Kitchen Essentials

The following items are essential to any cook’s kitchen, especially a healthy cook! They are broken into 2 sections: Tools and Food & Pantry Items. The Food & Pantry Items are broken down even further into “must haves” and “additional items." The “must haves” are items that should ALWAYS be in your kitchen. The “additional items" can be prioritized based on what you plan to make and when you plan to make it because produce and dairy can spoil. Therefore, you may not want to purchase the “additional” items unless you know they are going to be used. However, they are listed here because they are always nice to have on hand.

Also, when shopping for these tools and ingredients, don’t be cheap! Keep in mind that these are the items you will use the most in the kitchen and the cheap versions lack quality. Therefore, when it comes to these essentials, spend a little extra so that you have the best tools and ingredients to cook the best food!

TOOLS

• 1 Good Quality Knife (Chef or Santoku)
• 2 Large Cutting Boards (At least 1 plastic for raw meats & seafood)
• 1 Non-Stick Frying Pan
• 1 Large Pot
• 2 Medium Pots
• 1 Non-Stick Grill Pan
• 1 Baking Pan/Cookie Sheet
• 1 Baking Dish (Glass or Aluminum)
• Aluminum Foil
• Saran Wrap
• 1 Pair of Tongs
• 2 Spatulas
• 1 Wisk
• 2-3 Large Spoons
• 1 Ladle
• 1 Colander
• 1 Micro Plane
• 1 Hand Held Juicer
• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• Food Storage Containers (Ziploc work great!)

FOOD AND PANTRY ITEMS

Must Haves:

• Salt (Kosher/Sea)
• Pepper Grinder w/ Black Peppercorns
• Course Black Pepper
• Red Pepper Flakes
• Dried Thyme
• Poultry Seasoning
• Chili Powder
• Garlic Powder
• Bay Leaves
• Olive Oil (buy in bulk to save $)
• Vegetable Oil
• Vinegar (pick your favorite: Red or White Wine, Balsamic, Apple Cider)
• Worcestershire Sauce
• Chicken or Vegetable Stock
• Success or Minute Rice (White and Brown)
• Flour
• Sugar
• Garlic
• Onions
• Lemons
• Unsalted Butter
• Eggs

Additional Items:

• Carrots
• Bell Peppers
• Celery
• Bag of Fresh Spinach
• Flat Leaf Parsley
• Fresh Fruit (your favorite kind)
• Frozen Peas
• Frozen Corn
• Frozen Fruit (your favorite kind)
• Non-Fat or Low-Fat Vanilla Yogurt
• Jarred Marinara Sauce
• Box of Favorite Pasta (Regular & Whole Wheat)
• Parmesan Cheese
• Honey
• Hot Sauce