I like to think I have my kitchen running like a well-oiled machine. Even though lately I’ve had zero inspiration for meal planning, I’ve come a long way since refusing to cook in college. I always thought I’d be the wife/mom who ordered take-out or made her husband run the kitchen. That was until I graduated from instant mashed potatoes and pizza rolls and actually gave cooking a try. Really, how did we survive college? It’s a complete mystery.
After failing pretty hard for the first couple years, things finally started to click for me. Cooking has become a pretty fun hobby & as our schedules have become busier, I’ve tried to fine-tune meal planning, prep, etc. Having an organized kitchen will become even more important once little man arrives. So, I as I cleaned out our lazy susan last weekend, I asked myself… what pantry items do I always seem to have that make life (and meal planning) easier?
Garlic powder | I put garlic in almost everything, so having it in powder form along with these convenient frozen minced cubes from Trader Joe’s is a necessity.
Baking basics | Flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking powder… need I say more? This one is pretty obvious.
Taco seasoning | Because when in doubt, make tacos. I typically have tortillas in the cupboard as well so this makes an oh-shoot-whats-for-dinner solution pretty quick.
Soy sauce | Asian flavors are my favorite & I have a couple great recipes – including these Korean turkey bowls and chicken fried rice – which both call for a good amount of soy sauce. I always make sure to have an extra bottle on hand just in case.
Rice | Our go-to side on most nights. Whether we eat it white or cook some long-grain wild rice, it’s nice to have around in case the planned meal comes up short.
My list could get quite extensive, but these are by far the things I can’t live without on a weekly basis. Do you have any pantry items you keep around at all times? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below!
xoxo. B
