{"id":104,"date":"2008-10-03T21:53:06","date_gmt":"2008-10-03T21:53:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cookhappylivehealthy.org\/blog\/?p=104"},"modified":"2008-10-03T21:53:06","modified_gmt":"2008-10-03T21:53:06","slug":"money-wise-investing-tips-for-your-kitchen-pantry-take-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cookhappylivehealthy.org\/blog\/money-wise-investing-tips-for-your-kitchen-pantry-take-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Money-Wise Investing Tips for Your Kitchen Pantry&#8211;Take 2"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin:0;\"><span style=\"font-size:small;\"><span style=\"font-family:Times New Roman;\"><em>How to Know What to Buy to Stock the Pantry<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin:0;\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin:0;\"><span style=\"font-size:small;\"><span style=\"font-family:Times New Roman;\">Yesterday\u2019s post talked about what <em>not<\/em> to buy when stocking the pantry, i.e., a bunch of products that are on sale but likely won\u2019t get used up in the foreseeable future.<span>\u00a0 <\/span>That leaves the question of what we <em>should<\/em> buy to stock the pantry.<span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin:0;\"><span style=\"font-size:small;font-family:Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin:0;\"><span style=\"font-size:small;font-family:Times New Roman;\">Wandering down the aisles with a dozen options each direction you look, where and how do you even begin deciding which things to add to your cart? <span>\u00a0<\/span>A good approach came to me as Ken and I were filming the Fox31 shopping segment.<span>\u00a0 <\/span>I call it \u201cCanvases and Accents.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin:0;\"><span style=\"font-size:small;font-family:Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin:0;\"><span style=\"font-size:small;font-family:Times New Roman;\">Think of pantry \u201ccanvases\u201d as the foundations for your meals.<span>\u00a0 <\/span>In other words, what\u2019s at the bottom of your plate?<span>\u00a0 <\/span>Depending on your tastes and vegetarian leanings, a meal foundation might be chicken, fish, hamburger, beans, tofu, rice, potatoes, pasta, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin:0;\"><span style=\"font-size:small;font-family:Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin:0;\"><span style=\"font-size:small;font-family:Times New Roman;\">A good pantry has a good variety of these canvasses in stock, since there\u2019s nothing like boredom to put the kibosh on your meal making efforts.<span>\u00a0 <\/span>Interestingly, all of them keep well in the pantry.<span>\u00a0 <\/span>Of course any fresh meats must be kept in the freezer pantry, but for the most part that only impacts quality slightly. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin:0;\"><span style=\"font-size:small;font-family:Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin:0;\"><span style=\"font-size:small;\"><span style=\"font-family:Times New Roman;\">In addition to a variety of canvas foundations, you\u2019ll want a good sprinkling of \u201caccents\u201d in your pantry, i.e., ingredients with lots of flavor and color that add tantalizing taste appeal, visual allure and just plain fun to your meals.<span>\u00a0 <\/span>On our shopping excursion we got marinated mushrooms and fire-roasted red peppers, which were then used in the recipes we later demonstrated:<span>\u00a0 <\/span>Talapia in Foil Packets with Mushrooms and Peas, and Corn with Red Pepper Bits.<span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin:0;\"><span style=\"font-size:small;font-family:Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin:0;\"><span style=\"font-size:small;font-family:Times New Roman;\">My personal pantry is a hotbed of accents, which probably explains why I\u2019ve got an embarrassingly large sum invested in my pantry, as talked about in yesterday\u2019s post.<span>\u00a0 <\/span>But just as a newscaster must have an extensive and presentable wardrobe, a kitchen coach must have an intriguing pantry!<span>\u00a0 <\/span>It\u2019s my \u201cduty\u201d to experiment so I can share good ideas with others.<span>\u00a0 <\/span>So here are a few of my favorite accents:<\/span><span style=\"font-size:small;font-family:Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin:0;\"><span style=\"font-size:small;font-family:Times New Roman;\">Jars of minced garlic and ginger\u2014top of the list, no question, they go in every other dish I make<\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin:0;\"><span style=\"font-size:small;\"><span style=\"font-family:Times New Roman;\">Six or seven bottles of ready made sauces, e.g., San-J Thai Peanut, Szechuan, Sweet and Tangy and Teriyaki\u2014rev up a vegetable dish in a matter of seconds<span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin:0;\"><span style=\"font-size:small;font-family:Times New Roman;\">Thai chili paste and Chinese black bean sauce\u2014add unique flavor when I\u2019m making my own stir fry sauces and soups<\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin:0;\"><span style=\"font-size:small;\"><span style=\"font-family:Times New Roman;\">Parmesan cheese, feta cheese and goat chevre\u2014I eat few diary products but these I keep in the freezer for those occasions when their robust flavor is the only thing that will properly finish a dish.