Pantry Talk | Ten staples

via world arts me.

I think you can learn a lot from peeking into someones pantry.

I also think we are creatures of habit, which means most of you could grocery shop in your sleep. Filling your basket with the same items week after week, branching out for a fun new recipe or party, but always keeping those staples on hand.

I thought it would be fun to make a list of ten items you can almost always find in our kitchen...these are items you add to the shopping list before the last cracker is eaten or before the banana stand stands empty on the counter. These are right up there with toilet paper and laundry detergent. You, know - those 10 things you can't live without.

1. Cheddar Cheese
2. Skim Milk
3. Apples
4. Olive Oil
5. Eggs
6. Coffee (and Creamer)
7. Pecans
8. Corn Chips
9. Quaker Oats
10. Red Wine

I think it's even easier to name ten things you can count on always being in your parents fridge and cabinets when you go home. For my folks, it's easy.

1. Triscuts and Wheat Thins
2. Cheese. Lots of cheese... block, shredded, sliced, crumbled, you name it. they have 3 of each variety.

3. Flipsides crackers/Pretzles
4. Pecans
5. Shrimp
6. Lemon Juice
7. Cream of Mushroom Soup
8. Eggs
9. Grapes
10. Cold beer! Miller Lite and Bud Light, always.

It's funny that I can almost guarantee to find these 10 things, and a few others that come to mind, in my parents pantry and fridge.

My mom is the type to always have something on hand... just in case. Muffin mix in the pantry, brown sugar, flour, and chocolate chips on hand for an occasional batch of cookies, pancake mix and bacon for a saturday morning breakfast, cream cheese and wheat thins to serve with pepper jelly for a quick appetizer. Always ready to whip out an app for a visitor, or to feed a house-full for Saturday morning breakfast. I sorta inherited the "stocked pantry mentality" from my mom.

Our pantry is always stocked with most of the above items as well, just in case.

I often go to friends houses and open their pantry to find just the ingredients that they need for that cooking week. Which looks so clean... And simple. And nice. And it's the exact opposite of my pantry.

Which type of pantry person are you - stocked up or neat and clean?

I'd love to hear your ten pantry staples.