Variety, it is said, is the spice of life. This is doubly true for your home-cooked recipes. Gone (long gone, we hope) are the days of Pot roast night (Wednesday) chicken night (Monday) and pasta night (Sunday) each and every week. Today’s home culinary enthusiast enjoys, blending new cuisine twists with tried and true family recipes.
Your pantry is the source of those ingredients that not only have extended shelf lives, but offer you the diversity and unique feel that your recipes are known for. When you’re planning out your meals for the week, more than likely you take stock of the products on your pantry shelves, and we want you to know that there are ten items that every pantry should have to revitalize an old recipe, or open your family’s palette to a new cuisine and keep even the oldest family recipe new and exciting.
Dried Beans
Legumes area great source of meat-free protein that can turn any meal into a high-protein powerhouse. With the increases in vegan and vegetarian lifestyles, beans offer an alternative option that will feed any crowd. Keep at least one bag of dried beans in your pantry to add to soups, stews, and casseroles or to bake with other seasonings in a nice broth for a one-two punch of fiber and protein to add to any meal.
Canned Artichokes
Long shunned because of their “fatty” content, artichokes are a flavorful and nutritional addition to just about every kind of recipe. A good source of calcium and magnesium, not to mention B vitamins, artichokes can wake up the flavor of a sub or sandwich or a salad . Not a fan of red or white sauce on your pasta? Consider mincing some artichokes with some roasted walnuts and a little fresh basil to throw over your angel hair.
Stock
Available in vegetable, beef chicken or fish, stock is the perfect base for soups, stews, stir-frys, and even can liven up the flavor of your baked or roasted meats. Use stock in lieu of water when you make pasta, tofu or potatoes – they will suck up all the flavor of the stock and add natural flavor with less sodium.
Rice
Always have at least one kind of rice in your pantry. Brown rice has become the choice of late, and it can accompany just about any meat, with fewer calories and sugars that potatoes or pasta. Make homemade Chinese or Tai, add to soups and mix with vegetables to make a one-bowl meal that is yummy and satisfying.
Whole Grain Pasta
Following the whole grain trends for rice is whole grain pasta. Like any pasta , you can use it to make your favorite Italian dishes, or add to a story fry in lieu of rice. Dump into soups and stews instead of potatoes or mix with veggies for a great side dish.
Olives
With the dozens kinds of olives available with a multitude of flavors and textures, olives are a great option for snacks, to add to sandwiches ,salads and to mix into your pasta, but beyond these obvious options, they are also a great addition to your meat dishes. Add some diced olives to roast with chicken breast and fresh garlic, and then drizzle with balsamic vinegar for a healthy main dish. Add some Kalamata olives to your rice side dish and sprinkle a little fresh parmesan on top for extra zip.
Roasted Peppers
Bursting with flavor and color, roasted peppers are the go-to source for layering flavor to your recipes. Blend into soups or blacken and puree into a dip. Love to bake? Dice some red peppers into muffins or bread. Add to an omelet or blend with olive oil and white balsamic vinegar for a delicate dressing for your salads.
Canned Corn
Not only for toddlers, canned corn is for every meal of the day. Want cornbread with a little added something? Turn a can of corn into your recipe for great texture and added sweetness. Love salsa? Brighten the color of your favorite tomato and pepper concoction with some sweet corn. Corn pancakes with butter, liven up a chowder or soup or use as a layer for tacos.
Corn meal
If you love to bake, flour can become a little boring after a while. Corn meal offers a dough base that has a lot more color and a great texture for muffins, crusts, breads and the obvious tortillas.
Olive Oil
The mother of all oils, every pantry should stock two variations – light olive oil for sautéing and frying, and extra virgin olive oil for dressing and marinating. A fabulous source of omega three fatty acids that every body needs, olive oil is the base for intensely flavorful and heart-friendly cooking for every meal.
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