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Saturday, January 1, 2011

A Well Stocked Pantry

The first step to building any food storage should be at least a 3 day supply of water.
The second step?  A well stocked pantry:
You cannot expect to have a 3 month supply of food (or more) if you can't survive a week without running to the supermarket to pick up an ingredient or two.


A well stocked pantry is an essential part of every family’s food storage.  Ideally, it should contain the ingredients needed for you to throw a number of different meals together, over a lengthy period of time (1 month at least).  A pantry includes everything; from your refrigerator to fresh produce to your canned goods and long term storage items.  Every pantry will be different based on the needs of your individual family; age, food preferences, likes, dislikes, etc.

This is a list of what is included in my pantry, to help provide additional ideas or to help get you started.  Items at the top of each category are things I ALWAYS have, with occasional items below.  If you don’t eat something on this list, don’t buy it.  If you regularly eat items that I don’t have listed, swap them out for your own needs.

Meats (fridge and freezer):
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
Ground Beef
Beef Roasts
Beef Steaks
Pork Sirloin and/or chops
Breakfast Sausage
Turkey Franks
 - Occasionally:
Chicken thighs or drumsticks
Whole chicken / turkey
Fish
Specialty sausage
Ham
Original, Canadian , Turkey Bacon
Pepperoni
Sandwich Meats

Produce:
Apples
Bananas
Additional Fruit – whatever is seasonal and/or on sale (at least enough for 1 week)
Red Onions (1-2)
White or Yellow Onions (2-8)
Green Onions
Garlic (1-2 heads)
Iceberg Lettuce (1 head)
Additional Greens (spinach, kale, romaine, etc.. – 1 bag)
Carrots (at least 1 bag)
Celery
Red or Green Bell Peppers
Tomatoes (enough for 1 week)
Potatoes (20-30 lbs.)
Winter Squash (6 months worth - if in season)
Frozen fruit
Frozen Veggies

Fats and Oils:
Shortening
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Canola Oil
Vegetable Oil
Sesame Oil
Pam cooking spray
Soy Liquid Lecithin (I use to make bread)

Dairy:
Cheddar
Swiss
Mozzarella
Pepperjack
Parmesan (green can)
Cream Cheese
Eggs (3-4 dozen)
Milk (1-4 gallons)
Butter Spread
Butter
Margarine
Sour Cream
Whip Cream
 - Occasionally:
Real Parmesan
Cottage Cheese
Ricotta Cheese

Breads:
I make my breads from scratch, so I have ingredients and a recipe for:
White Bread
Wheat Bread
French Bread
Hamburger/hot dog buns
Pita Bread
Flour Tortillas
Focaccia Bread
Corn Bread
Biscuits
Quick Breads (banana/zucchini)
Sweet Breads (sweet rolls)
Canned Goods
Tomato Soup
Cream of Chicken Soup
Cream of Mushroom Soup
Beef Consommé
Chicken Broth
Beef Broth
Evaporated Milk
Pinto Beans
Black Beans
Kidney Beans
Garbanzo Beans/Chick Peas
Great Northern Beans
Refried Beans
Chili
Corn
Creamed corn
Green beans
Spaghetti Sauce
Tomato sauce
Tomato Paste
Stewed Tomatoes
Diced Tomatoes
Diced green chilies
Bottled Salsa
Bottled Jam
Bottled Peaches
Bottled Pears
Bottled Applesauce
Bottled Apple Pie Filling
Bottled Tomatoes
Roasted Red Bell Peppers
Mandarin Oranges
Fruit Cocktail
Pineapple, chunk or tidbits
Tuna
 - Occasionally:
Bottled Cherries
Bottled Apricots
Canned/Bottled Chicken Chunks
Canned/Bottled Beef Chunks
Sweetened Condensed Milk
Coconut Milk
Minced garlic
Recipe Essentials:
All-purpose flour (mine doubles as bread flour)
Granulated Sugar
Powdered Sugar
Brown Sugar
Honey (filtered and raw)
Karo or Corn syrup
Molasses
Vanilla extract
Almond extract
Table salt
Kosher salt
Yeast (regular and instant)
Baking Powder
Baking Soda
Cornstarch
Clear or Ultra Gel
Baking Cocoa
Coconut
Chocolate Chips
Candy Chips
Food coloring
Sprinkles

