Sage Pantry
Every woman has found herself with the unfortunate combination of a
fast-approaching dinner hour and no meal in sight. Maybe dinner
burned, maybe it never thawed, maybe time just flew by and somehow no
plans were made. Now she is faced with a dilemma. Should she swing by
the McGarbage drive thru? Run to the nearest store and pay too much
for the ingredients for a new meal? Scrounge around the kitchen for
some appalling creation that will make her children groan and her
husband sigh helplessly?
If this woman is a sage mommy, she can open up her cupboards and find
the makings of a fast, frugal, and healthy meal in just minutes. Pasta +
jarred sauce + frozen Italian sausage = Baked ziti. Potatoes + canned
chili + cheese = Stuffed baked potatoes. Tortillas + cheese + chicken =
Chicken quesadillas. Just add a salad or sliced fruit, and you’re good to
go with no stress and no fuss.
Maintaining a well-stocked pantry is one of the hallmark habits of a smart
cook. First, you save time and money on fast food and emergency runs
to the store. Second, you can put off purchases until items are on sale
for an optimal price. Last, you have more control over your diet, as you
can stock only items that you find dietetically acceptable.
Every family’s pantry essentials list varies based upon region, storage
space, and personal tastes. Here is a sampling of what I keep in my
pantry and, where possible, what I consider a good price in my area.
Basic Dry Goods:
White and whole wheat flour (keep in freezer if bugs are an issue)--.20/lb
and .40/lb respectively
White, brown, and powdered sugar--$1/5 lb bag for white sugar; .75/ box
or less for others
Baking Soda
Baking Powder
Salt
Bulk Yeast ($2-3/jar)
White and brown rice (freeze for several days to kill weevils)--.35/lb and .
50/lb
Dried beans and lentils--.75/lb
Pasta--.50/lb
Couscous--$1/lb
Peanut Butter--$2/jar
Jelly--$1/jar
Dry breakfast cereal--$1/medium box
Cake mix--.75/box
Whole potatoes--.25/lb
Pickles--$3/large Costco-sized jar
Olives--.75/can
Onions--.25/lb
Shallots--$1/lb
Garlic--$.50/lb
Marshmallows--$1/bag
White and Chocolate chips--$2/bag
Bulk popcorn--$1/lb
Regular and instant oatmeal--.50/lb and $2/package
Taco seasoning--large Costco container for under $5
Chili seasoning—3-4 packets for a dollar
Alfredo sauce mix—3-4 packets for a dollar
Various gravy mixes—3-4 packets for a dollar
Powdered beef and/or chicken bouillon--$2 for small jar
Powdered cocoa
White and balsamic vinegar—varies according to quality
Shredded dried potatoes
Canola oil--$2 for large bottle
Olive oil--$3 for medium sized bottle
Refrigerator:
Celery--$1/bunch
Carrots--$1 for a 2 lb bag
Mozzarella--$1.50/lb
Cheddar--$2/lb
Parmesan--$2/lb for powdered or $4/lb for block
Eggs--$1/dozen large
Fruit in season--$1/lb for everyday stuff, $2/lb for treats
Sauces:
Ketchup--$1/bottle
Best Foods/Hellmann’s Mayonnaise--$2.50/jar
Dijon mustard--$2 small jar
Honey
Maple syrup--$1/bottle
Soy sauce
Italian dressing--$1/medium bottle
Canned enchilada sauce--$1/large can
Jarred spaghetti sauce--$1/jar
Tomato sauce and/or paste--.25/small can
Freezer:
Butter--$1.50/lb
Chicken hindquarters--.50/lb
BLSL Chicken breast (I cook, slice, and freeze in meal-sized packages)
--$1.50/lb
Pork steaks--$1.50/lb
Hamburger--$1.50/lb
Ground turkey--$1/lb
Italian sausage--$2/lb
Hot dogs--.75/lb
Frozen shrimp, fish, and seafood—between $2 and $5/lb depending on
type and quality
Large tubs of yogurt--$2
Sliced store-bought bread--.75/large loaf
Flour tortillas--$1/10 large
Frozen veggies--.50/lb
Frozen fruit--$1.50/lb
French bread or garlic bread--$1/large loaf
Homemade muffins—approx .50/dozen
Homemade waffles, french toast, and/or pancakes—approx. .50/batch
It seems like a lot, but I fit it all with room to spare in a side by side fridge,
a small freezer, and an average sized kitchen. My pantry gives me the
freedom to never pay full price and never have to buy fast food.
