One of the basic tenants of true organization is preparation.  Nowhere is this more apparent than in the kitchen.  When I started newlywed life, I had the hardest time knowing what to buy each week.  It seemed that I was always buying too many groceries and never had a true idea of what I had.  I’ve finally found a groove and know what to keep as staples in our pantry.  Here is my list!

Non-perishables:

1. Broth – Chicken, Beef and/or Vegetable
2. Pasta – Spaghetti, Penne, Rotini
3. Rice – white, brown, wild, yellow, basmati
4. Canned tomatoes – paste, crushed, diced, whole, sauce and puree.
5. Tuna
6. Beans – black, kidney, white, garbanzo
7. Peanut Butter

Baking/Cooking Supplies

1. Baking Soda
2. Baking powder
3. Flour – white and/or wheat
4. Pancake Mix
5. Oil – canola, olive, specialty
6. Bread Crumbs
7. Yeast
8. Vinegar – Cider, Red Wine, Balsamic

Freezer:

1. Vegetables – all types
2. Fish
3. Chicken
4. Fruit – all types
5. Nuts – walnut, pine, sunflower, pecan, cashew, peanut

Produce

1. Onions – yellow, white
2. Potatoes – Yukon Gold, red, bakers
3. Garlic
4. Lemon

Herbs/Spices:

1. Steak Seasoning (highly recommend Montreal)
2. Poultry Seasoning
3. Seafood Seasoning
4. Thyme
5. Rosemary
6. Cumin
7. Parsley
8. Oregano
9. Red Pepper
10. Chili Powder
11. Black Pepper
12. Sea Salt
13. Capers

Perishables:

1. Pesto
2. Sun Dried Tomatoes (in oil)
3. Milk
4. Cheese – soft, hard, sliced, shredded
5. Butter – salted, unsalted
6. Bread – sliced, hard loaf

So there you have it!  It seems like a lot, but we don’t purchase all of them at once.  Do you have a list of staples that you keep up?