primitives consider the well-stocked pantry (Judy grasswire shouts out to us)

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/115743096

Oh my.

cali (93,519 posts)    Sat Jun 21, 2014, 10:54 AM

The well stocked pantry: What do you consider essential?

I love a well stocked pantry and every time I go to Ocean State Job Lots or the local dented can store, I look for pantry items. I think the well stocked pantry should have:
 
assortment of olives
assortment of nuts (these I get at the coop)
(this list is aside from the basic essentials like flour, canned tomatoes, etc)

capers
tomato paste in a squeeze tube
roasted peppers
oven slow roasted plum tomatoes or sun dried tomatoes
canned tuna and salmon
assortment of good crackers
lots of ethnic food condiments
various mustards
canned artichoke hearts
anchovies
canned chipotles in adobo sauce
dried mushrooms
maple syrup
booze specifically for cooking, from sherry to vermouth and port and marsala
assorted canned beans
salsa
cornichons
unsweetened dried coconut flakes
assorted dried fruit- apricots, prunes, figs, dates, raisins and currants

What items are important to you to have on hand?

<<<didn't bother looking at pantry here.

<<<grew up in a house with a real pantry; it was always stocked with all sorts of canned and bottled goods, and dry goods.  Ho-hum; what was in the refrigerator was all that mattered.

<<<checked refrigerator to see if it was well-stocked.

three and a half gallons of whole milk
two pints of cream
five half-gallons of 100% pure orange juice
two and a half quarts of sour cream
four blocks of real cheddar cheese
one and a half quarts of real mayonnaise
two and a half loaves of whole wheat bread
one unopened loaf of rye bread
one and a quarter pounds of real butter
two complete dozens of eggs
two wrapped packages of beef, name of cuts unknown
one box of corn flakes cereal, nearly full
one two-pound bag of sugar, nearly full
one unopened box of pancake mix
one bottle of maple syrup
one jar of mustard, never opened
one bottle of ketchup, never opened
one 16-ounce jar of Wesson grease, for popcorn, two-thirds full
three and a half gallons of vanilla real ice cream (in freezer)
one bag of popcorn, unpopped and unopened (in freezer)
two loaves of whole wheat bread (in freezer)
twelve trays of ice cubes (in freezer)
nine wrapped packages of beef, name of cuts unknown (in freezer)
one 32-ounce bag of frozen corn, a little bit used (in freezer)
one 32-ounce bag of frozen peas, a little bit used (in freezer)

<<<probably will have to go to the grocery store soon; maybe Monday.

Fortinbras Armstrong (2,172 posts)    Sat Jun 21, 2014, 11:12 AM

1. I agree with some of that list, disagree with others

For example, I have never had a can of artichoke hearts in my kitchen, and almost certainly never will.
 
Capers
Tomato paste in a squeeze tube (since I usually want a tablespoon or so of tomato paste at a time)
Canned tomatoes
Anchovies and anchovy paste
Maple syrup
Wine for cooking (Two-buck Chuck from Trader Joe's is great)
Canned beans
Assorted dried fruit- apricots, prunes, blueberries, cranberries, raisins and currants
Olive oil
Canola Oil
Red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, balsalmic vinegar, cider vinegar
Soy sauce
Jasmine rice
Arborio rice
Dried pasta in various shapes
Espresso powder and cocoa powder
Semi-sweet chocolate
Gelatine
Dried polenta
Bread flour
Unbleached all-purpose flour
Sugar -- white, light brown, dark brown

That's what's in my cupboard at the moment. Do you want to know about the fridge?

Erich Bloodaxe BSN (1,607 posts)    Sat Jun 21, 2014, 01:09 PM

2. Your pantry is a lot more upscale than mine.

canned tuna, crackers, maple syrup, canned beans, canned chicken soup for the cold and flu season, tomato sauce, tomato soup, cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, beef broth, flour, sugar (white, brown, confectioner), orzo, spaghetti, spices, extracts, marinades. Other things come and go, but those are the ones i automatically restock if they run out.

<<<just noticed; eight cans of tuna-in-water, in one cupboard, but that's for the cats, along with three cans of white chicken meat in water.

