Happy New Year! As we settle into the post-holiday season, we look forward to more time at home, sleeping in a little, reading a good book, and cooking up comforting winter meals. Nothing beats the aroma of a soup or stew simmering away on the stove!
But, as every home cook knows, having what you need on hand makes meal planning that much more enjoyable—and simpler! Now with the holidays behind us, it’s a great time to stock your pantry so you have the right combination of ingredients at the ready when inspiration strikes.
Pantry items should be versatile—they can be used in a variety of dishes, made with high-quality ingredients, unique in some way, and really, really tasty.
Here are some of our go-to pantry staples from our vendors at YFM!
GRANOLA
This is a morning staple for many of us at the Market. It’s delicious sprinkled on yogurt or oatmeal or topped with fruit as its own breakfast entree. We love varieties with nuts and seeds for that added texture and protein punch! Sho Sho’s Granola has several different flavors and varieties of granola available, including low sugar, vegan options. Be sure to check out Mary’s offerings the next time you’re at the market.
PESTO
A taste of summer in the middle of winter! Pesto is great in salad dressings, as a sandwich spread, in pasta dishes, and as a sauce or garnish. Molto Bene Ravioli offers a variety of versatile frozen pestos and sauces. Some pestos and sauces rotate monthly, so be sure to ask what’s available each week!
PASTA SAUCE
If you don’t have a few jars of pasta sauce in your pantry already, now’s the time to stock up! Pasta sauce is perfect for those nights when you just want a simple, no-fuss meal. Pasta with marinara sauce is our favorite go-to. But it has to be a GOOD sauce. That’s why we love the sauces from Abe’s Acres! Made with Gabe’s tomatoes, all his tomato sauces taste as if they are homemade. I personally love his Summer Sauce and Arrabbiata Sauce, for a little kick!
DRIED MUSHROOMS
Dried Mushrooms are just that – dehydrated mushrooms that can be re-plumped for a recipe after a stint in some water. The flavor is very similar to their fresh counterparts, if not a bit more earthy. I love adding dried mushrooms to soups, stews and broths. I think this is the easiest place to add dried mushrooms since you won’t need to rehydrate them as a first step. Love the fresh mushrooms from Wild Spawn? Try their dried version – you won’t be sorry!
HONEY
Keeping honey on hand is a no brainer, especially during cold and flu season! Honey is naturally antibacterial and antimicrobial and can help soothe a sore throat. Honey is also delicious drizzled on veggies and makes a wonderful substitute for refined sugar in many recipes. I also love it on top of yogurt and ice cream! Dave at Solebury Nectar has so many varieties and flavors available and he is a wealth of knowledge. I’m personally partial to his Limoncello honey!
OATS
Keeping oats on hand is a great idea! Oats are very versatile and can be easily incorporated into a variety of meals and used as a healthy and warm breakfast option for those cold winter mornings. Have you talked with Anne from Love Grown Grains yet? She carries Red Cat Farm oats and has tons of recipes available for inspiration!
Happy pantry stocking!
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