The Well-Stocked Pantry for the Working Woman

Unlike K, I do not cook dinner. I assemble dinner. As such, I need a couple of go-to items in my pantry that I can toss together for a quick, easy, and yummy dinner that will satisfy my family without much planning.

Here are my staples for the pantry, fridge, and freezer to get me through an entire week of dinners without an emergency trip to the grocery store.
Pantry:

• Pasta and sauce
• Balsamic vinager
• Good olive oil
• Brown rice
• Trader Joe’s Indian food (in the boxes)
• Chopped nuts
• Refried beans
• Tortillas
• Chips
• Canned black beans

Fridge:

• Goat cheese
• Bag of spinach
• Fresh fruit
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Salsa
• Hummus
• Fresh corn

Freezer:

• Frozen chicken breasts
• Morning Star Chipotle Black Bean Vegiburgers

With just these items, I can mix and match dinners, snacks, and lunch for the whole week.

Monday: Summer salad with fruit, goat cheese, and grilled chicken breast
Tuesday: Indian food with rice and grilled “naan” (tortilla)
Wednesday: Soft chicken tacos with Spanish rice (rice & salsa)
Thursday: Spaghetti & sauce with side salad
Friday: Southwest salad (spinach, corn, black beans, tomatoes, chips) with vegiburgers