You’re making a batch of cookies for your son’s holiday party after

dinner. But, you didn’t realize that the recipe calls for brown sugar

and there’s none to be found in your cupboard. You ask your neighbor if

he can spare a 1/4 cup. But next time, make sure you can grab some from

your well-stocked pantry of nonperishable items.

What you keep on hand depends on how often you’ll be cooking for the

holidays and in the future. You should also account for the tastes of

those you cook for whether it be family, friends or yourself.

It’s important to watch expiration dates. Many items like salt boast a

long shelf life. But, baking powder, dried spices and other items can

lose their luster after a few months. So be sure to buy them in small sizes.

Below are some ideas to get you started – add or substitute items you

use often or know that you’ll never use.

All-purpose flower

Almond extract

Applesauce

Baking powder

Baking soda

Barbecue sauce

Basil

Bay leaves

Boullion (beef, chicken and vegetable)

Cake mix

Canned frosting

Carrots

Chili powder

Chocolate, unsweetened

Chives

Cinnamon

Cocoa powder

Cereal

Cookies

Cooking sprays

Cornmeal

Corn starch

Crackers

Cream of tarter

Cumin

Dried bean

Dried bread crumbs

Dried fruit

Dry mustard

Fruit juice

Garlic

Ginger

Graham cracker pie crusts

Honey

Hot sauce

Jams

Jellies

Milk, powdered

Mustard

Nutmeg

Nuts (walnuts, peanuts, pecans, etc.)

Oils (canola, peanut and olive)

Oatmeal

Paprika

Parmesan cheese

Parsley

Pasta, dried

Peanut butter

Pepper, black and cayenne

Pudding mix

Rice (brown and white)

Sage

Salt

Scallions and shallots

Shortening

Soup (creamed, tomato, etc.)

Soy sauce

Sugar (brown, granulated and powdered)

Syrup

Tenderizer

Thyme

Tomato paste

Tuna fish

Vinegar

Vanilla

Vegetables, canned (tomatoes, peas, etc.)

Wine (red and white)

Worcestershire sauce

Yeast