What are the most expensive pantry staples?

**ml2620** · 10-26-2009, 08:35 AM

My sister drew my name for the family secret santa, and asked me what I wanted for Christmas.

I was thinking about working on our stockpile, and asking for some of the more expensive stock items, and providing a bunch of ideas. We cook mostly from scratch, and I don't want to ask for anything (like meat) that would need to be refridgerated. What other suggestions could I add to this list of ideas/suggestions?
(we do most everything from scratch)

Nuts - Almonds and Walnuts for cooking
spices
shampoo
tooth paste
moisturizer
laundry detergent
olive oil
pet food
canned tuna, clams, salmon

**nuisance26** · 10-26-2009, 08:47 AM

~My FIL gave me a huge bottle of real vanilla extract a few years ago and I'm still using it.
He sometimes gives us real maple syrup too, since he knows I'm too cheap to buy it.
How about chocolate chips for your stockpile? They freeze very well. How about your favorite peanut butter or jams? Bulk yeast is very nice to have too!~

**savvy_sniper** · 10-26-2009, 08:55 AM

You should stockpile what you use and use what you stockpile. So WHAT do you need, where are the holes in your stockpile, etc.?

How much are ya'll supposed to spend? Depending on the dollar amount, how amount a small kitchen appliance (hand mixer, dehydrator, etc.? Maybe storage containers, if you have a vacuum sealer extra bags, containers, o2 absorbers, mylar bags, food grade buckets, etc. Do you can or store dry ingredients? How about canning jars? Maybe cookbooks on frugal cooking, crockpot cooking, OAMC cooking, etc.

**Rebookie** · 10-26-2009, 09:33 AM

I splurge on premium high quality fru fru EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)

**ravenmaniac** · 10-26-2009, 09:37 AM

I think of:
Chocolate
Nuts
Flavoring Extracts
Coffee
Are there any spices that you love to cook with? I love some of the meat rubs, french grey salt, sea salt with lemon zest, etc.

Flavored olive oils are nice too.

I find these spices, extracts, and oils at Ross or Marshall's.

I know it may be rude to suggest where to find these gifts, I was letting you know in case your sister asked.

**Contrary Housewife** · 10-26-2009, 10:52 AM

Herbs and spices and seasonings are most expensive, IMO. Olive oil, yes (though it has been coming down as more people start buying it), but there are pricier things. Pine nuts, for example. Candied ginger. Real cinnamon, not the cassia bark stuff they sell in supermarkets. Vanilla beans. Saffron. These are things you might only use once in a while, and the real deal makes a big difference in the flavor of a dish. I tend to reserve them for holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, just like they did in the medieval days when these things were more precious than gold.

Another thing to consider is getting set up in ethnic cooking. If you wanted to learn to cook chinese food, it could cost you $50 or more to buy the basic ingredients (soy sauce, sesame oil, hoisin sauce, fish sauce, miso paste, dried mushrooms, szechuan peppercorns, etc.) Or maybe you'd like to learn "real" italian cooking -- dried porcini, capers, saffron, anchovies, whole nutmeg (and grater), balsamic vinegar, thyme, oregano, sage, olive oil, dried tomatoes.... add a bottle of wine and a cookbook and it'd be a nice gift IMO.

**AmyMCGS** · 10-26-2009, 11:17 AM

Personally, I would skip asking for shampoo/toothpaste-- I usually can stock up on these for less than $1 each when there's a good sale.

Depending on price range-- I like the earlier suggestions of storage containers or baking supplies. Both are things that are handy to have as you stockpile, but are maybe not things that you (I) would put in the "necessary" category.

Or what about asking her for a book on the topic of stockpiling/ food storage, along with a few items of her choice?

**katlupe** · 10-26-2009, 12:04 PM

If someone was asking me I'd want things like powdered milk, powdered whole eggs, dehydrated potatoes, dehydrated cheese, baking powder (no aluminum kind from Emergency Essentials), Whole Wheat Honey Bread Mix (VERY good!) etc. I buy all of these from Emergency Essentials pretty regular.

katlupe

**ml2620** · 10-26-2009, 01:47 PM

thanks everyone for all these great answers, I had to choose Nuisance's answer, because she reminded me MAPLE SYRUP! Oh, we could never have enough good maple syrup!

We have (not so) secret Santa, we spend $50 on one person. I thought I'd really like things like the maple syrup, fancy EVOO, spices, etc. would be something I would really enjoy - something you love, but hate buying for yourself.

**Sassyclass** · 10-26-2009, 02:37 PM

I agree with Contray Housewife on this one. Spices. I don't mind spending more $$ on good spices. A little goes a long way and they last forever. I know you already got your answer, just wanted to agree with OP. WTG Constance.

Cat

**shoiji** · 10-26-2009, 03:37 PM

I think for me it would be dried fruit, nuts, jarred yeast, really good chocolate. Or the really expensive canned artichokes that I never would have bought if I knew the correct price. Mason jars is also a good idea.

**IntlMom** · 10-26-2009, 04:12 PM

yep, I was going to suggest maple syrup too.
great idea!!

**WV_mom_of2** · 10-26-2009, 05:00 PM

How about a gift certificate for a store so you can buy what you want and maybe catch it on sale too?? Last year my mom got us a g/c to Walmart and it was so nice to go and stock up on groceries!

If asking for supplies I'd ask for flour, sugar, canned fruits and veggies.

**Nishu** · 10-26-2009, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by Contrary Housewife

Herbs and spices and seasonings are most expensive, IMO. Olive oil, yes (though it has been coming down as more people start buying it), but there are pricier things. Pine nuts, for example. Candied ginger. Real cinnamon, not the cassia bark stuff they sell in supermarkets. Vanilla beans. Saffron. These are things you might only use once in a while, and the real deal makes a big difference in the flavor of a dish. I tend to reserve them for holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, just like they did in the medieval days when these things were more precious than gold.

Another thing to consider is getting set up in ethnic cooking. If you wanted to learn to cook chinese food, it could cost you $50 or more to buy the basic ingredients (soy sauce, sesame oil, hoisin sauce, fish sauce, miso paste, dried mushrooms, szechuan peppercorns, etc.) Or maybe you'd like to learn "real" italian cooking -- dried porcini, capers, saffron, anchovies, whole nutmeg (and grater), balsamic vinegar, thyme, oregano, sage, olive oil, dried tomatoes.... add a bottle of wine and a cookbook and it'd be a nice gift IMO.

What is this "real" cinnamon you speak of and where can I find it?

And I know this isn't exactly what was asked for, but my kids can't have the fake vanilla extract because of the carmel coloring, so instead of buying real extract for crazy expensive, I bought a cheap bottle of vodka and threw some vanilla beans in it. (It might not be cost effective if you can't find your vanilla beans in bulk like I do.) It works great and has lasted a long time. Next time I'm going to try it with rum.

**JerryG** · 10-26-2009, 07:23 PM

Pine nuts, for example. Candied ginger. Real cinnamon, not the cassia bark stuff they sell in supermarkets. Vanilla beans. Saffron.

Country Housewife - those are exactly what I would love to get as a gift. . . . oooh!