| Stocking up on often used pantry items when | | | | rice or wild rice instead of white rice. Experiment |
| they are on sale is the perfect way to not only | | | | with different flavors and find one that your |
| save money on item you know will not go to | | | | family enjoys. Rice also makes a great side dish |
| waste but also to ensure that you will have | | | | either by itself, with vegetables mixed in or simply |
| enough ingredients on hand at all times to throw a | | | | topped with your favorite spaghetti sauce. |
| meal together in a matter of minutes. Here is a | | | | 5. Condensed Soups: Condensed soups are a |
| list of my top ten pantry items that will help you | | | | fabulous way to add both moisture and flavor to |
| add that all-day cooked flavor to quick cooking | | | | quick cooking meals. You will find recipe ideas right |
| meals. | | | | on the soup can labels and there have been entire |
| 1. Pasta: Pasta is so versatile that you could make | | | | cookbooks written around the theme of cooking |
| dinner with it every night for a month and never | | | | with condensed soups. Cream of mushroom, |
| have the same meal twice. Dried pasta is the | | | | cream of chicken, cream of celery and condensed |
| perfect pantry staple to stock up on every time | | | | cheese soup are probably the most popular. Take |
| it goes on sale at your grocery store. Keep | | | | a close look at the soup selection the next time |
| different size and shaped noodles on hand to | | | | you are in the grocery store. Read the recipes on |
| make meals more interesting. Dried pasta can be | | | | the labels and stock up on any that you can |
| added to soups, stews or casseroles, it can be | | | | incorporate into your weekly menu planning. If |
| used as a bed for your favorite stir-fry, to add | | | | nothing else, you can make soup for lunch or |
| some bulk to your meal or it can be the star of | | | | dinner on a cold rainy day. Don't forget the |
| the show - a quick go-to meal by simply adding | | | | chicken noodle in case somebody doesn't feel well. |
| your favorite jarred sauce. | | | | 6. Dried Herbs and Spices: Having a stock of |
| A couple of things to keep in mind when cooking | | | | herbs and spices on hand will really help "spice" up |
| with dried pasta are: Always put your pot of | | | | your quick meals. Kosher salt, whole black |
| pasta water on the stove before you do anything | | | | peppercorns (to grind in a pepper grinder), parsley, |
| else to begin preparing your meal. You don't want | | | | basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, cumin, chili |
| to have the rest of your meal prepared and | | | | powder, mustard powder and paprika would be a |
| getting cold while you are still waiting for the | | | | great starting point. Unless you cook a lot, buy |
| pasta water to boil so give it a head start. Also, if | | | | these items in the smallest quantity possible. Dried |
| you are serving pasta as the star of the show, | | | | herbs and spices can lose their flavor and it is |
| topped with your favorite sauce, you should | | | | recommended that you should replace them after |
| always use a noodle with lines or ridges in it | | | | 6 months. You will wind up wasting money if you |
| because it will give the sauce a place to go and | | | | buy the jumbo size container of paprika, only use |
| do not rinse the noodles when you drain them | | | | it once or twice and wind up throwing it away. |
| because it will help the sauce stick. | | | | 7. Liquid Condiments: Worcestershire, soy sauce, |
| 2. Spaghetti Sauce: Of course you can use a jar | | | | hot pepper sauce, and an assortment of vinegars |
| of spaghetti sauce to pour over spaghetti for a | | | | are some liquid condiments that can pack a punch |
| quick meal any night of the week, but think | | | | when it comes to adding flavor to your quick fix |
| outside the box a little when it comes to this | | | | meals. |
| pantry staple. You would be surprised how many | | | | 8. Canned Tomatoes: Having a variety of canned |
| different ways spaghetti sauce can be used. The | | | | tomato products in your pantry is a great way to |
| great thing about spaghetti sauce is that all of the | | | | add all-day cooked flavor to your meals. You can |
| cooking has been done and that all-day flavor is | | | | add variety by mixing up the size of the |
| already sealed in. There are so many varieties on | | | | tomatoes, from whole to finely diced. You can |
| the store shelves that you can get a sauce with | | | | even purchase the cans with herbs and spices |
| whatever flavor combination you prefer, or you | | | | already added. |
| can get a simple marinara sauce and spice it up | | | | 9. Canned Beans: Beans are a great source of |
| your own way by adding fresh herbs and | | | | fiber and an excellent way to add bulk to your |
| vegetables to suit your pallette and your menu. | | | | meals, but cooking with dried beans can take a |
| 3. Prepared Broths: Boxes or cans of prepared | | | | very long time because you typically have to |
| beef, chicken and vegetable broth are a must | | | | soak them overnight and then cook them for |
| have pantry staple. When it comes to quick | | | | hours until they soften. Canned beans give you |
| cooking you should not pass up any opportunity | | | | the same benefits in a fraction of the time and if |
| to add flavor. You can do this by substituting | | | | you stock up when they are bargain-priced they |
| broth in place of water to add extra flavor to any | | | | can be beneficial to your wallet as well. |
| recipe. You can even cook your rice in broth | | | | 10. Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Extra virgin olive oil is an |
| instead of water. If you cook often the larger | | | | absolute cooking staple. Even though oil is a fat, |
| boxes of broth can be stored in the refrigerator | | | | extra virgin olive oil is considered a healthy fat |
| after opening so you can use as much or as little | | | | because it contains antioxidants like Vitamin E, it |
| as you need and they can sometimes be a better | | | | can lower you bad cholesterol while raising your |
| bargain than the cans. If you do wind up with | | | | good cholesterol and studies have shown that |
| leftover broth in an opened container and are | | | | extra virgin olive oil can actually help prevent |
| afraid that you will not be able to use it quickly, | | | | heart disease and certain types of cancer. You |
| pour it into ice cube trays and freeze it. You can | | | | should keep in mind, though, that even with all of |
| pop out as many cubes as you need and melt | | | | these health benefits, extra virgin olive oil is still a |
| them right into your recipe. You can even get | | | | fat and it should be consumed in moderation. Two |
| fancy by adding some dried herbs to your broth | | | | tablespoons per day should be your limit. There |
| cubes before freezing for extra flavor. | | | | are many varieties of extra virgin olive oil on the |
| 4. Quick Cooking Rice: Rice is a great way to add | | | | market and some can be very expensive. Do a |
| bulk to a meal. Serving a stir fry of meat and | | | | little taste testing to find a moderately priced |
| vegetables over rice makes a delicious and | | | | brand that suits your pallette and watch for it to |
| satisfying meal. Rice is also a great way to add | | | | go on sale. |
| some whole grains to your diet by using brown | | | | |