The Staples

No no, not the singers...

Upon reviewing the basic supplies needed to properly store a pantry I have come across several different views.  The idea that frozen meat will constitute a staple in my mind is not part of the equation.  Staples in my mind are merely a variety of ingredients that will be added to a recipe in the proper measurements that will add to the flavor and the character of the dish created.

Of the lists of ingredients that are listed all over the internet, this one appears to be complete enough for starting this journey. (My comments about some if the items will look like this.)

• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Beans, canned: black beans, red kidney, white
• Beans, dried: red kidney, great northern, lima, lentils, split pea, black, pinto
• Bread crumbs
• Broth, dried and canned: beef, vegetable, chicken
• Cereal
• Chocolate: unsweetened squares, semisweet chips, cocoa powder
• Coffee: beans, ground, instant (a necessity in my sober existence.)
• Cooking spray
• Cornmeal
• Cornstarch
• Crackers
• Dried fruits: raisins, apricots
• Extracts: vanilla, lemon, almond, orange
• Flour: All-purpose, whole wheat, cake, bread
• Fruit preserves, jam, jelly
• Garlic, fresh
• Gelatin: powdered, unflavored
• Lemons, fresh
• Limes, fresh
• Milk: boxed, powdered, evaporated milk
• Nuts: almonds, peanuts, walnuts, pecans, pine nuts (pine nuts taste like ass!)
• Onions: red and yellow
• Pasta, dried: spaghetti, linguini, angel hair, fettuccine, penne, noodles
• Peanut butter
• Potatoes, fresh
• Rice: long-grain, wild, basmati, arborio
• Soup: canned and dry bouillon
• Sugar: granulated, confectioner's, light and dark brown
• Tea
• Tomatoes: canned whole, crushed, chopped, puree, sauce, fresh
• Tuna, canned
• Yeast, dry active

All in all it appears that this is a complete list and a good starting point.  I will modify this list along the way to suit my needs.