I’ve been cooking for myself for a while now, but I still remember the feeling I had the first time I was able to make chocolate chip cookies without making a special trip to the store. I felt like a competent chef and housekeeper—I had flour, sugar and eggs on hand all at the same time, without even planning it! (I always had chocolate chips; duh.)
I wanted to feel like a competent homemaker as often as possible. So once we were settled in our house, I compiled a list of the best things to always have on hand. Warning: it’s very long.
- Baking powder (non aluminum)
- Baking soda
- Cocoa
- Vinegars (rice, red, cider)
- Flour
- Cornmeal
- Molasses (unsulfured)
- Vanilla extract
- Shortening
- Sugar (white & brown)
- Vegetable oil
- Peppercorns for grinder
- Ground nutmeg (or nutmeg nuts)
- Garlic powder (or fresh garlic)
- Rosemary
- Bay leaves
- Basil
- Sage
- Thyme
- Ginger
- Cloves
- Curry powder
- Sea salt
- Pasta (lasagna, macaroni, spaghetti, linguine/fettucine)
- Pasta sauces (spaghetti, alfredo)
- Chicken broth
- Beef broth
- Chocolate chips!
- Dessert mixes (cake/brownie)
- Jiffy mixes (muffins & pizzas)
- Crushed tomatoes
- Diced tomatoes
- Whole stewed tomatoes
- Tomato paste
- Pineapple
- Applesauce (especially for Hayden!)
- Black beans
- Chili beans (though I usually just use black beans now)
- Pickles (dill, sweet relish/cubes)
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- Evaporated milk
- Enchilada sauce
- Potatoes
- Onions
- Cereals
- Bread (with one in the freezer)
- Bisquick
- Whole oats
- Tortillas
- Salsa
- Soy sauce
- Ketchup
- Mustard (yellow, dijon)
- Honey
- Peanut butter
- Macaroni & cheese
- Syrup
- Jams
- Ranch dressing
- Italian dressing
- Mayonnaise
- Lemon juice
- Milk
- Butter (unsalted)
- Eggs
- Cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, ricotta, American, Parmesan)
- Lunchmeats
- Veggies (lettuce, carrots, green onion, peppers)
- Yogurt
- Yeast
- Chicken
- Beef (ground, steak)
- Bacon
- Frozen veggies (broccoli, mixed, peas)
- Frozen juices
- Tuna
- Corn
- Green beans
- Cream of chicken soup
- Canned fruits (pears, peaches or salad)
- Rice
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Obviously, this list is suited to our tastes and our household. It’s designed to create a “home grocery store” (and/or a year’s supply) so that I can create most of our family’s favorite recipes at a moment’s notice (or, for slow cooker meals, several hours’ notice…)
What’s essential in your house?
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Posted
Wednesday, 25 July 2007 at 1:32 pm | Trackback URL
Categories: Random | Tags: household
Leave your thoughts
I love this list - I actually just made one for us here! Some of our essentials would have to be granola bars (for the kids), tea bags and sugar for sweet tea (my hubby) and frozen broccoli (for me). Thanks for sharing!
July 25th, 2007 at 3:30 pmPerfect, I have request coming in for this sort of thing I’ll link your list if its o.k. with you.
July 25th, 2007 at 4:19 pm@Donetta—Of course, you’re always welcome to link here!
July 25th, 2007 at 6:05 pmGreat idea … I will do this. Musts in our house — in addition to everything on your list, just about, right now with two toddlers we have to have at least these: fruit bars, blueberries, dried or fresh but not frozen, refried black beans, colby jack sticks, edamame, bisquick, peanut butter, Nutella (yum!), couscous, potatoes, and Krusteaz muffin mixes.
cool post. i heart food.
July 25th, 2007 at 7:23 pmIf we’re talking “essential” then chocolate & walnuts have to be on mine. Chocolate for little man & walnuts for me
July 25th, 2007 at 7:25 pmIt’s a pretty good list. I have almost all of this (I use the stockpiling method of doing groceries). I didn’t see pudding or Jello, but I might have missed them.
July 25th, 2007 at 10:20 pmMy husband and I both love to cook, so we’ve got most of the things on your list. I’d have to add all my Asian stuff though - soy sauce, oyster sauce, tofu, hoisin sauce, lemon grass, galangal, shiitake mushrooms, coconut milk, Thai chili sauce… All must-have’s in my kitchen.
July 26th, 2007 at 2:14 amI have a very similar list.
July 26th, 2007 at 12:42 pmDang, mama! That is quite a list! I can’t think of anything I would add.
July 26th, 2007 at 2:09 pmThe essential well-stocked kitchen supply list | MamaBlogga…
A great list of the things every well stocked kitchen should have on hand. At the very minimum…..CHOCOLATE CHIPS! ;)…
July 27th, 2007 at 3:04 pmyou are an inspiration! I am going to print this and add and subtract. I voted for you on motherapproves!
July 27th, 2007 at 4:01 pmIn the last few years, I kept seeing warnings to “stock up” in case of pandemic and quarantine. Having your house well stocked with a list like this is great. Mine would be similar. (I just baked banana bread without leaving the house for single thing, including the bananas.)
July 28th, 2007 at 8:50 pmOh! I would expand the flour list — I keep all-purpose, wheat, and bread flour in my cupboard.
July 28th, 2007 at 8:59 pm