Pantry Essentials

• Breads (buns, loaves, pitas, tortillas)
• Pasta (lasagna, spaghetti, penne, fettuccine, macaroni)
• Canned beans (black, kidney, refried, navy)
• Pasta sauces (Alfredo, pesto, spaghetti)
• Canned broth (beef, chicken, vegetable)
• Peanut butter
• Canned meats (chicken, salmon, tuna)
• Pickles and olives
• Canned tomatoes (diced, seasoned, peeled whole)
• Rice and rice mixtures
• Cereals
• Salsa and chips
• Coffee and tea
• Salt and pepper
• Cookies and crackers
• Soft drinks and fruit juices
• Herbs and spices (at minimum: garlic powder, basil, oregano, thyme, curry, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, bay leaves, ground red pepper)
• Soups (canned or dried)
• Jams and jellies
• Soy sauce and marinating sauces
• Ketchup and mustard
• Mayonnaise
• Syrups (butterscotch, chocolate, maple)
• Main-dish mixes
• Tomato sauce and tomato paste
• Vegetable oil (canola, olive)
• Vegetable cooking spray
• Vinegar

Refrigerator Essentials

• Cheeses (cheddar, cottage, Monterey Jack, mozzarella, Parmesan)
• Milk
• Eggs
• Packaged salad greens
• Fruit juice
• Sour cream
• Butter or margarine
• Yogurt

Freezer Essentials

• Ground beef or turkey
• Chicken (boneless skinless breasts)
• Ice cream or frozen yogurt
• Fruit juice concentrate (lemonade and orange)
• Vegetables (packaged)
• Berries (for smoothies and desserts)
• Bread crumbs (for stuffing and breading fish; save stale bread for finely ground crumbs)

Baking Essentials

• Baking cocoa and baking chips
• Chopped nuts
• Cake mix and canned frosting (Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® Cakes and Frostings)
• Baking mix (Bisquick®)
• Flour (Gold Medal® flour)
• Baking powder and baking soda
• Sugars (brown, granulated, powdered and raw for gourmet coffee)
• Brownie mix (Betty Crocker® Supreme Brownies)
• Vanilla and almond extract

Nonfood Kitchen Supplies

• All-purpose spray cleanser
• Paper towels
• Aluminum foil (comes in regular, heavy-duty and quick release)
• Plastic wrap (comes in clear and colors for holiday foods)
• Dishwasher detergent and antibacterial hand soap
• Sponges or dish-cloths
• Resealable food-storage bags
• Storage containers (comes in reusable and disposable varieties)
• Toothpicks (use in appetizers and to test for doneness)
• Napkins
• Waxed paper (great for wrapping baked goods)
• Nonabrasive scrubbing pads