CL Poll: What does your pantry say about you?

[lisad]

Howdy, all. We at CL are wondering: What are the three pantry items you can neer be without? And watch out: Your answers may appear in an upcoming issue of the magazine!

[TraceyK]

As odd as this sounds:

Refried Beans
Blue Parrot Spaghetti Sauce
Mushrooms

[SusanJoy]

1) Chocolate chips (in times of desperation eat them straight from the bag, forget the cookies!)
2) canned beans: black, white, and pinto
3) noodles of various sizes, shapes and colors

[Grace]

Gosh Lisa, that's a tough question - limiting myself only to three items!! There are so many things I keep on hand - do they have to be dry goods, i.e., specifically pantry items? Or do you mean just staples in general?

"Pantry" items:

Basmati rice
whole wheat pasta (egg noodles, spaghetti, penne, etc.)
diced canned tomatoes
chicken broth
olive oil

"Staples" in general:

boneless skinless chicken breasts
95% lean ground round
buttermilk
onions
garlic
green onions
parsley
cilantro
potatoes
frozen veggies
peppers (green/red)

Heck, I could go on for a long time.....




[This message has been edited by Grace (edited 12-07-2000).]

[KristaMB]

Pasta
chicken broth
Jello butterscotch pudding http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[mightyh]

tuna
cereal
diced tomatoes

[KimberlyE]

My 3 things are:

Basmati rice
Chicken broth
Lawry's Taco (Seasoning) Mix

[venus]

Pantry supplies? I wonder what really qualifies...

For items I cannot live without, I'd have to say:

Worchestershire sauce
Olive Oil (the serious extra virgin first cold pressed Greek kind)
Garlic

But for regular staples:

Cheese
Pasta--all types including linguine, whole wheat, soba, elbows
Potatoes

[Ohioan]

I'll have to break my answer up into two sets of threes:

Impossible to cook without:
* Garlic & Onions
* Tomatoes
* Olive oil
(Okay, so I cheated by putting the garlic and onions in the same bin. So sue me.)

Impossible to eat without:
* Rice
* Pasta
* Beans

Cheers,
Phoebe

[This message has been edited by Ohioan (edited 12-07-2000).]

[emilycat]

Definitely onions...I am aghast when I don't have them

Whole wheat pasta -- for throw together meals if I don't have anything planned...and if I don't have anything planned, dinner's probably gonna be pasta

Olive oil...I went into withdrawal when I visited my parents and they didn't have any.

[karen w]

Boy, this is a toughie. If I have to pick only three things I guess they would be:

pastas
olive oil
canned tomatoes

[Gail]

What does my pantry say about me? Probably that you don't want to get too close...
Absolute necessities are garlic, garlic and garlic in that order.

...oh, all right. Throw in onions and rice as numbers two and three. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[This message has been edited by Gail (edited 12-08-2000).]

[Susan]

hmmm...just three...here goes...

1) pepper corns for my trusty pepper mill (I use freshly ground pepper on just about everything except dessert!)
2) a variety of dried pasta (usually Barilla)
3) a variety of onions (especially Vidalias when they're in season)

~~Susan~~

[kwormann]

If we are talking actual pantry....I would say tuna, beans (black and refried) and tomatoes

If we are talking fridge/freezer included, tortillas, shredded cheese and pasta

Kim http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Mamasue]

Pasta
peanut butter
whole tomatoes

[Stephanie]

beans
canned soup (especially tomato)
tuna

[mlou]

PASTA
dried fruit & nuts
tomato soup

I am NEVER without these three items

[HARRYET]

I guess I would have to say;

tuna,
pasta,
tomato sauce

[Tiger]

canned tomatoe products
pasta
canned soup and mixes

[SoCal]

Hmmmm, if I have to choose only 3 they would have to be:
* Canned stewed/chopped tomatoes
* Canned beans (variety)
* Canned broth/soup (I guess that's 2? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif )

[BethR]

pasta
fat-free chicken broth
black beans

[SHERRY]

It is so hard to narrow it down to three!

pasta
canned diced tomatoes (preferably italian seasoned)
Ragu Traditional Spaghetti Sauce

Tend to have:
refried beans
onion
garlic
tuna
butter noodle pack (I know, not low fat)
Jiffy blueberry muffin mix

[Vanessa]

Only three items? Well rice, garlic & onions
I always keep a pantry with pasta,. beans, tuna, cereals etc.

[Peggy]

Limiting it to three is very tough...but I would have to say:

fat-free chicken broth
olive oil
couscous

Peggy

[Laura]

If I can only have 3?

