Pantry Staples

I like to keep my pantry and refrigerator stocked with items that may not be a part of my meal plan, but somehow end up on the menu throughout the week. A spur of the moment game night dessert, homemade bread, food for sickness, or church events are all examples of times I may decide to cook or bake last minute. Having my pantry staples stocked makes this a breeze and saves me time and money from another trip to the grocery store. 

Pantry/Refrigerator Items:

• Organic Cane and Brown Sugar always have a place in my pantry and most people keep these on hand as well. I love buying mine from Aldi for a great price. 
• Organic Butter Flavor Nutiva Coconut Oil. We eat primarily dairy free and this coconut oil is the best butter replacement I have been able to find.
• Organic eggs. Because you obviously need eggs for most baking!
• Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips are delicious allergen friendly chocolate chips. These are dairy, soy, and nut free, melt deliciously, and taste amazing.
• Instant Yeast packets. I love to make homemade bread and cinnamon rolls. Yeast packets are very cheap and make it easy to whip up a homemade favorite in no time.
• Sourdough starter. In addition to the yeast packets mentioned above, I keep a sourdough starter fed on my counter. If I have time to plan ahead, there’s nothing better than a freshly made sourdough loaf!
• Organic Maple Syrup. I substitute out refined sugar quite often for maple syrup. The organic kind tastes so decadent compared to the average, artificially flavored maple syrup. 
• Organic Bananas. Y’all, we go through some bananas. Most go into the freezer for smoothies, others are eaten as snacks, and the few left behind are made into banana bread or muffins. You will rarely see a counter of mine without a banana on it. 
• Cocoa powder. My hubby is obsessed with brownies so keeping cocoa powder on hand makes it easy to make a quick batch for game night or even just a sweet treat after dinner.
• Raw, Local Honey. One of my favorites! We add a tablespoon or two to our smoothies every day, but I mainly keep it on hand to help with allergies. Eating a spoonful of honey daily is great for seasonal allergies and of course, tastes delicious. Honey helps soothe sore throats and calm a cough. You can never have too much honey in your home.
• Garlic Cloves are another food I always have on hand not just for when cooking but also for when sickness strikes. Homemade goot is something we use for coughs and colds and is safe for all ages. Garlic has antibacterial properties so eating it raw or cooked when we are sick helps our immune system get back on track. When we are sick, I make a big pot of chicken soup, load it up with garlic, and serve with a side of garlic bread. I sometimes mince up raw garlic and mix with honey to get a quick dose when under the weather. 
• Organic Chicken Broth. Soups, sauces, crockpot meals, you name it and you’ll need chicken broth for it! I buy the 32. oz cartons from Aldi. Each carton contains around 4 cups.

There you have it! My top pantry must haves. I’m sure there are more, but these are the most used in my home. It’s always a good feeling when your options are endless because of a well stocked pantry and refrigerator. What are your pantry staples?