Misc. Pantry
Wheat Germ
Seasoned bread crumbs
Panko bread crumbs
Cornflake crumbs
Splenda
Peanut Butter
Pudding Mix
Jell-o
Cake Mixes & Frosting
Stuffing Mix
Hard Taco Shells
Syrup
Capers
French Fried Onions
Cereal (variety)
Instant Oatmeal

Staples:
Rice, White / Brown / Arborio
Oats, Regular & Quick
Quinoa
Wheat and Bulgur
Barley
Cornmeal
Dried Beans

Pasta:
Rotini
Penne
Elbows
Shells
Lasagna
Spaghetti / Angel Hair
Linguine / Fettuccini
Bowties
Orzo
Couscous
Egg Noodles
Kraft Mac and Cheese
Raman

Condiments:
Miracle Whip
Ketchup
Yellow Mustard
Dijon Mustard
BBQ sauce
A1 Steak Sauce
Hoisin Sauce
Worcestershire Sauce
Soy Sauce
Hot Sauce
Relish
Chili Sauce
Ranch Dressing
Italian Dressing
Honey Mustard Dressing

Vinegar:
White distilled vinegar
White wine vinegar
Red wine vinegar
Balsamic vinegar
Cider vinegar
Rice vinegar
Spices and Seasonings:
Salt, Table and Kosher
Black Pepper (corns and ground)
Allspice
Basil
Bay leaves
Beef bouillon cubes
Bell peppers, dehydrated
Cajun seasoning
Celery seed
Chicken bouillon cubes
Chili powder
Chives
Cilantro, dried and fresh
Cinnamon sticks
Cinnamon, ground
Cloves, ground and whole
Cream of tartar
Crushed red pepper
Cumin
Curry powder
Dill weed
Fennel seed
Fennel, ground
Garlic
Garlic salt
Ginger, fresh and ground
Herbs de Provence
Italian
Lemon pepper
Marjoram
Mustard, ground
Nutmeg
Onion powder
Onions, dehydrated
Oregano
Paprika
Parsley
Poppy seeds
Red pepper flakes
Rosemary
Saffron
Sage
Seasoning salt
Sesame seeds
Steak / Grill seasoning
Taco seasoning
Tarragon
Thyme
Turmeric
Poultry Gravy Mix
Brown Gravy Mix
Onion Soup Mix
Fajita Seasoning Mix
Beef Stew Seasoning Mix
Spaghetti Seasoning Mix
Ranch Dressing Mix
Popcorn Seasoning
 - occasionally:
Fresh herbs (mostly basil)

Nuts and Snacks:
Crackers (variety)
Raisins
Popcorn
Peanuts
Almonds
Pine nuts
Candy
Cookies

Juices and Drinks:
Lemon juice
Lime juice
Apple Juice
Orange Juice (frozen)
Bottled grape juice
Bottled apricot nectar
Chocolate Milk Mix
Hot Chocolate mix
Crystal Light / Koolaid packets / Drink Mixes
Gatorade / Powerade / Pedialyte

Powdered / Dehydrated / Food Storage:
Powdered Milk
Powdered Eggs
Apple Slices
Banana Chips
Powdered Whip Cream
Soups (just add water)
Potato Pearls/Gems
 - On my wish list:
Butter Powder
Buttermilk Powder
Sour Cream Powder
Shortening Powder
Cheese Powder
Potato Slices
Potato Chunks
Freeze Dried Fruits
Dehydrated Fruits
Dehydrated Carrots
Dehydrated Celery

Recipes:
This is where cooking really comes into play when dealing with food storage, and in my opinion is the hardest hurdle for people to get over.
Realistically, if you want to be prepared with a years’ supply of food, you have to start learning how to prepare the perishable items you purchase.  This idea can be completely overwhelming!  Don’t let it be!  Try picking one item at a time – something you use the most, like bread.  You may find that the taste/health benefits are completely worth it.  And I can guarantee it will cost you a lot less!  (On average a loaf of bread costs me .25 cents and 10 minutes of hands on time).
Even if you always purchase it at the store, I recommend having a recipe for everything you eat regularly (and yes, there are recipes for EVERYTHING!).  Start with the basics – what do you consume the most at your house?
(**For a complete list of all of my recipes, click here)

Along with your recipes, you should also have an ingredient substitution list (coming soon).  These are extremely helpful when you are only missing a single ingredient.

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