Sometimes, you just don’t know when you’ll feel like entertaining.   The mood might strike you when you wake up Saturday morning.  With a well stocked pantry, you’ll be wowing your guests that very same evening and without a trip to the store. Below is a list of items I always try to keep at the ready.  Some of these things technically won’t be kept in the pantry, rather the fridge or freezer.  But nonetheless they are items sure to come in handy when you’re bitten by the party bug.

Unsalted butter

Eggs

Milk

Heavy cream

Cheddar cheese

Goat cheese

Carrots (not baby carrots)

Tahini

Soy sauce

Fresh ginger root

Maple syrup

Chicken stock (home-made)

Lemon juice

Parsley

Frozen peas

Frozen spinach

Frozen butternut squash

Frozen shrimp (41-50 count)

Chicken stock

A small (3 ½ to 4 pound) chicken

Chicken breasts

Walnuts

Bread scraps, loaf ends (for bread crumbs)

Sausages (hot, sweet, turkey, etc.)

Pita bread

Pie Crusts (the kind that come rolled up)

Ground beef

Ice

Garlic

Onions

Olive oil

Balsamic vinegar

Red wine vinegar

Distilled white vinegar

Kosher salt

Black pepper

Sesame seeds

Paprika

Thyme

Rosemary

Oregano

Crushed red pepper

2 Lemons

2 Limes

Long grain rice

Arborio rice (for risotto)

Sugar

Brown sugar

Vanilla

All-purpose flour

Bisquik

Bittersweet chocolate

Canned white beans

Canned chickpeas

Canned crushed tomatoes

Canned whole tomatoes

Canned diced tomatoes

Tomato Paste

Evaporated milk