Stock your pantry for dinner parties

OK, "stock your pantry" isn't really accurate. It's not just the food storage cupboards you're stocking. Your kitchen storage includes your freezer section and your frig as well.

The whole idea is to start keeping a supply of items that appear at most or all of your dinner parties. That way your shopping list is reduced when it's time to shop for an actual dinner party.

If you were born in a different place and time, you might have had a butler to stock your butlers pantry. But you're on your own now, so let's get to it.

Here is a list of items that are very likely to appear at almost every dinner party. You probably have your own special favorites, so add them to your list as well.

Pantry stocking list

• a supply of wine
• a supply of soft drinks
• a supply of canned or frozen juices
• a supply of bottled water
• Oil and vinegar to make salad dressings, or your own secret favorite bottled dressing.
• a supply of wine
• your favorite frozen vegetables
• olives and artichokes
• basic cheeses for your appetizer tray
• non-stick cooking spray
• the spices and herbs you favor
• rice
• lemon juice
• mustard
• horseradish
• mint sauce
• canned cranberries
• flour to make gravies
• sugar
• items you want to add

Now that you have a list, take stock before you buy anything. Root into the backs of your cupboards and frig to see what you already have, and whether you should toss anything.

Keep a running list of what you have. If you don't want to list everything, at least list the "rarer" items like artichokes, spices and herbs.

It's so easy to forget, and rush out to buy duplicates. Your list will prevent unnecessary expenditure of your energy and your money.

That's really all there is to it. But it is so nice to plan ahead, know what you have and reduce those shopping chores when you're getting ready for your next dinner party.

Stock pantry basics to reduce your shopping!