Entertaining Essentials for the Pantry

All of us want to be comfortable when we entertain. We want to be that person, like Ina Garten, who seems to entertain with such ease and grace. One secret to relaxing into entertaining is to start with a well-stocked pantry for your entertaining needs. Being able to grab a few essentials on a moment’s notice takes the worry out of menu planning and puts you in the driver’s seat for your next party.

Here you will find a thorough list of items to keep on hand in your pantry, freezer, and refrigerator that will allow you to reach for the right ingredients when you need them. Adding a few to your grocery list every week until you have stocked-up to your satisfaction is the economical way to reach your goal.

Entertaining Essentials for the Pantry:

• crackers in all shapes, sizes, flavors, textures

• breadsticks

• tortilla chips

• potato chips

• dip mixes

• biscotti

• an assortment of mustards

• jams (sweet jams, cheese-pairing jams, spicy jelly)

• sandwich spreads (aiolis, pestos, etc.)

• pickles

• honey

• maple syrup

• nuts (canned mixed nuts, whole nuts for cracking)

• wine

• sparkling water

• sodas

• favorite hard liquor and mixers

• coffee (ground and K-cups)

• an assortment of teas

• sugar cubes (always a nice touch vs. a bowl of sugar)

• chocolate

• after-dinner mints

• flavored syrups (for coffee, hot chocolate, and Italian sodas)

• chocolates

Entertaining Essentials for the Freezer:

• bags of ice

• puff pastry

• raw nuts

• ice cream, gelato, sorbetto

Entertaining Essentials for the Refrigerator:

• beer, hard cider

• toppings for ice cream (hot fudge sauce, caramel sauce, etc.)

• hummus

• cheeses

• olives

• dips

• sandwich spreads

• fresh vegetables and fruits

• half-n-half

• heavy whipping cream

With everything at your fingertips, you’ll be on your way to entertaining with ease like a pro!