Pantry Basics for Quick Meals

Grocery Supplies for Preparing Meals for Family or Guests

© Susan Whelan

A Well-Stocked Pantry, Susan Whelan

Sometimes dinnertime arrives and there are more mouths to feed than expected. Here are some ideas for keeping a pantry stocked to provide for unexpected guests.

No matter how organised the meal plan or how talented the cook, distractions when getting dinner started can make it difficult to provide a meal on time, particularly if unexpected guests need to be included.

Keep some basic grocery supplies in the pantry, fridge and freezer to ensure that a meal can be served no matter what the time restraints or number of guests. Some ingredients are fantastic for stretching meals out to feed extras and an organised cook always has a few recipes tucked away for quick meal preparation emergencies.

Quick Breakfast Ideas

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but it can be difficult to get a family off to a good start on two pieces of stale bread, the crushed remains of a box of cereal and half a cup of milk. By keeping a few basic pantry supplies on hand, it is possible to get everyone out the door well fed and energised for their day.

Lunch Ideas

If you are feeding more people than anticipated for lunch, it is economical to place food on a platter in the centre of the table instead of making individual sandwiches and so on. A range of options is provided for everyone to sample even when there isn’t enough of each item to serve to guests individually.

Preparing Dinner at Short Notice

Shopping List

By ensuring that a pantry has at least the basics on hand, it is easy to turn a family meal into a feast. To reduce mealtime stress, gather a range of quick, easy meal ideas (online recipe sites are great for this)and focus on recipes that can be served from communal platters and bowls.


The copyright of the article Pantry Basics for Quick Meals in Home Management is owned by Susan Whelan. Permission to republish Pantry Basics for Quick Meals must be granted by the author in writing.


A Well-Stocked Pantry, Susan Whelan
       


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