The Well Stocked Pantry: Kitchen Survival

Good Afternoon!

The well stocked pantry is a home cook's best friend. 

Even if you don't cook - there are a handful of emergency supplies all girls and guys need to keep in their kitchen at all times. 

With these 10 things you can make yourself something decent to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner and even pull together a no-cook appetizer for a friend that stops by!

Olive Oil - buy good quality (extra virgin) and keep it at room temperature away from harsh sunlight.  If properly stored, olive oil will last 6 months after it has been opened, and a year if unopened.

Sea Salt - (or Kosher Salt)  The main difference between ordinary table salt and Sea Salt is the texture.  Sea Salt has larger, irregular shaped grains, which makes it great for cooking.  Salt will keep for 3 to 5 years without any loss in quality.

Pepper - Pepper holds its taste for 2 to 3 years. Invest a little in a pepper-mill (grinder) and whole peppercorns; pepper adds flavor to everything so use it. 

Eggs - Eggs need to be refrigerated.  Keep them in their carton in the coldest part of the refrigerator.  Throw away any that are cracked.  Fresh eggs will last for 3 to 4 weeks and they are an excellent source of protein. 

Cheese - One piece of good hard cheese will last for 4 to 6 weeks, even after opened.  Pick your favorite.

Bread - If you don't eat enough bread to finish it in a week - you can freeze it in a ziploc bag and it will last for 2 months.  They have so many varieties of bread now - so experiment!

Fresh Fruit - Apples are a great choice during the winter season.  If you store them in the refrigerator they can last for more than a month. 

Nuts - (or any nut butter) There are so many choices so pick your favorite.  Shelled nuts will have the longest shell life.  Get crackin'. 

Butter - Don't use butter often? Store it in the freezer and it will be good for up to a year.  In the refrigerator it will last for 3 months. 

Wine - Drink a glass, save it for when a friend stops by, use it to create a great sauce.  Any meal or appetizer tastes better with a glass of vino.  Salute!

From these ingredients you can make:
Scrambled eggs and toast
Cheese omelet
Grilled cheese
Fried egg sandwich
Hardboiled eggs with toast
Sliced apple with sliced cheese
Sliced apple with nuts and a glass of wine (no-cook appetizer)
Sliced apple dipped in peanut butter (great snack for post-workout)

No take out! And a great snack or meal in minutes. Bon Appetit!

Check back tomorrow for Tips on the well stocked pantry - don't go hungry again - no take out required!

My first blog

Welcome to my blog!

My name is Tricia and I learned to cook when I was a little girl.  My mom would call me in the afternoon, while she was at work, to get dinner started.  Thus began my love affair with food. The creative process involved with creating a meal was exciting to me! It's an experiment you can "taste".

At thirteen years old I had my first taste of wine. Well, lets just say that it took me a little longer to appreciate wine....but we're solid friends now. 

Food and Wine meet....Sublime

Food...we cannot live without....Wine...adds pleasure to our social occasions, meals, and more.  Paired together....a party for your palate. Think about what foods elicit true pleasure for you? Maybe chocolate gelato eaten while in Rome, a lobster roll enjoyed seaside, a Coney Island hot dog, a savory Empanada from a Kiosk while in Puerto Rico, a warm Crepe on the street in Paris....

So, my friends, on my blog you can expect a daily recipe, some wine pairings, and photo's of the meals I create.  I hope you will enjoy it and feel free to ask questions and add comments!