---
title: Stocking Your Pantry A Good Way to Cook Conveniently and Economically
date: 2012-09-12T21:57:00Z
modified: 2012-09-12T21:57:00Z
permalink: "https://elizabethyarnell.com/stocking-your-pantry-a-good-way-to-cook-conveniently-and-economically/"
type: post
status: publish
excerpt: ""
wpid: 2468
categories:
  - Glorious One-Pot Meals
  - Recommended Products
tags:
  - food pantries
  - food pantry
  - gourmet pantry cooking
  - ingredients to have on hand
  - kitchen pantry
  - modern kitchen pantry contents
  - pantry staples
  - stock a pantry
author: Elizabeth
---

My friend Joann Bruso, author of [Baby Bites: Transforming a Picky Eater into a Healthy Eater](http://www.babybites.info/about/4-2/ "baby bites joann bruso") and star of the What’s Cooking with Nonna podcast, offered a great post yesterday titled [Gourmet Cooking From Your Pantry]( Gourmet Cooking From Your Pantry  "gourmet cooking from your pantry").[![What's cooking with Nonna podcast](http://www.babybites.info/wp-content/uploads/pod-cast-cover.jpg "What's cooking with Nonna")

](http://www.babybites.info)

In it she gives a comprehensive list of items she keeps stocked in her kitchen. With a well-stocked pantry, Joann says, “Not only can you throw together cost-effective, last minute meals, but you’ll impress your family AND guests with delicious Pantry Gourmet Meals. Even more important: A well-stocked pantry means you can avoid the fast food stop because you’re in a rush or didn’t get to the grocery store.”

I couldn’t agree more. In [Glorious One-Pot Meals](http://www.gloriousonepotmeals.com), I devote an entire chapter to stocking your pantry and freezer for quick, convenient, and healthy cooking.

In an email to me, Joann also points out that stocking up with food today makes good economical sense because, between the drought, the poor harvest, and the shaky economy, we’re likely to see food prices rise soon. She says, “Right now food in a pantry is better than money in then bank.”

While Joann’s cupboards are very well stocked, I had a few other items that are staples in my house that I wanted to add to [Joann’s list of pantry must-have’s](http://www.babybites.info/2012/05/22/gourmet-pantry-cooking/#comments "pantry staples"). My additions include:

-Dried mushrooms
-Dry polenta
-Quinoa flakes (make a fabulous, crispy coating for fried or baked foods)
–[Pomegranate molasses](http://www.savoryspiceshop.com/extracts/pomolas.html "pomegranate molasses savory spice shop") (mix w/mustard for a glaze on meat, or coat a log of goat cheese w/syrup and nuts for an elegant cheese plate)
-Taco shells (organic corn, of course!)
-Boxes of tofu (Extra firm and Soft)
-Enchilada sauce (I’ve even used this instead of marinara sauce for a quick pizza i a pinch!)