Pasta (many shapes, sizez and flavors)
Salsa (I always have unopened jars in the pantry)
Green chiles.

[erinyyc]

A choice of only 3 makes it tough....but I would have to say:
pasta
broth
canned tomatoes

If we have pets do we have to remove one item for cat/dog food?(it's a pantry must at my house!) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif Do cats eat pasta?
Erin

[This message has been edited by erinyyc (edited 12-08-2000).]

[SusanL]

Garlic tends to be insecure so it cannot be without onions and extra virgin olive oil (I didn't make that up, you can ask my Italian mother, no one argues with her.)
pasta
canned tomatoes

Where does one get Blue Parrot Sp. Sauce?

[This message has been edited by SusanL (edited 12-08-2000).]

[SusieO]

peanut butter
rice
salsa

[junietoo]

- Cheerios (we've estimated that my husband has consumed more than a half TON of Cheerios in his life)
- Fruity, extra virgin olive oil
- Barilla pasta

[wendylee]

I always have balsamic vinegar, olive oil and diced tomatoes in the pantry.

[lorilei]

Oh, Lisa, it is tough to narrow the selection to three (I stock my pantry like a madwoman!)-- but what must be, must be http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif My pantry selections belie my tendencies toward vegetarian cuisine, methinks!

Garlic - I must have the aroma, or it doesn't smell like food http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

Diced tomatoes

Black or Cannellini beans

[This message has been edited by lorilei (edited 12-08-2000).]

[hhcowgirl]

1) soups (to use alone or as bases for other dishes).
2) tuna (for tuna salad, tuna wraps, or even a quick snack).
3) olive oil. Great as a dip when unexpected company comes over!

[SusanD]

Soup
Pasta Sauce
Cereal - at any given time I have at least three boxes. I could eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by SusanD (edited 12-08-2000).]

[phantomcg]

pasta
garlic
popcorn

I always tell my husband "if you don't know what you want for dinner, then dinner is either pasta or popcorn" http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

Cheryl

[BethH]

I think I'm right with everyone else...

pasta
canned tomatoes (garlic must be included here)
cannellini beans

I'd also like to add some of my other essentials...lemons, olives, onions, canned clams, wine, cheese...I could go on and on about what I deem to be essential to cooking. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Abby]

My pantry says that I like Mexican food. It always contains these three things:

Rotel Tomatoes
Black Beans
Green Chilis

[lorilei]

I just had a corny image when I reread the question "What does your pantry say about you?"

An image of the pantry door, swinging slowly open, and a whiney voice pouring out from within: "Lorilei, why is it so CROWDED in here?!"

http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[sneezles]

Well, I don't keep garlic or onion in the pantry and in this tiny kitchen, neither is the flour, sugar, pasta, rice,... http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif
I do however always keep:
chicken broth
diced tomatoes
tuna

[Wendy w]

Only three items is tough.

Garlic
Canned tomatoes
a toss up between garbanzo beans & canned artichoke hearts.

[BernK]

I would have to say:
Garlic
Onions
Canned Tomatoes

[CrystalB]

Only three items makes this a very interesting subect!

Breakfast cereal
ketchup
rice

I'm not sure I like what it says about me!!

[Gail]

Originally posted by lorilei:
I just had a corny image when I reread the question "What does your pantry say about you?"

An image of the pantry door, swinging slowly open, and a whiney voice pouring out from within: "Lorilei, why is it so CROWDED in here?!"

http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif


...at least there's enough air in YOUR pantry for it to say anything. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[Linda I LIght]

Dried fruit and nuts
Canned beans
Stewed Tomatoes

[Lisa D]

pasta
apples
olive oil

[CHRIST1NE]

My pantry never runs low on:

tuna
pasta
soup

It's not very exciting, but it's amazing what you can come up with in a pinch.

[LGBurns]

I agree, hard to limit it to just 3 but here goes:

breakfast cereal
pasta
pasta sauce

If I didn't have to limit it:
onions
garlic
flour
beans
canned tomatoes
olive oil

[Anne]

whole wheat pasta
canned tomatoes
brown rice

all organically grown - pretty basic staples for us but really boring by themselves!

[lindrusso]

Oh, this is a hard one - I guess I'd have to say:

garlic
olive oil
canned tomatoes

If garlic doesn't count as a pantry item, then maybe rice?? Or pasta??

This is too hard!!!

[Beth]

Oops, I reposted after it didn't show up for so long and I became sure I goofed. Sorry!

[This message has been edited by Beth (edited 12-09-2000).]

