Pasta Salad from the Pantry

I have talked before about the importance of a well-stocked pantry. There are times when time is short and yet you must prepare dinner. Salads are easy and quick, but sometimes the family simply isn't in the mood... It's the end of the summer and we're pretty much all sandwiched out... Pasta is a pretty reliable palate-pleaser in the Entertaining House. I had some hot Italian sausage in the fridge that I needed to use up. But there was not much else... So I took to the pantry and loaded the tins into my arms and ended up making a fabulous, simple and delicious warm pasta salad. Perfect for a coolish night!

Ingredients:

1 can black small, pitted black olives -- I used about 3/4 of the can
1 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
1 small jar of small green pitted olives -- I used about half the jar
1 small jar of sun dried tomatoes, Julienned -- I used about 8
2 Tbs of the sun dried tomato oil
1 Can of artichoke hearts, drained and quartered
Olive oil, a good dose!
1/4 of an onion, finely chopped
4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
1/2 package of Italian sausage -- or 4 links -- Chicken sausage is perfect in this as well. (Or cook the entire package and use the remaining half to place on home made pizza another night!)
1 1/2 Tbs Italian seasonings
Sea salt to taste
Crushed red pepper to taste
1 lb of your favorite pasta (I use Barilla)

Directions:

Cook pasta in large saucepan per directions on the package
In a large saute pan cook sausage in batches. As sausage is cooked set aside on a plate lined with paper towels.
When pasta is done and cooked al dente drain and return to pan. Add a touch of olive oil to keep from sticking together. When the sausage has cooked put desired amount into pasta. The rest can be refrigerated for another day.
In the saute pan add 2 to 3 tbs of olive oil and cook garlic until lightly browned. Gently scrape out garlic and add to the pasta pot. Add onions to the saute pan and cook until translucent. Add the olives, chick peas, artichoke hearts, sun dried tomatoes, sun dried tomato oil, crushed red pepper, Italian seasonings, and sea salt. Simmer for 5 - 10 minutes to marry the flavors.
When ready add to the pasta pot. Mix well. Serve immediately or as people are ready to eat. This dish is simple but packed with flavor that lends itself to tasting wonderfully whether hot or warm.

The Importance of a Well Stocked Pantry

(Photo courtesy Country Home)

I've always kept a pretty well stocked pantry, even way back when, when I was a young single college grad. My mother always had one as well. My pantry always looks like I'm ready for a natural disaster! This is true, the disaster of having no food around -- which, to me, is a disaster! So when we got home late Saturday night I was not at all worried about needing to rush out to fill the fridge. (We did pick some milk up at a local gas station.) The kids and I are away again for a few days tomorrow and we have everything in the house for a well balanced diet to last a few days! Darling Husband can run out and grab what he needs on an as need basis!

Even in my post-college days I found that if I could stock up on basic items, I would have plenty to get me through when money was tight, until the next pay check. Nowadays I like to have items around because grocery shopping with three kids in tow is about as appealing as a trip to the dentist or gynecologist. And these days everyone is watching their purse strings anyhow.

I often buy canned items when they go on sale and load up. Some items like artichoke hearts and hearts of palm are more expensive, but worth it to have on hand as they add so much to a dish in a last minute pinch. We eat a ton of beans. My kids love garbanzos. We eat them in salads, pastas and make hummus with them. I also love them lightly sauteed in olive oil, garlic powder and salt. The skins get nice and crispy. Yum. We also have pasta. Boxes and boxes. All different shapes and sizes.

Other pantry staples include:

Olives, pitted and black -- my kids love them
Olives, Spanish, green -- great to add to many dishes
Tomato sauce
Tomato Paste
Crushed tomatoes -- the world is your oyster when you have these ingredients!

(Inexpensive) tomato sauce, particularly Hunts. It's cheap. It's cheaper than cheap at $1.00 a can (on sale) and they are so wonderful and hearty and flavorful. They are great for pizzas, pastas and many chicken dishes
Good quality tomato sauce -- we love Rao's
Chick Peas, or garbanzos
Black beans
Small white beans
Dark red kidney beans
Pink kidney beans
Artichoke hearts
Hearts of Palm
Canned Tuna
Canned Salmon
Sun dried tomatoes
Sun dried tomato paste

Pasta, various kinds
Rice, white, brown, wild
Flour
Sugar (white)
Sugar (brown)
Nuts, like almonds and walnuts -- great for baking, salads, pasta, etc
Oats (not quick cook)
Chocolate chips
Raisins
Dried Cranberries
Dried Apricots

Basic Spices should include:

Salt, both sea salt and table salt (Sea salt is a must!)
Pepper
Garlic Powder
Herbes de Provence
Italian Seasoning
Oregano
Dill
Parsley
Tarragon
Crushed red pepper
Cayenne Pepper
Paprika
Curry powder

Cumin

Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Pumpkin Pie Spice
Vanilla
Maple Syrup

Peanut butter

Olive oil
Canola oil

Baking Powder
Baking Soda
Red wine vinegar
White vinegar
Apple Cider vinegar
Mustard (Dijon, yellow, brown and whatever else you fancy)
Mayonnaise
Worcestershire Sauce
Soy Sauce (low sodium)
Sesame oil

Capers
Anchovies (yes!)

If you happen to have a decent amount of freezer space, stock up on the following:
Frozen pasta
Chicken that has been cut up and trimmed to thaw faster
Sausages, chicken or pork
Breads -- French, English muffins, bagels, pancakes, etc... you have it, freeze it for a later day. Breads freeze wonderfully!

Veggies:
(If you are so lucky to live near a Trader Joe's, their frozen veggies are far more superior to all the others around)

Petite Peas
Haricots Vert (green beans)
Edamame
Broccoli
Spinach

In the fridge:

Garlic
Onions
Eggs
Butter
Parmesan Cheese
Packaged shredded cheeses such as cheddar and mozzarella

With these items you can whip up many, many delicious meals. So if you are on a budget and can't hit the grocery store for your fresh leafy greens or have just come home from vacation and don't want to rush immediately out to the store! You'll be amazed by all you can create from the above ingredients!