<<<gives the cats special dinners once in a while.

cali (93,519 posts)    Sat Jun 21, 2014, 01:32 PM

4. yeah, but it's cheap. As I said: Ocean State Job Lots and the dented can store

allow me my wide array of pantry items- and it's fun to try new stuff that's deeply discounted that I would never buy otherwise.

<<<haven't noticed any dents on cans in cupboards.

cbayer (132,034 posts)    Sat Jun 21, 2014, 01:23 PM

3. Salt, pepper and olive oil.

I believe that anything can be made to taste good if the ingredients are fresh and prepared properly.
 
That doesn't mean I don't like complex recipes, tastes and ingredients. I very much do.
 
My pantry waxes and wanes. As I hate to throw anything out, I try to use what I have before filling up the pantry or fridge with new things. Plus living in a different country, some of the things I am used to having are just not available or prohibitively expensive.
 
So that means a lot of substitutions, which sometimes works out and sometimes doesn't.
 
I used to panic when I wanted to make something and found I was missing what I thought was a critical ingredient.
 
But now I go through my stores and think about it. This has led to some delights and some disasters, but it always teaches me something.

cali (93,519 posts)    Sat Jun 21, 2014, 01:37 PM

5. as long as it's peppercorns and not the pre-ground stuff

I agree about fresh ingredients properly prepared- vital.

But I love being able to whip up a tapenade to serve with veggies out of my garden in the summer- or with french bread in the winter. A splash of wine or sherry can add depth of flavor to a simple saute or sauce. I'll admit that if I try something and think it's lousy, I dump it.
 
For me, the pleasure of a pantry is being able to make something wonderful- a white bean, garlic, slow roasted tomato spread, for instance.

cbayer (132,034 posts)    Sat Jun 21, 2014, 02:52 PM

8. I love the ability to whip up something as well.

But I am often limited to shopping only every 3-4 weeks, so have had to learn to use what I've got.
 
I am going to be in Italy for the next 3 months and this should be a very exciting time to try new ingredients and methods. My pantry is likely to look profoundly different than the one I had in Mexico or the states.
 
At any rate, I think it would be a monumental pleasure to drop by your house. Not just for the food, but for the company.

^^^bragging.

Chaco Dundee (320 posts)    Sat Jun 21, 2014, 01:53 PM

7. organic food

All staples in generous amounts, lots of drinks, water gatooraid beer and whine, all 100% organic vegs. Fruits out of my garden, home canned and my freezer full of meats from the hunt, fish and all other seafood self caught.home grown herbs and my eggs of my free range chicken flock.

hobbit709 (31,307 posts)    Sat Jun 21, 2014, 03:11 PM

9. As long as I have onions, garlic and hot peppers, I can make do with anything.

grasswire (40,811 posts)    Sat Jun 21, 2014, 03:21 PM

10. cali, I'l wager you just blew the fuse over at the Cave.

Most of them have never heard of half of what we often stock. Capers and cornichons are probably tripping them up. Every time they read one of our "what's for dinner" threadts, they boast about their meal: going down to the local convenience store for a couple of slices of pizza. They think we're odd.

<<<bets am in better shape than Judy grasswire, or even when Judy grasswire was my age decades ago, because dines sensibly.

[txradioguy]

grasswire (40,811 posts)    Sat Jun 21, 2014, 03:21 PM

10. cali, I'l wager you just blew the fuse over at the Cave.

Most of them have never heard of half of what we often stock. Capers and cornichons are probably tripping them up. Every time they read one of our "what's for dinner" threadts, they boast about their meal: going down to the local convenience store for a couple of slices of pizza. They think we're odd.

Snobby bitch.  I can get all of that and more at the Commissary on post.  And unlike you...I don't have to use a SNAP Card to get them.

And on the off chance they don't have what I'm looking for at the Commissary...there's a lovely farmers market every other Saturday in down town Kaiserslautern.

[BattleHymn]

cali, I'l wager you just blew the fuse over at the Cave.

What exactly does Judy or any of the other primitives in her situation of subsistence poverty have to wager? 

[thundley4]

All staples in generous amounts, lots of drinks, water gatooraid beer and whine, all 100% organic vegs

DUmmie should check the ingredients of Gatorade.

High Fructose Corn Syrup
The high fructose corn syrup in Gatorade is a combination of two to three carbohydrates. The high fructose corn syrup contributes glucose, sucrose and fructose to the sports drink. Each is added according to results of scientific data to ensure fluid absorption, energy delivery and desirable taste.

