5 Things I Always Have In My Kitchen
I will be the first to admit, as a child I took having a fully stocked kitchen for granted. There was always a variety of fruits, vegetables, and snacks at the ready. As an adult, stocking a kitchen for myself, I find myself in a constant struggle between "I want that" and "Oh, I don't actually have that." It's a dance where I am juggling shopping lists, new recipes, and forgetting what I already have. How many containers of cayenne pepper do I currently have? Three. Yes, three. See what I mean? I can't tell you how many times I've gone to make something and just ONE ingredient is missing. In which case, you'll often find me yelling at Alexa to find some kind of substitute. But, over time I've learned that there are a few things I constantly have to keep stocked or restock frequently. Of course, there are pantry staples like flour and spice plus things like almond milk and eggs. Not to mention the plethora of cheese because who doesn't love a good cheese plate?
Lately, these are the 5 things you will consistently find in my kitchen. They are my go-to staples for snacking, eating, and even entertaining.
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Chocolate Chips
It's not really a surprise I have a bit of a sweet tooth. I mean just look how many sweets In the Kitchen features. I learned to keep a variety of chocolate chips in my pantry for a few reasons. First, at the end of the day, sometimes I just want a warm chocolate chip cookie to soothe my soul. Second, it's one of the easiest things to pull off for surprise visitors or while entertaining. Third, they are handy for melting and using in other desserts or just tossing into pancake batter on a lazy Sunday morning.
Trader Joe's Everything Bagel Seasoning
I don't get to enjoy bagels but I do get to enjoy this seasoning from Trader Joe's. It can literally be put on anything. I put it on chicken, cucumber salad, and even just slices of tomato to eat as a snack. The seasoning blend has all the bells and whistles of an everything bagel but without the guilt that comes along with eating one. I'm constantly trying to find new things to put it on.
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Lemons + Limes
As a tiny child, my parents would give me lemons to snack on. In fact, when I saw them in iced tea or water at restaurants I immediately would start begging to eat them. It's no surprise you'll never fail to find one (or a bottle of lemon juice) in my kitchen. Not only do I love having it with hot water (or even cold water), but it does wonders when cleaning. Boiling lemon water helps to clean my stainless steel teapot or pans with burnt food stuck to the bottom. Limes are useful for cleaning my copper water bottle, and well, you'll never know when the craving for a margarita will arise.
Chobani "Hint of" Yogurt
Obviously, Greek yogurt is useful to have on hand. It makes a great breakfast, snack, or bedtime treat. At first, I considered it an acquired taste. But this "Hint Of" yogurt really sets it apart from the rest. There isn't a ton of fruit or flavoring. Sometimes the fruit in the bottom of yogurt has a weird texture and flavor. I find myself trying to swallow it rather than chewing it. That's why I love this type and its minimal delicious quality. The Madagascar Vanilla and Cinnamon is my current favorite. It gives me hints of Horchata almost.
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Rosé
This is another no-brainer. I have been known to lead the charge to Rosé All Day over the years. I don't just consider it summer water. It's something I like to enjoy year round but obviously, enjoy more during the summer. I always have it around for a few reasons. It's my favorite, it's something I know won't irritate my body or give me a headache, and sometimes it's really a no thought required crowd pleaser. I try to keep at least one bottle or a few Simpler Brand cans around. You never know how your day is going to go, so sometimes just enjoying a simple glass at the end of a long day is a necessity.