Dixie Caviar's Larder: A Well-Stocked Pantry

I did some serious "spring" cleaning at the start of the new year, working my way through each and every kitchen drawer, cabinet, and secret hiding space. During the week-long process, I managed to throw out the old, inventory the new, and start a running list of what to purchase next. Then I thought, "Hey, maybe some Dixie Caviar readers are interested in what I keep stocked in my kitchen?" (I don't know about anyone else, but I am totally into culinary espionage.)

So here it is, a peak inside of Dixie Caviar's fully-stocked pantry. At my best and most organized, I have all of these items on hand. I know it's a lot, but since I cook (and eat) for a living, it's important that I have what I need at a moments notice. Not to mention that I love nothing more than discovering new ingredients and chef's dirty little "secrets."

I'll add a "larder" tab on my toolbar and add my discoveries as I go. Check back often if you're in need of some delicious inspiration. And since I'm always on the hunt, do you have any pantry secrets I should know about? Share them in the comments!

In the fridge:

  • Beverages: Simply Orange OJ, Odwalla 'Superfood' juice
  • Milk: 2 %, whole buttermilk, heavy whipping cream
  • Butter: Land O' Lakes unsalted, Kerrygold unsalted
  • Dairy: sour cream, Philadelphia cream cheese, Greek yogurt, low-fat vanilla yogurt, crème fraîche, cottage cheese
  • Cheese: sharp cheddar, Parmesan, Gruyere, Maplebrook Burrata, Laughing Cow
  • Free-range eggs
  • Duke’s Mayonnaise (regular and light)
  • Heinz Simply Ketchup
  • Mustard: Maille Dijon, French's yellow mustard, Maille whole grain
  • Sandwich condiments: Wickles sub relish, Phickles Pickles, Horseradish Sauce
  • Store bought salad dressing: Brianna’s French, Kraft Zesty Italian, Cardini's Caesar, Annie's Goddess, Trader Joe's Champagne Pear Vinaigrette, Newman's Own Oil & Vinegar, Ranch, Rao's Balsamic Vinaigrette
  • Homemade salad dressing: Greek, honey mustard, poppyseed
  • Sweet condiments: Bonne Maman preserves, Grade B pure maple syrup, simple syrup
  • Meat condiments: Dale’s marinade, Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce, SLAP sauce, Pickapeppa Sauce, Heinz chili sauce
  • Mexican condiments: Chi Chi's chunky salsa, Herdez salsa verde, pickled jalapenos, La Lechonera sour orange juice
  • Grains: Bay's English muffins (plain and cinnamon-raisin), Lender's egg bagels, flour tortillas
  • Rice: jasmine, wild, yellow, arborio, brown, Carolina gold
  • Meat drawer: Wright’s applewood smoked bacon, Hebrew National Beef Franks
  • Produce drawer: spinach, butter lettuce, carrots, celery, lemons, limes

In the freezer:

  • Ice cream: Trader Joe’s coffee ice cream, Ben & Jerry's Phish food, Haagen Dazs caramel cone, Breyers vanilla
  • Homemade beef and chicken stock
  • Meat: ground beef, chicken wings, chicken thighs
  • Rolls: Sister Schubert’s (sausage and parker house)
  • Biscuits: Marshall’s, Callie's Charleston Biscuits
  • Pastry: Trader Joe's all-butter pie crust, Dufour’s Puff Pastry
  • Fruit: mixed berries, strawberries, grapes, bananas
  • Vegetables: corn, peas, lima beans, stir-fry mix, spinach
  • Potatoes: French fries, sweet potato fries
  • Nuts: almonds, pecans, walnuts
  • Shortening
  • Canned Lemonade, limeade

In the pantry:

  • Flours: all-purpose, self rising, cake flour, whole wheat, oat flour, semolina
  • Grains: Geechie Boy grits, yellow cornmeal, farro
  • Thickeners: Wondra flour, tapioca starch, potato starch, cornstarch, arrowroot starch, rice flour
  • Beans: black, Bush’s baked, black-eyed peas, garbanzo, kidney, cranberry, refried
  • Binders: plain bread crumbs, panko crumbs, rolled oats
  • Pasta: spaghetti, whole-wheat penne, orzo, rice noodles
  •  Swanson's natural chicken stock, Pacific Organic beef stock
  • Tomato Sauce: Rao’s, Prego original
  • Tomato paste
  • Canned: corn, green chiles, San Marzano tomatoes
  • Anchovy paste
  • Wild-caught tuna in packed in olive oil
  • JIF extra-crunchy peanut butter
  • Velveeta Shells & Cheese
  • Jiffy corn muffin mix
  • Powdered ranch mix
  • Knorr Vegetable Mix
  • Coffee: Dunkin' Donuts whole beans, Dirty Nekkid Man
  • Salty snacks: Tortilla chips, Lay's Classic potato chips, Ritz crackers, saltines, pita chips, Pretzel Crisps, sesame sticks, Wheat Thins, Marcona almonds
  • Sweet snacks: graham crackers, kettle corn, chocolate covered espresso beans, Nature’s Path pumpkin flax granola, Trader Joe's milk chocolate with hazelnuts, Trader Joe's Gummy Tummies, Haribo gummy bears, Ferrero Rocher chocolates
  • Specialty treats: Brown Butter Sea Salt Cookies, Little John's Toffee, Vosges Bacon Pancake Mix, Rooster cookies

In the baking cabinet

In the spice cabinet

  • Salts: Diamond Crystal Kosher, Camargue Fleur de Sel, Lawry's, truffle salt
  • Vinegar: apple cider, balsamic, red wine, champagne, rice, white wine, sherry, tarragon
  • Oils: La Martina olive oil, canola, peanut, walnut, truffle
  • Dry sherry
  • Hot sauces: Frank's Original Red Hot, Cholula, Tabasco, Louisiana, Texas Pete
  • Condiments: Kikkoman low-sodium soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, pepper vinegar
  • Pepper: black peppercorns, white pepper, red pepper flakes, cayenne
  • Ground: chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, curry powder
  • Sweet paprika, pimenton (hot smoked paprika)
  • Colman's dry mustard powder
  • Dried oregano, thyme
  • Bay leaves
  • Poppy seeds
  • sesame seeds
  • Old Bay seasoning
  • Lemon pepper
  • Tony Chachere's creole seasoning

At the bar

  • Vodka: Svedka
  • Bourbon: Bulleit, Basil Hayden's, Makers Mark
  • Gin: Hendick's, Citadelle
  • Tequila: Herradura silver
  • Rum: Meyer's dark, Malibu, Bacardi
  • Liqueurs: St. Germaine, Bailey's, Godiva, Grand Marnier, Chambord, Godiva, Frangelico, Rumplemintz
  • Specialty mixers: Jimmy Luv's bloody Mary mix, Whynatte Latte, Altar 'Chi'
  • Regular mixers: ginger beer, Mexican coke, diet coke, sprite, cranberry juice, lemonade, pineapple juice, OJ, soda, tonic
  • Simple syrup
  • Wine: red, white, prosecco

(Image source: Bon Appetit)