[Beth]

Mine says that a walk-in pantry can make me overlook the lack of counter space when buying a house. Even so, I bet mine is right up there with Gail's and Lorelei's.

It always has canned tomatoes, pasta and some version of canned beans (my onions and garlic aren't in the pantry, but always present too).

My sons would answer peanut butter, crackers and juice boxes or concentrate.

Actually, perhaps I need to revise my answer to:
at least one of my sons,
a cat who thinks she's going to starve unless she's tangled with your feet, and
a stool my 4 yr old uses to get everything down. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif



[This message has been edited by Beth (edited 12-09-2000).]

[sushibones]

Garlic and onions are more like the air you breathe--necessary for life--rather than pantry items.

Since everyone is having a hard time limiting themselves to just 3 choices (sorry, 14 is the absolute least number I would want to consider), perhaps we should ask what items you would NEVER consider keeping in your pantry (although, in that case, we may have a hard time coming up with as many as 3).

My YES list includes canned fruit, roasted red peppers, black beans. Of course I always have all the other items mentioned as well. Lorelei, you're my kinda gal!

My NO WAY list is clams for sure; and cream of X soups--I use them occasionally, but always go buy them to use in a particular recipe. However, tomato soup doesn't count because that's comfort food. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Gina O]

The 3 things that go right back onto the list as soon as I run slightly low are:

garlic
olive oil
canned tomatoes

I would probably add pasta noodles, as I have at least 5 different kinds in there right now, but they are sorta like air and water... always there and impossible to live without. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Gina

[kentgirl]

I had to think about this very carefully, but here's my pantry essentials:

1 - pasta
2 - canned tomatoes with garlic
3 - coffee (I can't start the day without a cup of coffee!!)

[luv2cook]

well, I can cook with or without just about anything. But if I had to say, it would be:

onion
garlic
cilantro

[Kimba]

Well, I see I'm nicely in step with the rest of America <g>.

Garlic
Canned Italian Plum Tomatoes
Olive Oil

If these three items disappeared tomorrow, I'd no longer know how to cook http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[lorilei]

Originally posted by Beth:
Mine says that a walk-in pantry can make me overlook the lack of counter space when buying a house. Even so, I bet mine is right up there with Gail's and Lorelei's.
[This message has been edited by Beth (edited 12-09-2000).]

Hmm... this "overlooking counter space" thing must be some sort of illness. I seem to recall having done exactly the same thing http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Beth Y]

Diced tomatoes
Fat free chicken broth
pasta

Assuming that a pantry is only dry goods, I did not include onions and garlic, other must haves.

[MrsReber]

Lorilei, I think my cabinet would say the same thing, but my husband always says it first!

1- pasta. I can always create a meal if I have pasta
2- a frozen green veggie- no meal is complete without something green.
2- english muffins - very versatile, I use them for pizzas for dinner, with peanut butter lunch or for breakfast- or tuna melts or just melted cheese. I always have some in the freezer.

There's a few other things, but these are the items that usually get me out of a bind when I can't think of what to have for dinner. I can always add a frozen veggie to some pasta and toss with olive oil.

[JeanneW]

Raise your hand if the mere question got you panicky! Only 3? Mentally looking at my pantry (not the refrigerator, freezer or countertop which is where the onions and garlic are), I'd have to say:

1. Chocolate chips. I have a blank spot about these and can never remember if we have any.
2. Olive oil.
3. Variety of pastas.

[SandyDee]

Pasta, canned tomato products and onions.
I'm sure there are other things as well but I will never run out of the three I mentioned.

[nanadee]

1.) Pasta
2.) Canned tomatoes
2.) cereal (one kind or another)


I have to have these in my pantry at all times

[Cory]

Low fat/sodium chicken broth
Canned tomatoes
Cous-Cous

[A R Price]

Obviously not very original, but...

Olive oil
Refried beans
Fat free chicken broth

[Mary Ann]

fat-free chicken broth
Shredded Wheat
rice

[carolyn.1]

My three "must have" items

1. Emeriol's canjun seasoning (homemade, not store bought) sprinkle on EVERYTHING!
2. canned tomatoes
3. chicken broth
Carolyn--

[trodman]

It's hard just to list three items! I'm good at stocking my pantry with many items! If I had to choose three, I would select:

1. Cereal (can't start the morning without it)
2. Pasta ( You can always make a meal out of pasta)
3. Chocolate Chips ( I bake a lot, and chocolate chips are always needed)

Tracie

[jenniferd]

Stange combo, I know:
canned beans
cereal
instant mashed potatoes

[jenniferd]

Stange combo, I know:
canned beans
cereal
instant mashed potatoes