Kitchen essentials

When you get home from a crazy day at work or running kids and errands, the last thing you feel like doing is cooking.  I’m here to tell you that it is possible to whip up an easy meal as long as you have the right ingredients on hand. 

 

This may sound like a long list but it’s really not.  You probably have a lot of these ingredients in your kitchen already.  I have created “easy meal survivor” ingredient lists for your pantry, refrigerator, freezer, and spice rack.

Pantry:                                                 

rice –  Asian dishes and to go along with stir frys, also chicken and rice dishes

pasta – spaghetti, lasagna, or ziti anyone?

Bisquick – biscuits as a side dish

pancake mix

pancake syrup

potatoes – fried and sliced or to make scalloped

onions – to season just about any dish

garlic – to season just about any dish

pizza sauce – use with Boboli pizza crusts for a quick kid-friendly dinner

spaghetti sauce –  pasta dishes

tomato sauce – soups and various casseroles

enchilada sauce - Mexican dishes

creamed soups such as mushroom, tomato, chicken and celery – casseroles and sauces

canned beans such as black, navy, and kidney – soups and chili

canned tuna and chicken – casseroles and salads

canned vegetables such as green beans and corn – soups, chili, and casseroles

canned fruit such as pineapple, pears, fruit cocktail, peaches

raisins

soy sauce – Asian dishes

salsa – for Mexican dishes

olive oil

vegetable oil

sesame oil – Asian inspired dishes

cooking spray

vinegars such as white, balsamic, red wine, and rice wine

peanut butter

honey – as a sweetener in some sauces and Asian dishes

cake mixes – easy dessert recipes

pudding mixes – easy dessert recipes and to eat plain as a dessert

flour

sugar

baking soda

baking powder

brown sugar – for sauces

bread

bread crumbs – store bought or you can make your own

flour tortillas

apples, bananas, and/or fruit that is in season

Freezer

veggies for side dishes such as corn, broccoli, lima beans, mixed veggies, peas

stir fry veggies

chicken breasts and tenders

ground beef

Boboli pizza crusts

Cool Whip

store bought meatballs or you can make your own ahead of time and freeze them

 

Refrigerator

carrots, celery and/or veggies that are in season

cheeses – mozzarella, cheddar, fresh Parmesan, American slices, Mexican blend

sour cream

butter

margarine

cream cheese

milk

eggs

prepared pesto or homemade – for pasta or meats

jam or jelly

ketchup

mayonnaise

mustard – yellow and Dijon

various salad dressings

hot sauce

lemon and lime juice

bagged salad mixes

cilantro

oranges

tomatoes

 

Spice Rack

salt

pepper

garlic salt

garlic powder

onion powder

paprika

crushed red pepper

chili powder

chicken and beef bullion

Italian seasoning

cinnamon

If you have these ingredients on hand, I promise you that an easy meal is just minutes away from being on your kitchen table.  Here are some examples of easy meals using ingredients from the lists above:

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Taco Pot Pie

Cheeseburger Pizza

Parmesan Chicken Tenders

Fruit Salad

Peanut Butter Apple Salad

French Toast Cakes

Cheese and Shell Bake

Calico Beans (baked beans)

Chicken Enchilada Recipe - Raleigh Cooking Examiner

Photo from Microsoft Word