Every woman has found herself with the unfortunate combination of a
fast-approaching dinner hour and no meal in sight. Maybe dinner
burned, maybe it never thawed, maybe time just flew by and somehow no
plans were made. Now she is faced with a dilemma. Should she swing by
the McGarbage drive thru? Run to the nearest store and pay too much
for the ingredients for a new meal? Scrounge around the kitchen for
some appalling creation that will make her children groan and her
husband sigh helplessly?
If this woman is a sage mommy, she can open up her cupboards and find
the makings of a fast, frugal, and healthy meal in just minutes. Pasta +
jarred sauce + frozen Italian sausage = Baked ziti. Potatoes + canned
chili + cheese = Stuffed baked potatoes. Tortillas + cheese + chicken =
Chicken quesadillas. Just add a salad or sliced fruit, and you’re good to
go with no stress and no fuss.
Maintaining a well-stocked pantry is one of the hallmark habits of a smart
cook. First, you save time and money on fast food and emergency runs
to the store. Second, you can put off purchases until items are on sale
for an optimal price. Last, you have more control over your diet, as you
can stock only items that you find dietetically acceptable.
Every family’s pantry essentials list varies based upon region, storage
space, and personal tastes. Here is a sampling of what I keep in my
pantry and, where possible, what I consider a good price in my area.
Basic Dry Goods:
White and whole wheat flour (keep in freezer if bugs are an issue)--.20/lb
and .40/lb respectively
White, brown, and powdered sugar--$1/5 lb bag for white sugar; .75/ box
or less for others
Baking Soda
Baking Powder
Salt
Bulk Yeast ($2-3/jar)
White and brown rice (freeze for several days to kill weevils)--.35/lb and .
50/lb
Dried beans and lentils--.75/lb
Pasta--.50/lb
Couscous--$1/lb
Peanut Butter--$2/jar
Jelly--$1/jar
Dry breakfast cereal--$1/medium box
Cake mix--.75/box
Whole potatoes--.25/lb
Pickles--$3/large Costco-sized jar
Olives--.75/can
Onions--.25/lb
Shallots--$1/lb
Garlic--$.50/lb
Marshmallows--$1/bag
White and Chocolate chips--$2/bag
Bulk popcorn--$1/lb
Regular and instant oatmeal--.50/lb and $2/package
Taco seasoning--large Costco container for under $5
Chili seasoning—3-4 packets for a dollar
Alfredo sauce mix—3-4 packets for a dollar
Various gravy mixes—3-4 packets for a dollar
Powdered beef and/or chicken bouillon--$2 for small jar
Powdered cocoa
White and balsamic vinegar—varies according to quality
Shredded dried potatoes
Canola oil--$2 for large bottle
Olive oil--$3 for medium sized bottle
Refrigerator:
Celery--$1/bunch
Carrots--$1 for a 2 lb bag
Mozzarella--$1.50/lb
Cheddar--$2/lb
Parmesan--$2/lb for powdered or $4/lb for block
Eggs--$1/dozen large
Fruit in season--$1/lb for everyday stuff, $2/lb for treats
Sauces:
Ketchup--$1/bottle
Best Foods/Hellmann’s Mayonnaise--$2.50/jar
Dijon mustard--$2 small jar
Honey
Maple syrup--$1/bottle
Soy sauce
Italian dressing--$1/medium bottle
Canned enchilada sauce--$1/large can
Jarred spaghetti sauce--$1/jar
Tomato sauce and/or paste--.25/small can
Freezer:
Butter--$1.50/lb
Chicken hindquarters--.50/lb
BLSL Chicken breast (I cook, slice, and freeze in meal-sized packages)
--$1.50/lb
Pork steaks--$1.50/lb
Hamburger--$1.50/lb
Ground turkey--$1/lb
Italian sausage--$2/lb
Hot dogs--.75/lb
Frozen shrimp, fish, and seafood—between $2 and $5/lb depending on
type and quality
Large tubs of yogurt--$2
Sliced store-bought bread--.75/large loaf
Flour tortillas--$1/10 large
Frozen veggies--.50/lb
Frozen fruit--$1.50/lb
French bread or garlic bread--$1/large loaf
Homemade muffins—approx .50/dozen
Homemade waffles, french toast, and/or pancakes—approx. .50/batch
It seems like a lot, but I fit it all with room to spare in a side by side fridge,
a small freezer, and an average sized kitchen. My pantry gives me the
freedom to never pay full price and never have to buy fast food.
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