I probably have to re-do it a bit but if you are looking for something, there are a few volumes that I deem essential from rices and pastas to canned artichoke hearts and tomato sauce from our favorite Italian grocery.
Of course the basics, flour, sugar, salt, pepper, tea, coffee (we don’t have it); spices, another chapter. Vanilla, maple syrup, baking and sweet things. It is not in the chapters but we built a so-called “tech center” into a glorious pantry, that now includes recycling and after five years I must get everything back in its’ place.
I must confess that the top shelf on our installed pantry are for dog treats and medications (nothing serious, just flea and heartworm before they exist in or on her).
I tried to keep one side savory with flours (Italian OO if you want to make pizza dough. You’ll need a local Italian grocery like I have because they won’t send it online). The other side is sweet and dog. The other space is for bowls and equipment I do not use often, like the hand-cranked pasta maker and the meat grinder attachment I only use for authentic Texas chili a few times a year.
Pantry and counters must me measured by space and what appliances one uses all the time. We built space for a pantry because I had a great view and did not wish to look at a blank wall while sitting at my desk. Plus, when we were done with dishes, glasses and bowls et al I had no place for any food except in the refrigerator. I needed a place for rice, pasta, couscous. Olive oil, Canola oil, different vinegars, soy sauce, mirin, sriracha and other condiments.
My husband’s mother gave me a great gift early on, first she and her husband let me marry their son. A few years later we went to a thrift shop a ways from their home and she found and bought me Pyrex bowls, the old kind. Down from size it’s yellow, green, red and blue. This set was missing the blue so was less expensive.
Yes, M had a plan. The blue is always the first bowl to break, not that they break from regular use but by being dropped. She gave me hers from her mother. Later on, my aunt gave me one from her mother. We use them so often for cereal or oatmeal I don’t know which is which anymore.
Even with my husband as a klutz (he will admit to it) in the kitchen we still, I just knocked wood, have a full set of heritage Corningware that includes two blue bowls. I would hate to lose one. It celebrates both of our families history, and us and our nearly 15 years of marriage. I’ve an idea. Cheers! Dee
Cooking with Dee 