Okay. So you just moved in to your BRAND NEW apartment! (Congrats!) You are getting settled in this new place where you are about to start a whole new life. If you have a mother like mine, she was there with me to help me figure out what I needed. The essentials. Cleaning supplies, extra keys..etc. But most importantly what I needed in the kitchen. You can have all the hand me down pots and pans in the world, but without some key-ingredients, you can't make anything. So here are a list of ingredients that I recommend having on hand on a regular basis, and you will always have something to make.
Spices: I recommend buying the first few of these as standards, and then adding the others as needed for recipes.
Although they can be expensive, they last forever.
- Salt
- Pepper
- Oregano
- Basil
- Red Pepper Flakes (a favorite)
- Chili Powder
- Cayenne
- Thyme
Baking:
- Flour
- Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Yeast (trust me)
Dairy: Somewhat long lasting items
- Eggs
- Butter/margerine
- Long lasting cheese like feta or parmesan
Meats: Buy on sale, Keep frozen
- Chicken breasts (wrap individually)
- Ground meat (portion out into palm size patties)
- Regular or Chicken sausage (wrap individually)
- Frozen raw shrimp (not required but a great addition if you like seafood!)
Other:
- Garlic (fresh)
- Jars of pasta sauce
- Cans of chicken broth
- Assorted pasta
- Bag of rice (not the boxes, a bag)
- Tortillas (small)
- Assorted frozen vegetables
Everything else can be purchased for a specific recipe especially if it is fresh fruit and vegetables. The more you start cooking, the more long term ingredients you will amass though!
Spices: I recommend buying the first few of these as standards, and then adding the others as needed for recipes.
Although they can be expensive, they last forever.
- Salt
- Pepper
- Oregano
- Basil
- Red Pepper Flakes (a favorite)
- Chili Powder
- Cayenne
- Thyme
Baking:
- Flour
- Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Yeast (trust me)
Dairy: Somewhat long lasting items
- Eggs
- Butter/margerine
- Long lasting cheese like feta or parmesan
Meats: Buy on sale, Keep frozen
- Chicken breasts (wrap individually)
- Ground meat (portion out into palm size patties)
- Regular or Chicken sausage (wrap individually)
- Frozen raw shrimp (not required but a great addition if you like seafood!)
Other:
- Garlic (fresh)
- Jars of pasta sauce
- Cans of chicken broth
- Assorted pasta
- Bag of rice (not the boxes, a bag)
- Tortillas (small)
- Assorted frozen vegetables
Everything else can be purchased for a specific recipe especially if it is fresh fruit and vegetables. The more you start cooking, the more long term ingredients you will amass though!