Food Storage

Thanks to my sis-in-law, Melissa, I started thinking about my food storage again! Having food on hand makes dinner time run so much smoother. We try to maintain a 3 month supply of food we eat on a regular basis and then longer term supply of grains. But the key is using and rotating the food. So, welcome to my pantry. Here's the list I made of what I keep on hand and some of the menu items you can make with it. You'll need to spruce it up with a few items from the store, but that's easy to do on your weekly trip to the grocer!

Pantry Items:

Canned Tomatoes, Tomato Sauce and Spaghetti Sauce

Parmesan Cheese

Stove Top Stuffing Mixes

Variety of Canned Beans (black, pinto, white, red)

Refried Beans—good for a side with anything mexican with rice or in burritos

Canned Chili, Green Chilis, Bottled Salsa

Pork N Beans

Cream of Chicken Soup & Cream of Mushroom Soup

Chicken Broth—Or Chicken/Beef Bullion to make broth (buy at Costco for best value)

Peanut Butter, Jelly

Pasta- spaghetti, ziti, lasagna, curly

Mac N Cheese & Spaghetti Oh’s – ya, kids stuff, but you never know when you’re in the mood J

Canned Corn—in case I’m out of frozen, it’s good to have on hand

Canned Green Beans -- just in case you need some greens

Olives – for fun

Apple Sauce—if you like it

Canned Pineapple

Canned Fruit Varieties – if you would eat these as a snack

Hard Taco Shells, Tortilla Chips, Corn chips

Chinese Noodles for Hawaiian Haystacks

Coconut

Choc/Butterscotch Chips

Brownie Mixes and Cake Mix w/ Frosting

Brown Sugar & Corn Syrup

Graham Crackers, Ritz Crackers, Saltines

Sweetened Condensed Milk

Minute Rice, Brown Rice, Jasmine Rice and Regular Rice

Bread Crumbs

Instant Potatoes

Back up bottle of Ketchup, Mustard, Mayo, Ranch, Poppy Seed, BBQ Sauce, cumin, chili powder, cinnamon, Italian seasoning, curry powder, taco seasoning, brown gravy mix, poultry gravy mix

Olive Oil & Canola Oil

Flour, Sugar, Salt, Baking Powder, Baking Soda & Vinegar

Lots of Cereal (Rice Krispies for treats) and Oatmeal

Fridge Items:

Cheese

Cottage Cheese

Ham Lunch Meat

Fresh Garlic

Tortillas – white and corn

Onions & Bell Peppers

Freezer Must Haves:

Frozen Corn

Frozen Mixed Veggies

Frozen Broccoli

Frozen Chicken Breast

Frozen Hamburger

Butter

Tortellini