Permanent Pantry Residents

Lifted this list from the Working Mom Diaries. Print this out and post on your fridge as a constant reminder. That's what I'm about to do

Checklist for the Party-Ready Pantry. Most if the ingredients help streeeetch the meat to feed huge crowds, so you don't completely kill your grocery budget. Came in handy when my husband suddenly brought over his office mates for a late inuman session. Maybe it'll help you.

1. Olive oil. Great for pasta or a lemon-and-garlic roast chicken.
2. Pasta. Macaroni for salads, spaghetti, and mami -- you can throw in leftover meat to make a soup.
3. Sinigang mix. One of the cheapest dinners you can ever make.
4. Bacon. Supermarkets sell small bits by the bag, perfect for salads, flavoring soups, or toppings for carbonara or casseroles.
5. Bread crumbs. Use to coat meat, or as an extender in a casserole or meatloaf. I like to toss them with dried herbs like rosemary, italian seasoning or powdered garlic, depending on what you want to use them for.
6. Hotcake mix. Surprisingly very versatile. Coat around hotdogs and stick in a waffle pan, or add chicken breast, sliced ham and even tuna for savory muffins.
7. Sardines. With a lot of onions and cheese, they make great pandesal pizzas. Just stick in the toaster oven. (Makes a good pulutan, too!)
8. Cream of mushroom / chicken. When her ulam isn't enough to feed the crowd, she serves an instant soup and loads it with potatoes and macaroni. (Add milk and butter so you can get more servings from one pack without completely losing the flavor.) Use less water, and you have an instant pasta sauce or gravy.