Is Your Pantry Ready?

Rewritten by Joseph Garnett, Jr. - From the Archives

June 8, 2015

Stocking these staples, along with some fresh seasonal foods and your preferred meats and proteins,

makes it easy to prepare sweet, salty, and savory culinary creations. Having the right foods will expand your mealtime repertoire, so you’ll have more time to enjoy the great outdoors a little longer. Every RV cook needs shelf-stable essentials. These items keep a long time, but, if you’re in doubt, it’s helpful to mark the tops with the purchase date to make sure you use the oldest items first. From tossing pasta to making casseroles, the following five ingredients are the essentials to keep on hand.

Spices

If it’s true that variety is the spice of life, then where would we be without salt, pepper, garlic, oregano, rosemary, and thyme? These seasonings are commonly called for in practically any dish that you prepare.

Extra-virgin olive oil

This liquid gold is a time-tested classic prized for being rich in mono-unsaturated fats and antioxidants. It imparts a smooth, delicate, fruity aroma. Use it to sauté poultry or meat, enhance vegetables, jazz up pasta, and add to vinaigrettes and other salad dressings.

Flour

If the pantry is stocked with all-purpose flour, you don’t have to buy bread flour (higher in protein). Cake flour (less gluten) or whole-wheat flour (contains both bran and germ) are also alternatives. All-purpose flour works best for most baking needs. It can be used in a Cajun-Creole roux and also serves as a thickening agent for soups and stews. Canned chicken, beef or vegetable broth or stock broth adds richness to everyday cooking. It can be used to make a quick soup, flavor rice, and enliven meat, seafood, and poultry dishes.

Pastas and grains

Short pastas, such as penne, fusilli, tortellini, or rigatoni can be served with numerous sauces, including Alfredo, pesto, marinara, and clam. Did you know there are thousands of different kinds of rice? Long-grain white rice is a workhorse for stews, soups, vegetables, and casseroles. As you plan your next RV trip and have made sure your vehicle is ready for travel, turn your attention to these common ingredients to help you enjoy your dining experience while on the road.

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