If you are just setting up your first apartment, bought a house, or a vacation cottage, you'll need to keep some basic, standard food staples on hand to be prepared for any recipe or guest. Most of the items on this list are shelf-stable. It's a good idea to mark all items with the purchase date. This is to make sure you use the oldest items first and get rid of any that hide or get lost in the back of your cupboard too long. Some items will require refrigeration after opening or have expiration dates (such as eggs). Check ALL labels. Vegetables like potatoes and onions should be kept in a cool, dark place. Citrus fruits can last for weeks in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator. THIS IS ONLY A GENERAL GUIDE. Take your own tastes into consideration and space requirements when selecting your own kitchen pantry basics.

Baking soda Baking powder Beans, canned: black, red kidney, white Beans, canned: Pork and Beans Beans, dried: red kidney, black, navy Bread crumbs: seasoned, plain Broth, canned: beef, chicken Carrots, Fresh Cereal: regular and instant Chocolate: semi-sweet chips, syrup Cocoa powder

Coffee: ground, instant, beans Cooking spray Cornmeal Cornstarch Crackers: soup, cheese Dried fruits: raisins, apricots Extracts: vanilla, lemon, almond, orange Flour: All purpose, cake, bread Fruit: jam, jelly, preserves Fruit: canned apple sauce, fruit salad Garlic, fresh Gelatin: powdered, unflavored Lemons: fresh Lemon Juice: bottled Limes, fresh Lime Juice: bottled Milk: powdered, evaporated

Nuts: almonds, peanuts, walnuts, pecans, pine Onions: fresh, red and yellow Pasta, dried: spaghetti, linguini, fettuccine, egg noodles Peanut butter: Plain, Chunky Popcorn: Store in Jar Potatoes, fresh Rice: long-grain, wild, basmati, arborio Sauce: Spaghetti (For the suprise guests) Soup: canned and dry bouillon cubes Sugar: granulated, confectioner's, light and dark brown Tea: bags or instant, Several flavors Tomatoes: canned whole, crushed, chopped, puree, sauce Tuna, canned (water or oil) Yeast, dry active (Check date)