Kitchen Staples

One great way to stay on a budget is to make as much as you can from SCRATCH!! If you have a well stocked kitchen this is easy. When I say well stocked I am meaning staples that most people already have in their kitchen. Including, but surely not limited to:

1.) All-purpose Flour
-I also like to have bread flour (or wheat gluten) on hand when I can.

2.) Sugar
-I like to have white and brown always on hand.

3.) Salt

4.) Oil
-I usually use plain old vegetable oil because it's cheaper.

5.) Eggs
-Can use powdered varieties depending on what you're using it for.

6.) Milk
-Can use powdered varieties.

7.) Yeast
-I use active-dry yeast for all recipes.

8.) Rice

9.) Oats
-I always buy old-fashioned oats.

10.) Canned Food
-I recommend tomatoes, beans (different varieties), vegetables, fruit, sauces, etc...

11.) Dried Pasta

12.) Herbs/Spices
-Pepper, garlic powder, chili powder, onion powder, and the list goes on!

13.) Other baking essentials: baking soda, baking powder, extracts (vanilla), cocoa powder.

14.) Meat
-I always try to have at least one type of meat stored in our freezer. It is usually ground beef because it's cheaper, but when chicken is on sale I like to buy some of that for a change. You can only have so many vegetarian meals (in my opinion).

-Several of these items can be bought in bulk which will help save money. If you have a membership (or know of a friend who has a membership) to a place like Costco or Sam's Club several of these items can be found for cheap as well as in bulk.

-Since it is usually cheaper (sometimes in the long run) to buy these items in bulk it also means you will not have to buy them as often and will have them on hand when you need them.

-There are a lot more food items you can store in your kitchen that may not be essential, but nice to have. I love to have things like raisins, pudding or gelatin packets, peanut butter, jelly, cheese, cream of mushroom/chicken are great for easy meals, cooking spray, etc... Anything that makes life easier, food tastier, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg!

Trying to make sure that I always have the essentials (well as many as I can anyway) in my kitchen helps to save money because I am able to make things from scratch which is almost always cheaper! I will be posting some recipes that I've made with the items that are already in my kitchen. I hope you will find a way to use the food in your kitchen and when you go to the store to shop smart and buy items that can last and be used in different recipes instead of just quick fix ideas!