I'm expanding the meaning of "pantry" a bit here. I'm including tools as well as all types of ingredients (canned, dried, fresh, frozen).

If you cook regularly, there are certain ingredients and tools that you should always have on hand. I call these "essentials".

Beyond essentials, there are the "good-to-haves". Good-to-haves will make your life easier. The essentials plus the good-to-haves will give you what I call "the complete pantry".

With "the complete pantry", you will always have something on hand to whip up a meal on the spur of the moment. Click on the "Pantry Recipes" button ... if you've stocked your pantry completely, you'll already have everything you need for these recipes.

The complete pantry will also make your regular shopping easier, since you'll already have a lot of items on-hand.

And having the right tools is always a big help. As my fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Vining, used to tell us: "A worker's work is only as good as his tools." It was the only class where we were allowed to sharpen our pencils whenever we needed to!

You don't need to buy all of the tools or ingredients at once, of course. Buy them as you need them for a particular recipe, and if you keep cooking different things, you will build up to your complete pantry in a gradual and affordable way.

Essential Ingredients

Essential Tools

Good-to-Have Ingredients

Really new to cooking?

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