Pantry List (Whole and Natural)

This is for my best friend Kristen who recently asked me how to stock her pantry. She is finally a grown up (with a master's degree, congratulations) and wants to start cooking. Here are the things I can't live without to get you started:

Non-perishables

• Canned or dried beans (black, pinto, white, garbanzo). Making dried beans is actually really easy and if bought in bulk can be extremely inexpensive.
  
• Oils (Extra Virgin, Olive Oil, Toasted Sesame Seed, Walnut, Grape seed)
• Canned tomatoes
• Soy sauce (Shoyu)
• Vinegar (Balsamic, Brown Rice, Apple Cider)
• Tahini
• Pasta (it's great to have this on hand!)
• Nuts and seeds (Walnuts, Almonds, Pepitas)
• Canned Roasted Peppers (good in most soups)
• Vegetable stock (always keep 2 on hand)
• Grains (brown rice, white rice, wild rice, polenta, quinoa, bulgur, oats, barley). Buy in the bulk section and it's also fairly inexpensive.
• Pasta Sauce
• Agave nectar
• Cane Juice Sugar
• Flour (white all purpose, whole wheat wheat, bread flour)
• Tea (black, green, herbal)
• Yeast (making a loaf of bread or some quick rolls is easier than you think)
• Baking powder and baking soda
• Unsweetened Cocoanut Milk (for soups, curries etc.)

Spices

• Bay Leaf
• Cardamom
  
• Cumin
• Cinnamon
• Coriander
• Ginger (fresh ginger can be stored in the freezer)
• Nutmeg
• Oregano
  
• Black pepper
• Sea Salt
• Thyme
• Sage
• Rosemary
  
• Curry
  
• Garam Masala
• Chili Powder
• Smoked Paprika

Perishables

• Lemons
• Garlic
• Eggs
• Milk (we drink rice milk, its nonperishable until opened)
• Parmigiano-Reggiano
• Onions (red, white, yellow, shallots)
• Butter
• Mustard
• Frozen Peas
• Frozen Peppers
• Seasonal Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (I've done some homework for you, Kristen)

There you have it, my pantry. It's good to try to buy a few staples each week until the entire pantry is built. With these ingredients, the possibilities are endless and you will never have to go to Carl's Junior again. You're my best friend, Merry Christmas!