What's for Supper?

If I had to guess, poor planning probably ranks high on the list of why people choose to eat fast food versus coming home and fixing a good meal. If you ever get in the habit of eating food you've prepared at home and then drop in for a burger at a fast-food joint, you'll understand what I'm talking about. Once my body got used to home-cooked, take out food literally makes me sick. Not from all places, but the majority of them. Who knows what's in the food and how they're cooking it? I know what I'm using and it just tastes better.
Here are three ways that helped me get more organized in the kitchen. The first is to stock your fridge, freezer and pantry. If you always keep the basics on hand, you will always be able to throw a meal together in no time flat! (Scroll to the bottom for a recommended pantry list) Andy's rule of thumb: if you take it out, write it on the grocery list. That way you always have it.

The second one may take a little while to get done. I found I was fixing the same old thing over and over when the boys were younger. They weren't really picky, I just got stuck in a rut. One weekend I sat down and made a list of all the main courses, grilled food and sides that ranked really high on our list and put it in a spreadsheet. It is still taped inside the cabinet door where I keep my spices. I can literally open that door and put something together in no time.

Lastly, buy a chalkboard, dry-erase board or whatever medium works for you and hang it in a place so everyone can see it. That way, if one night will be leftover night and you have a family member who hates leftovers, they know they can pickup something on the way home that makes them happy and the chefs get a night off from cooking. The best way to accomplish this is to sit down on Saturday and prepare what you're going to fix every night. At that point, check your pantry and make a list of what you need for the week. 

Below you will find a wonderful Free Pantry List and food storage guide I found online (and edited to represent what we would keep) filled with basic ingredients and storage staples for stocking your cupboard or food pantry with grocery basics in case of emergency.
 

REFRIGERATOR Eggs Butter or margarine Milk Half and half Sour cream Cream cheese Mild cheese Sharp cheese Mozzarella Parmesan cheese Shredded cheese Sliced cheese Mayonnaise Salad Dressing Yellow mustard Dijon mustard Worcestershire sauce Steak sauce Horseradish Ketchup Pickle relish Hot pepper pickles Green olives Ripe olives Assorted pickles Salsa Jellies or jams Apple butter Refrigerator biscuits Bacon Fat back or reserved bacon grease Better than Bouillion Beef Better than Bouillion Chicken Minced garlic

FREEZER Ice Vegetables Ground beef Whole chicken Boneless chicken breasts Boneless pork chops Bulk sausage Bacon Breads and rolls Prebaked pizza shells Fresh breadcrumbs Bread cubes Flour tortillas Corn tortillas Non-dairy topping Walnuts Pecans Almonds Frozen fruits

PRODUCE White potatoes Sweet potatoes Onions Sweet peppers Fresh mushrooms Lettuce Cucumbers Tomatoes Carrots Apples Oranges Lemons Limes

DRY GOODS All-purpose flour Cornmeal Granulated sugar Confectioner's sugar Brown sugar Baking soda Baking powder Yeast Cornstarch Unsweetened cocoa Biscuit mix Vegetable shortening Oatmeal Cereal Crackers Dried breadcrumbs Pasta (such as):     Penne or ziti     Spaghetti     Angel hair     Fettuccini     Lasagna     Shells     Elbows Egg noodles Mahatma yellow rice Long grain rice Brown rice Pinto beans Great Northern beans Onion soup mix Dried corn Taco seasoning Ranch dressing mix Italian dressing mix Pepper gravy mix

CANNED / BOTTLED Whole tomatoes Tomato paste Tomato puree Tomato sauce Crushed tomatoes Chicken broth Condensed cream of mushroom, chicken and celery soup Canned fruits Worcestershire sauce Soy sauce Tuna Green beans Asparagus Creamed corn Whole kernel corn Black beans Black eyed peas Mushrooms Lima beans Carrots Sliced potatoes Evaporated milk Peanut butter Canned chiles Assorted pickles Olives Chopped pimentos Sesame oil Salsa Light corn syrup Pancake syrup Honey Pure vanilla Almond flavoring Bouillon Hot sauce Cocktail sauce Sweet and Sour sauce

VINEGAR / OIL Olive oil Canola oil Peanut oil Olive oil spray Cooking oil spray Red wine vinegar Balsamic vinegar White distilled vinegar Cider vinegar SPIRITS Dry red wine Dry white wine Rum Assorted liqueurs Beer

DRIED HERBS Parsley Oregano Basil Rosemary Thyme Rubbed sage Marjoram Cilantro Bay leaves Chives Tarragon Dill weed Dill seed Onion powder Minced onions Garlic powder Minced garlic

SPICES Peppercorns Coarse salt Iodized salt Cinnamon sticks Ground cinnamon Ground nutmeg Ground cloves Whole cloves Ground turmeric Ground allspice Ground mace Pickling spice Mustard seed Dry mustard Cayenne pepper Celery seed Caraway seeds Fennel seeds Ground ginger Ground cumin