[BattleHymn]

Every time they read one of our "what's for dinner" threadts, they boast about their meal: going down to the local convenience store for a couple of slices of pizza.

Yeah, about that...

Fri Jun 20, 2014, 01:08 PM

fizzgig (20,384 posts)
2. i need to cook tonight

it's been sandwiches and cereal all week. still have that kale in the fridge, so we'll have that sauteed over pasta.

Wed Jun 18, 2014, 06:09 PM

Star Member greatauntoftriplets (140,015 posts)
2. Another hamburger on a pretzel bun.

Mon Jun 16, 2014, 08:54 PM

Star Member locks (762 posts)
9. Taco Bell tacos 4 for $2

Wed May 21, 2014, 03:44 PM

Star Member greatauntoftriplets (140,015 posts)
4. Sausage pizza!

Wed Mar 5, 2014, 03:07 AM

fizzgig (20,384 posts)
15. looking like a gut bomb

instant mashed, corn and peas because that's about all i have in me tonight.

Sun Feb 9, 2014, 03:42 AM

fizzgig (20,384 posts)
9. we went to denny's

i am so lucky to have a husband who will forego beer for several hours just to pick my drunk self up and take me out for a gut bomb.

[franksolich]

Snobby bitch.  I can get all of that and more at the Commissary on post.  And unlike you...I don't have to use a SNAP Card to get them.

And on the off chance they don't have what I'm looking for at the Commissary...there's a lovely farmers market every other Saturday in down town Kaiserslautern.

You know, I dunno where Judy grasswire gets this idea that I, franksolich, am "typical" or "average" of other members here; as God knows, I've pointed out the differences often enough.

Single male, plain tastes, real food only.

I may not know the names of many ingredients the primitives mention, but I'm sure that just about everybody else here does, and uses them.  And uses them better than the primitives do.

[franksolich]

Uh oh.

Judy grasswire did a Freudian slip.

....."what's for dinner" threadts.....

Dear old Judy's got to get over her paranoia; other than just on Skins's island, nobody here's after her, not even the founder and president of Scamdy, who in real life lives less than forty miles away from her out in Oregon.

It's just the internet, Judy; it's not real.

[Dori]

I throw dented cans out.  Good way to get botulism.

Cali's list sounds like all that outdated imported crap they sell at the dollar store that no one buys.

I cook everything as fresh as possible, but still have a pantry full of the basics.



 

[txradioguy]

You know, I dunno where Judy grasswire gets this idea that I, franksolich, am "typical" or "average" of other members here; as God knows, I've pointed out the differences often enough.

Single male, plain tastes, real food only.

I may not know the names of many ingredients the primitives mention, but I'm sure that just about everybody else here does, and uses them.  And uses them better than the primitives do.

They think that because they can spout off those fancy names of stuff it makes them better than us.

And I notice that while they talk a good game about what they claim to have in their pantry...as Battlehymn pointed out...what they are actually eating is something completely different.

[thundley4]

You know, I dunno where Judy grasswire gets this idea that I, franksolich, am "typical" or "average" of other members here; as God knows, I've pointed out the differences often enough.

Single male, plain tastes, real food only.

I may not know the names of many ingredients the primitives mention, but I'm sure that just about everybody else here does, and uses them.  And uses them better than the primitives do.

Both my wife and I go for the basics most of the time. Meat and vegetables with no fancy ingredients.

[JohnnyReb]

My mom had a pantry, 10 x 10 with wide shelves from the door all the way around back to door. By September first it would be stacked floor to ceiling with jars and cans of all kinds of vegetables, fruits, jelly, jam, preserves. Then there were two large freezers she would fill...more than one half of one freezer would have chickens, pork and beef, usually we would kill a cow that dressed 400 to 600 pounds when the beef got low.....then there were the salt cured hams.... hmmm good. Makes me hungry just to think about it.

We might have been poor but there was two things that never went lacking, food and momma's love.

Junk food, soft drinks and stuff like that was a real treat when we got it. Seems today that junk food is the norm and real food is the treat.

[BattleHymn]

I noticed when going back over the dinner threads that the njcher primitive hasn't kept up with her promise of posting photographs of her recipes.  The only picture I saw that she posted was a stock photo she lifted from the internet. 

