Pantry

     You need to have a full pantry at the beginning of the New Year. I guess, that in the old days you would be going into the hard of winter. You need to be stocked up, and prepared. What is prepared (now)? As long as I have clean water, I can find something tocook.

     What does your pantry "have to have"? What do you need, and why?

     I need flour, cornmeal, cornstarch, sugar, my spices, Bisquick, oatmeal, coffee, rice, Rotel, beans, Ramen noodles, and some canned veggies. Some of these items have way to many uses to not have them.

1)Bisquick-a quick batter for anything fried, pancakes, biscuits, garlic-cheese biscuits, chorizo biscuits, pizza crust, and much more.

2)Rotel-cheese dip, of course, chili, any soup/stew, ect.

3)John Spice-recipe to follow or

4)Sprinkle spice- Tony Chachaurrie's, Slap Yo Mama, Accent, Lawery's

5)Oatmeal- I use Quaker oats. Use as a batter, in place of breadcrumbs, chop in blender for special flour, or a hearty breakfast.

     I highly recommend mixing up your own spice blend (all the cool chefs are doing it). You can buy different brands at the grocery. Most of which are loaded with salt. You'll just need to combine only the spices that you add to everything you cook.  My own recipe follows, but please adjust it to make your own.

JOHN SPICE
2 Tbl sea salt-it cost a little more, but its cheaper than the pill that you have to take for high blood pressure
black pepper
cayenne pepper
cumin
garlic powder (not garlic salt)
ground bay leaf (powder)
Mix and store in an used spice container.  You will need some seasalt to prevent caking.