What's In Your Pantry?

Whether it’s a pantry, cupboard or freestanding shelf, you likely have a place in or near your kitchen where you store canned goods and nonperishables. Some things are used and replenished often. Things like flour, sugar, cereals… Then there are those items that fall into the just-in-case or that’s interesting category. Things you might need. Things that made you go “Hmm…” in the grocery store and you decided to give them a go.

Join me as we explore a few items from my own pantry.

Velveeta Mini-Blocks.

Personally, I think this is one of the greatest inventions ever. Not just Velveeta, but these mini blocks are genius. You can use them in or on so many things--queso, macaroni and cheese, casseroles, baked potatoes... But the beauty of the mini blocks is that each block is only 4 ounces. So if I'm making a half batch of my daughter's macaroni and cheese recipe, I don't have to worry about leaving half a block sitting in the fridge. Instead I simply grab a mini block. Yes, it's a convenience item and those usually cost a little bit more, but knowing that it's always there, ready to go when I need it is worth it. Something else to consider, there are 5 - 4 oz blocks in each box for a total of 20 ounces, so keep that in mind when comparing its convenience price against the 16 oz package.

Soups, especially cream soups, are almost always a staple. Cream of Chicken and Cream of Mushroom are key ingredients in loads of recipes, so I always make sure I stock up on those when there on sale. But then one day I saw this.

HEB is Texas grocery store chain, so you may not find cream of poblano soup where you live. But given the fact that my husband loves poblano peppers, I thought this might be something interesting to add to my pantry. It could be a great substitute for one of the other aforementioned cream soups in a casserole. Especially something like a King Ranch Chicken Casserole or anything with a Mexican bend to it. 

Interesting jellies or sauces. 

This little bitty jar of raspberry chipotle sauce is the perfect thing for a quick appetizer/snack when unexpected guests drop by. I simply pour the sauce over a brick of cream cheese (a staple from my fridge) and serve it with some crackers for a delicious treat. And for those of you cringing at the chipotle part, it's far more sweet than it is spicy and cream cheese counters the spice, making it the perfect go-to.

While we're talking about heat...

My heat-loving husband was into this sriracha sauce long before I was. Of course, he'd squirt it on things and eat it as is. However, I can't do the super-hot stuff like he does. Then I started mixing this sauce into things and fell in love. It's a key ingredient in my favorite dipping sauce. Start with some mayo, add just about as much ketchup, then start with a little squirt of sriracha, stir it in, sample, then add more until it's just right. Even if you don't like hot things, you'll be surprised how just a little bit of spice will wake up the flavors of other ingredients.

Okay, so I saw these on an end cap the other day and immediately thought of my favorite oatmeal cookie recipe (find it here). I don't know when I'll make them again, but this mix of dried cranberries, cherries and blueberries will definitely be in them.

Now it's your turn. What are some interesting things in your pantry/cupboard?

Mindy Obenhaus lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, the youngest of her five children and two dogs. She's passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her grandchildren. Learn more at www.MindyObenhaus.com

What's in your pantry?

You know that credit card commercial that asks, "what's in your wallet?" Well, I want to ask you, "what's in your pantry?"

I love having a pantry.  I mean it's a bi-fold door closet that holds all my kitchen ingredients but that makes it a pantry right?

But I also have something even better than a pantry.  A back-in-the day pantry. A PIE SAFE! Man O and his dad, Papa Jack, built this for me thirty years ago when I was pregnant.  That was before push presents even.

Pie safes were the place you put all your food stuffs, including pies, you wanted to save from the critters that wandered in and out of the log cabin, the farmhouse, the mansion. Most were open in some shape or another, either with screening or tin with holes punched for air circulation. The richer the owner, the fancier the pie safe.

Being as ours was for decoration only, we decided on copper. Yep, Man O punched every single hole in those panels AND the ones you can't see on each side. I slept through all the copper punching. Must have been pregnancy hormones.

These days we keep most of our ingredients in our pantry closet. It has plenty of room to put up a lot of stuff and not worry about going to the grocery story for this and that.  But there are certain things I make sure to have around all the time.

Raw almonds.  My go-to snack, a garnish for meat or salad, and can be ground for a pie crust.

Small serving size spaghetti sauce.   I couldn't believe it when they came out with something smaller than a huge jar. Perfect for us empty-nesters. I use it for spaghetti of course but also chili or a sauce for chicken Parmesan.  No waste.

 

Olive Oil.  I don't use butter much any more. Olive oil is great for my stir-frys, salad dressings, and barbecue sauces. And as Missy pointed out the other week, it makes a great moisturizer.

  

Cinnamon.  We are into fall and I make sure to have plenty of cinnamon around, not only because it tastes great on apples and pears but I put it in recipes to help control my blood sugar. Try marinating pork in cinnamon, apple juice and juice of one lemon. Yum.

Mini Wheats.  Didn't expect this one from a gluten-free gal did you? But this is the only cereal Man O eats. I mean ONLY as in I buy six boxes on sale plus coupons at a time. The clerk always asks if I have a lot of children.

Virginia thought it was so funny she gave his compulsion a nod in one of her stories. I mean we currently have an entire shelf of the stuff because he gets worried if it runs low.  Man O lets the gas tank get as low as it will go but get down to one box of cereal and he panics.

So what about you? Do you have a pantry? Do you have a few items always in stock at your house? Let us know what your go-to ingredients or foods are! Or is there a food your family insists must be present at all times?