<span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin:0;\"><span style=\"font-size:small;font-family:Times New Roman;\">Kalamata olives\u2014I can\u2019t believe there was a time when I didn\u2019t like them, now I use even the brine.<span>\u00a0 <\/span>Excellent in tomato based dishes, also fish and chicken<\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin:0;\"><span style=\"font-size:small;font-family:Times New Roman;\">Capers\u2014great pungent-sour-tart addition to liven up mild fish and vegetables<\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin:0;\"><span style=\"font-size:small;\"><span style=\"font-family:Times New Roman;\">Miso paste\u2014wonderful when winter comes and a yearning for comforting soups.<span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin:0;\"><span style=\"font-size:small;font-family:Times New Roman;\">Soy Sauce\u2014get a high quality version, like San-J, and it\u2019s often all you need to flavor a stir-fry or just plain steamed vegetables<\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin:0;\"><span style=\"font-size:small;font-family:Times New Roman;\">Vinegars\u2014Brown rice, red wine and balsamic are my current favorites<\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin:0;\"><span style=\"font-size:small;font-family:Times New Roman;\">Lemons and Limes\u2014 Fresh ones will last in the frig for three or four weeks, so don\u2019t bother with the bottles of lemon and lime juice.<span>\u00a0 <\/span>They don\u2019t even compare to freshly squeezed.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin:0;\"><span style=\"font-size:small;font-family:Times New Roman;\">Olive Oil\u2014Buy a high quality bottle (not the kind on a regular grocery store shelf), to drizzle lightly over potatoes, rice and vegetables.<span>\u00a0 <\/span>With a little sea salt and freshly ground pepper, that is all the flavor you need.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin:0;\"><span style=\"font-size:small;font-family:Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size:small;\"><span style=\"font-family:Times New Roman;\">This doesn\u2019t even get into herbs and spices, which is another HUGE area.<span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin:0;\"><span style=\"font-size:small;font-family:Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin:0;\"><span style=\"font-size:small;\"><span style=\"font-family:Times New Roman;\">For now, just remember to start stocking a good variety of canvasses as well as some fun accents to add pizzazz and punch to the equation.<span>\u00a0 <\/span>There\u2019s no reason to settle for dull baked chicken breasts, yet again, with so many easy options available.<span>\u00a0 <\/span><span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin:0;\"><span style=\"font-size:small;font-family:Times New Roman;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin:0;\"><span style=\"font-size:small;\"><span style=\"font-family:Times New Roman;\">Care to share your pantry favs?<span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin:0;\">\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Of all the dozens and dozens of pantry staples in the grocery store, how do you know which to buy that won&#8217;t just sit on the shelves unused?  Mary offers a &#8220;Canvasses and Accents&#8221; approach to help. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"generate_page_header":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[96,419,421,551],"class_list":["post-104","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-how-to-set-up-a-healthy-pantry","tag-canvases-and-accents","tag-pantry","tag-pantry-favorites","tag-stocking-the-pantry","masonry-post","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-50"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cookhappylivehealthy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cookhappylivehealthy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cookhappylivehealthy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cookhappylivehealthy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cookhappylivehealthy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=104"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cookhappylivehealthy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cookhappylivehealthy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=104"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cookhappylivehealthy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=104"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cookhappylivehealthy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=104"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}