plain yogurt

Winter Pantry Additions
Green chilies
Tomato paste, a tube for small amounts, small cans for larger amounts
Canned plum tomatoes
Chopped tomatoes mine are from my garden and in the freezer
Tomato sauce (ditto)
Spaghetti
Bread crumbs
White flour
Whole wheat flour
Cornstarch (Maizena, corn flour)
White sugar
Brown sugar
Baking powder
Baking soda
Bouquet Garni
Summer Pantry Additions

Honey
Pesto
Tapenade
Couscous
Orange marmalade
Lemon marmalade
Barbecued beans
Teriyaki marinade                                                                                     top of page
Barbecue sauce/marinade

Would you like help planning dinner?
Our Weekly Menu Planning Service (Menu Mailer) gives you healthy, gourmet dinners, carefully planned to reduce waste and insure a wide variety of seasonal, wholesome foods each week.

A simple solution
Healthy, Seasonal, Gourmet Meals
Eat fresh Reduce waste Save money

The Main Pantry

The Herbs: dried or frozen for winter; fresh for summer

The Spices

For the Fridge - and used most weeks

Winter Pantry Additions

Summer Pantry Additions

Would you like help planning dinner?
Our Weekly Menu Planning Service (Menu Mailer) gives you healthy, gourmet dinners, carefully planned to reduce waste and insure a wide variety of seasonal, wholesome foods each week.

Kitchen Knowledge: The Well-Stocked Pantry

Kitchen Knowledge

Equivalents

A simple solution Healthy, Seasonal, Gourmet Meals Eat fresh Reduce waste Save money

The Main Pantry

The Herbs: dried or frozen for winter; fresh for summer

The Spices

For the Fridge - and used most weeks

Winter Pantry Additions

Summer Pantry Additions

Would you like help planning dinner? Our Weekly Menu Planning Service (Menu Mailer) gives you healthy, gourmet dinners, carefully planned to reduce waste and insure a wide variety of seasonal, wholesome foods each week.

Kitchen Knowledge: The Well-Stocked Pantry

Kitchen Knowledge

Equivalents

A simple solution
Healthy, Seasonal, Gourmet Meals
Eat fresh Reduce waste Save money

Would you like help planning dinner?
Our Weekly Menu Planning Service (Menu Mailer) gives you healthy, gourmet dinners, carefully planned to reduce waste and insure a wide variety of seasonal, wholesome foods each week.