I'm thinking that Gobucks may have given her a complex because of how often he's posted her puke stew. 



This sort of reactionary behavior by the primitives is a perfect example why they should pretend we don't exist.  They'd be all the happier for it.

[franksolich]

NJCher (16,654 posts)    Sat Jun 21, 2014, 05:28 PM

13. OMD, that's hilarious

I did not know that. I think I know what you mean when you talk about the "cave." Isn't that the one they refer to "rimjob" or something similar?
 
A couple slices from the convenience store? Dinner?

Judy grasswire got it wrong; one slice of pizza from the convenience store in town.

Always just one slice, never two.

<<not a glutton.

[GOBUCKS]

Snobby bitch.

It's hard to consider grasswipe Judy Smith snobby.

She has no home; she lived for nearly three years in the bonus room over a former friend's garage (remember the farmette?).

She has some kind of serious psychological addlement, on display in her pitiful threads about an imaginary pie shop (or "shoppe" in DUmmyspeak). http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=236x86326

Lacking transport, she tugs a little Red Flyer wagon up and down the sidewalks, searching for "treasures" that other people toss out to the devil strip for junk pickup.

She wears heavy overcoats in warm weather, but actually posted that she keeps cool by jamming her brassiere full of ice cubes.

So it's pretty hard to take it seriously when she goes snobby on us.

[diesel driver]

I don't need a recipe list 2 pages long, with exotic ingredents to make a pot of spagetti.

Spagetti, Ragu, some hamburger meat, cook, combine, enjoy.

It's that simple, DUmbasses.

[franksolich]

I don't need a recipe list 2 pages long, with exotic ingredents to make a pot of spagetti.

Spagetti, Ragu, some hamburger meat, cook, combine, enjoy.

It's that simple, DUmbasses.

One of the most vile experiences I ever had in my life--I hated to do it, but I had to do it--was when as a teenager, I was parked with a retired physician and his wife in Springfield, Massachusetts for part of a summer.

They were both pretty old and of Italianate derivation; they were good friends of an aunt of mine, and I suppose they felt sorry for me because I was a forlorn orphan (although 18 at the time).  I stayed at their place, and their home on the Connecticut beach, for seven weeks.

She was reputed to be a good cook, and if one likes fancy Italianate cuisine, I suppose she probably was.

She thought me "too thin" and "sad," and wished to fatten me up, cheer me up.

The first evening I was there, she presented a whole array of Italianate dishes.

Now, even at that immature age, I was aware that some people, especially those of Italianate derivation, take food and dining seriously, as if it's the most important thing in the world.  And especially if they're old people, one should respect that.

However.

However.

However.

Just about every single dish she offered had fish or mushrooms or peppers or onions or other stuff in it.

<<<doesn't do fish or mushrooms or peppers or onions or other stuff.

She noticed I wouldn't take any of it.  "You don't like my cooking," she accused me.

No, no, I hastily pointed out; "The rolls and butter, and the coffee and milk, are great.  I love rolls and butter, and coffee and milk.  And these are surely the best I've ever had."

She didn't fall for it.

For a minute, it looked as if she was going to walk around to my side of the table, and force-feed this stuff to me.  I stood my ground.  Fortunately, her husband, the physician, who although he didn't care for my smoking cigarettes at the dinner-table, spoke up for me, and I was relieved of any responsibility of dining on things for which I didn't care.

I really hated to do that, but there's a line over which I will not cross, and this was the line.

Otherwise, it was a pleasant summer, although she never warmed to me.

[GOBUCKS]

Just about every single dish she offered had fish or mushrooms or peppers or onions or other stuff in it.

<<<doesn't do fish or mushrooms or peppers or onions or other stuff.

If you're not going to eat that, I'll take it.

[Mr Mannn]

My wife is pretty snobbish in that she never uses canned when she can get fresh ingredients.
So I come home to a massage and a freshly made dinner every night.

[catsmtrods]

The well stocked pantry is being able to sustain ones self! My garden is in full bloom, been fishing and filleting for 2 days, tons of eggs and 13 baby bunnies. That and tons of dried food products and 9 cords of fire wood. Of course Dumasses wouldn't know anything about that. Got kale? Why yes, yes I do!

