Pantry Basics

I've had a very lazy day. I called in sick to work after being struck down by another awful cold. It feels like I only just got over the last one. So I spent most of the day either sleeping or wiping my nose. By late afternoon though, I was getting really bored, so I took the time to compile a pantry basics list to make doing our shopping a lot easier.

We've gone from doing a weekly shop last year, to a fortnightly one, and recently I've attempted to make it a monthly chore. However I've found myself popping down to the store to pick up things I'd forgotten so hopefully this list will nip that in the bud. We don't tend to plan our meals out in advance, preferring to work with what's in the cupboard and with what vegetables are cheap at the market each week.

Both of us work 6 days a week and often each eat both lunch and dinner at work, so we tend to make basic meals that freeze well. Things like fish pie, luau, pasta bake, lasagne, bolognaise, vegetable crumble, quiche, soups and pizza. Stock standard fare that is easy but it can get a little boring and probably isn't the healthiest. This month I'm going to make more sushi and stir fries.

So here's the list. I'm going to print it out and have it on the fridge so I can circle what we're low on come shopping day.

Do you keep a list like this, write a shopping list or just wing it at the supermarket?

Pantry essentials
Dry Goods	Baking	Dairy
Pasta – lasagne sheets, spaghetti, other	Rolled oats	Milk powder
Rice – brown, white	Yeast	Easiyo yoghurt sachets
Lentils – brown, red	High grade flour	Butter
Chickpeas	Standard flour	Margarine
Kidney beans	Wholemeal flour	1kg block cheese
Barley	Corn flour	Pets
Nuts	Baking powder	Fish food
Breadcrumbs	Baking soda	Rabbit food
Cous cous	Dried fruit	Oxygen shell
Stir fry noodles	Icing sugar	Vege market
Bulk bin soup mix	Brown sugar	Eggs
Vege stock powder	Sugar	Potatoes
Tinned goods	Caster sugar	Onions
Tomatoes	Coconut	Garlic
Baked beans	Vanilla	Seasonal fruit
Tuna	Golden syrup	Seasonal veges
Smoked fish	Cocoa	Luxuries
Tomato puree/paste	Custard powder	Quinoa
Coconut cream/milk	Mixed spice	Parmesan
Corn	Herbs/spices/sauce/oils	Feta
Cleaning/toiletries/kitchen	Tomato sauce	Blue cheese
Toilet paper	Soy sauce	Ricotta/cottage cheese
Soap	Sweet chilli sauce	Juice
Dishwashing liquid	Curry paste	Nori sheets
Bleach	Salt	Wasabi paste
Dish cloths	Peppercorns	Rice wine vinegar
Laundry powder	Mixed Herbs	Pastry
Snaplock bags	Cinnamon	Capers
Clingfilm	Cumin	Sundried tomatoes
Tinfoil	Cayenne pepper	Olives
Baking paper	Turmeric	Tortillas
Steelo	Curry Powder	HP sauce
Tooth paste	Paprika	Chocolate chips
Tooth brush	Cooking oil	Crackers
Roll on deodorant	Olive oil	Vogels/other bread
Cotton buds	Balsamic Vinegar	Corn chips
Tampons	White vinegar	Condensed milk
Council rubbish bags	Malt vinegar	Evaporated milk
Lighter	Wine vinegar	Dinosaur lollies
Drinks	Mustard	Wine
English breakfast tea bags	Minced ginger	Chocolate
Herbal tea	Lemon juice
Coffee (for plunger)	Lime juice
Spreads	Chilli powder
Honey	Worchestershire sauce
Marmite	Oyster sauce