Kitchen Essentials
I’ve had a few reader requests recently for me to post my ‘kitchen essentials’ for those just starting out with cooking or making the change to cook a little healthier. This is a list of items I try to have on hand at all times. Stocking these items makes weekly grocery shopping a breeze. Once I’ve planned my recipes for the week, I find I generally have most of the base ingredients on hand already. Then I only need to shop for meat, produce and special ingredients!
Baking
• All-purpose flour
• White whole wheat flour
• Baking soda
• Baking powder
• Cornstarch
• Granulated sugar
• Brown sugar
• Powdered sugar
• Unsweetened applesauce
• Canned Pumpkin
• Large eggs
• Butter
• Light butter
• Old fashioned oats
• Chocolate chips
• Cocoa powder
• 1/3 less fat cream cheese
• Vanilla extract
• Skim milk
Cooking
• Canola oil
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Cooking spray
• Garlic
• Onions
• Wheat pasta
• Brown rice
• Wonton wrappers
• Boboli wheat pizza crusts
• Marinara sauce
• Fat free, reduced sodium chicken broth
• Parmesan cheese
• 2% shredded Cheddar cheese
• 2% shredded Mozzarella cheese
• Canned black beans
• Canned Enchilada sauce
• Panko bread crumbs
• 1/3 less fat cream cheese
Spices
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Cinnamon
• Italian seasoning
• Oregano
• Chili powder
• Ground Cumin
• Crushed red pepper
• Ground Cayenne Pepper
• Nutmeg
• Pumpkin Pie Spice
Kitchen Tools & Supplies (see my Amazon Store tab for more details!)
• Digital Food Scale
• Muffin tins
• Baking sheets
• 9 x 13 baking dish
• 7 x 11 baking dish
• 8 x 8 baking dish
• Large sauté pan
• Nonstick skillet
• Large sauce pot
• Small sauce pan
• Cutting board
• Various-sized mixing bowls
• Spatula
• Wooden or plastic cooking spoons
• Whisk
• Food processor
• Blender (and/or Immersion Blender)
• Electronic mixer (hand or stand)
• Parchment paper
• Aluminum foil
• Doughnut pan
• Mini muffin tins
• Frosting gun
• Auto-measure spice racks
• Chop to Pot Cutting Board
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Not to mention Pampered Chef! Sometimes pricy, excellent quality cooking gadgets. I'd be lost without them!
ReplyDeleteI actually don't own anything from Pampered Chef! I don't think i know anyone who hosts the parties. I'll have to keep an eye out for it. I love finding new cooking gadgets. Thanks for the tip!
Deleteyep, their stoneware is to die for! I don't use anything else.
DeleteI could not live without my microplane for grating fresh parmesean and zesting citrus. Also my Weight Watchers spray mister for spraying olive oil.
DeleteWhere did you find the doughnut pan? I'm having a hard time finding one.
ReplyDeleteI have a Norpro doughnut pan that I ordered from Amazon. Wilton also makes one. Both are available through my Amazon store on the My Store tab!
DeleteI have seen donut pans & mini donut pans at both Target & Ross.
DeleteIf you live near a Meijer Store they have the Wilton doughnut Pans :)
DeleteI notice that some of your recipes call for white wheat flour. I haven't been able to find this at all. I went to a "health food" store where they have different grains, etc. in bulk bins and they didn't have it either. Please help.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
White whole wheat flour is a whole grain flour with "all the fiber and nutrition of wheat flour, with a milder flavor and lighter color." Basically it's wheat flour that looks and tastes more like white flour. Here's what I'm talking about: http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/items/king-arthur-white-whole-wheat-flour-5-lb
DeleteAll the grocery stores in my area carry it near the other flour. If you can't find it in your area you can substitute whole wheat flour (which will just have a more aggressive wheat flavor) or a white/wheat blend.
What brand of light butter do you use? I have tried a brand they sell at Trader Joe's and it tastes very margarine-like, which I do not like.
ReplyDeleteI usually use Land-O-Lakes Light Butter and I really like it.
DeleteMy boyfriend and I are on Weight Watchers, and we use Smart Balance Light Butter (the one with the blue lid). It doesn't taste margarine-like at all, and the best part is it's only 1 point for 2 Tbsp!
DeleteHave you ever thought of adding a weekly menu option to your page for ideas for a weeks worth of recipes? Maybe add a shopping list too that coordinates with the recipes?
ReplyDeleteKim Rumpel
I haven't, though I've seen some other bloggers do things like that. It's not something I'm looking to add right now but if I ever do I will let you know!
DeleteI like the idea of a weekly menu option and especially the shopping list that we could just print out and mark off what we have then we know exactly what we need to buy. I love this site!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI just found this site and am in love! Unfortunately am not stocked yet to start any of the receipes so I just kept reading and feeling more and more hungry, lol. Definately going to get some, start slowly, and gradually build up what is needed to cook without going broke. Looking forwarded to seeing more!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you found me! Hope you've made some recipes and loved them!
DeleteI'll definitely get these kitchen essentials, thank you very much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI just found this site. Love it! I am already planning a "mini muffin/Cupcake" tasting party. I have never heard of an "auto-measure spice rack". What is that and where might I get one?
ReplyDeleteThis is the one I have: http://tinyurl.com/aua4kfq
DeleteIt's definitely not a necessity, but I like it!
How do you store your muffins/cupcakes?
ReplyDeleteI generally put them all in a large tupperware-style container and stick them in the fridge.
DeleteThanks! That worked well with the lasagna cupcakes, but I found the peanut butter banana oatmeal muffins were less exciting the next day. I suppose that happens with anything baked!
DeleteYou site has inspired me. I make your recipes first (I love the "muffin" recipes because of the portion control.) To keep it interesting I have started to adapt your recipes to whatever I have in the fridge and pantry. The base that you have created with each is so adaptable that my wife and I have had "muffins for every lunch and dinner that we have not gone out for the past three weeks and I am not even close to sick of them. My daughters first birthday is coming up this next week and I am making these for her parties they are so good! Thank you for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteI don't see you my Amazon store tab? Can you advise where it is located. It is probably staring me in the face.
ReplyDelete