[cmypay]

The well stocked pantry is being able to sustain ones self! My garden is in full bloom, been fishing and filleting for 2 days, tons of eggs and 13 baby bunnies. That and tons of dried food products and 9 cords of fire wood. Of course Dumasses wouldn't know anything about that. Got kale? Why yes, yes I do!

I agree! I would not have capers in my pantry as I do not like them. On the other hand, I have spent a great deal of time recently canning and/or freezing vegetables from the garden.

[Chris_]

My wife is pretty snobbish in that she never uses canned when she can get fresh ingredients.
So I come home to a massage and a freshly made dinner every night.

It's impressive she can manage all that with no legs.

[Mr Mannn]

It's impressive she can manage all that with no legs.

At home we suspend her from the ceiling. The suspension rig is on a track that runs throughout the house.
I keep telling the kids to keep the doors open but you know kids. The wife will be zipping along in the rig and CRASH! Smack into a door.  Poor thing.

[franksolich]

The latest:

NJCher (16,654 posts)    Sat Jun 21, 2014, 05:13 PM
in response to the cbayer primitive's comment about staying in Italy

11. If you have any questions

about Italy, ask me and I will ask the RG. He lived there for 20 years and raised his family there. Then he came to the states because he wanted his children to attend American universities (wtf! Go figure).
 
He lived in Italy because he wanted to study the cuisine of Italy and France, which he did.
 
Now--and I think this is the funny part--his grandkids are just starting to enter college. And--you guessed it--they won't hear of an American college. They are attending college in Italy.
 
Fortunately, everyone speaks fluent Italian.

cbayer (132,035 posts)    Sat Jun 21, 2014, 05:24 PM

12. That is so great!

My husband also lived in Italy for many years and knows the language, customs and various areas. So I've go that covered.
 
But what he doesn't know is the food, because, as I may have previously mentioned, he would eat dirt if I served it to him.
 
It is my hope to learn some Italian cooking while I am there. We will be outside of Rome in the country. We have a farmhouse and equipped kitchen. We have already been told that many farmers in the area would be more than happy to supply us.
 
Does he have any suggestions for specific books that might be helpful?

Although I love to cook and can make a few Italian dishes, it is not my forte by any means.

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grasswire (40,815 posts)    Sat Jun 21, 2014, 06:08 PM
in response to NJCher's chortle above

15. no, Rimjob is the owner of freerepublic.com

The conservativecave.com is a ragtag bunch of misfits whose ONLY purpose is to observe DU and comment on us. And sometimes they work to harm DU members in real life. Really. Serious stuff. The owner of conservative cave is a serial prevaricator and makes up fanciful stories about many things. He loves to visit C&B. He has driven some of our most favorite members away. I've been told his name is David Kolisek, although he is happy to let us think it is Fred Grady.

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pinto (103,820 posts)    Sat Jun 21, 2014, 05:46 PM
in response to the bitter old Vermontese cali's original post

14. A well stocked spice rack is my essential.

Other than that - it's up to what's on hand when I go to cook.

(I almost always have dry staples in the cabinet - rices, pastas, beans, quinoa, cereals, etc.)

Galileo126 (455 posts)    Sat Jun 21, 2014, 06:19 PM

16. Besides the usual dried goods

I like to have various vinegars (red wine, rice wine, apple cider, malt, balsamic, white) and oils (olive, canola, avocado, black truffle & olive, sesame, and House Of Tsang's flavored wok oil).
 
Sardines and anchovies. Tuna. Must have.
Dried mushrooms.
Assorted canned beans.
Tubes: anchovy and tomato pastes.

About six of the 28 oz. cans of San Marzano crushed tomatoes in puree. I think I use 2 a week, and I live alone!

[GOBUCKS]

NJCher (16,654 posts)    Sat Jun 21, 2014, 05:13 PM

 
Fortunately, everyone speaks fluent Italian.

She wants her fellow DUmmies to think she's a mafia wife.

But no way.

If she set her famous puke stew in front of a mafioso husband, she'd end up in a Staten Island landfill.

[franksolich]

She wants her fellow DUmmies to think she's a mafia wife.

But no way.

If she set her famous puke stew in front of a mafioso husband, she'd end up in a Staten Island landfill.

Damn you, sir.

I still have the final three chapters of one story to post, and you've already planted the germ of a new story.