deglazing.com

It happens to all of us, you get home an you need to make something quick to eat.  Here are a few suggestions for you to keep on hand in the pantry that can help you make your dinner come together. 

• Boxed stocks (They come in all kinds of varieties - veggie, chicken, beef, etc - These are great to have on hand for a quick soup)
• Canned tomatoes (I usually keep both sizes on hand 15 oz. and the 28 oz.  Canned tomatoes can help you whip up a marinara sauce in 5 or 10 minutes)
• Dried Pastas (Keep a variety of shapes on hand) 
• Rice (Try different kinds like arborio, basmati, and jasmine)
• Couscous (Is done in five minutes, don’t you just love that?)
• Olive Oil (Extra virgin olive oil is great for dressings, a dip for bread, etc)
• Vegetable Oil (Every now and again you need a lighter oil that can come up to a higher cooking temp - canola oil is a great one to have on hand)
• Vinegars (This is really a matter of taste - do you like balsamic, red wine, cider)
• Salt (I suggest having sea or kosher on hand)
• Pepper (Nothing beats fresh cracked pepper)
• Beans (I really enjoy canned beans, but dried work well to, they just take longer to cook.  I like to keep a couple of different kinds including kidney, black, pinto, and chickpeas.  Beans are very versatile)
• Root vegetables (Potatoes, sweet potatoes, and butternut squash can be used in a million different recipes.  They also have a great shelf life)
• Dijon Mustard (Dijon is great with all sorts of dishes)
• Soy Sauce (Soy sauce is a key component to most Asian marinades)
• Hoisin Sauce (Hoisin is another great ingredient to have on hand for Asian dishes)
• Salsa (Salsa can be used in lots of Mexican dishes and it makes a great snack)
• Dried Herbs (I suggest having at least basil, oregano, thyme and red pepper flake on hand)

Of course, there are lots of other things that would also be great in a kitchen pantry.  Do you have any suggestions?  Please leave a comment.