What's in my pantry?

My favorite girlfriend came over last night to drink some wine with me. A bottle later she gets a "genius" idea that I should bake something. While I'm pulling ingredients out of my pantry, smarty pants decides to comment on the contents in my pantry, noticing that there isn't a drop of unhealthy food in the entire kitchen (except for my nieces birthday cake in the freezer that hasn't been touched since her birthday party over a week ago). She then informs her children and myself that I will be doing the grocery shopping for her family from now on. Lovely. Not that I wouldn't love to do the shopping for her, but...NO. Instead, I'll blog it for you, my wonderful friends, so you can have a base-line for your own healthy cooking. Here is the contents of my pantry when it is fully stocked. Everything is organic if possible. (Let me remind you that I do all of the cooking from home. We do not eat out.)

This includes all the items you need to prepare healthy recipes plus a few other ingredients that will make unplanned meals easier.

Oils, Vinegars & Condiments
· Oils: extra-virgin olive oil, canola oil
· Trans-fat-free margarine
· Vinegars: distilled white, cider, red-wine, balsamic, rice
· Dijon mustard
· Ketchup
· Barbecue sauce
· Reduced-fat mayonnaise
· Reduced-sodium soy sauce
· Prepared pesto
· Salsa
· Hot sauce
Seasonings
· Salt
· Black pepper
· Dried herbs and spices: ground cumin, cayenne pepper, chili powder, crushed red pepper, rosemary, thyme leaves, oregano, basil, Italian seasoning blend, tarragon leaves, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, garlic salt, onion powder
· Vanilla extract
Canned Goods & Bottle Items
· Canned tomatoes, tomato paste
· Reduced-sodium broths
· Canned beans: cannellini, kidney, chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
· Canned lentils
· Chunk light tuna and salmon
· Rotel
Grains & Legumes
· Assorted whole-wheat pasta
· Regular and instant brown rice
· Whole-wheat couscous
· Regular and quick-cooking barley
· Bulgur
· Rolled oats, quick oats
· Dried lentils
Baking Products
· Whole-wheat flour and whole-wheat pastry flour. (Store in the refrigerator or freezer.)
· All-purpose flour
· Baking powder
· Baking soda
· Unprocessed wheat bran
· Quick-rising yeast
· Cornstarch
· Brown sugar
· Granulated sugar
· Honey
· Wheat Germ
· Cocoa
Nuts, Seeds and Dried Fruit
· Walnuts, pecans, sesame seeds, almonds
· Dried cranberries, raisins
· Peanut butter (natural)
· Soy Nuts
Refrigerator Basics
· 1% or skim milk
· Soy Milk
· Reduced-fat sour cream
· Fruit juice
· Large eggs
· Cheese: sharp Cheddar, feta, Parmesan, mozzarella
· Nonfat or light vanilla yogurt
Freezer Basics
· Frozen fruit
· Frozen vegetables: edamame (soybeans), broccoli, corn, bell pepper-and-onion mix, peas, spinach
· Low-fat ice cream, frozen yogurt and/or sorbet
· Frozen cheese ravioli or tortellini


Try this recipe for Whole-Wheat Spaghetti with Lemon, Basil and Salmon. My family loves it!

Ingredients
1/2 pound whole-wheat spaghetti pasta
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more for seasoning
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 (4-ounce) pieces salmon
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
3 tablespoons capers
1 lemon, zested
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 cups fresh baby spinach leaves

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta and transfer to a large bowl. Add the garlic, extra-virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper. Toss to combine.

Meanwhile, warm the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Season the salmon with salt and pepper. Add the fish to the pan and cook until medium-rare, about 2 minutes per side, depending on the thickness of the fish. Remove the salmon from the pan.

Add the basil, capers, lemon zest, and lemon juice to the spaghetti mixture and toss to combine. Set out 4 serving plates or shallow bowls. Place 1/2 cup spinach in each bowl. Top with 1/4 of the pasta. Top each mound of pasta with a piece of salmon. Serve immediately.