Stocking Up your Pantry, Cabinets, and Fridge

I always have on hand certain essential ingredients at home.  There are just some things you need more often than others.  Garlic, for example, is used in so many recipes, it's silly not to have it on hand.  I'll generally stock up on things that don't expire quickly too, such as raisins and nuts, just in case they come in handy.  Here's a list of what I keep stocked up: 

Vegetables: garlic, onion and ginger root. 

Seasonings: salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, cayenne, onion powder, chili powder, parsley flakes, cumin, paprika, minced dried onion, curry powder, ground ginger, tarragon leaves, fennel seeds, homemade taco seasoning, bay leaves and turmeric powder

Dessert stuffs: cinnamon, vanilla extract, nuts, chocolate chips and ground cloves

Liquids: olive oil, vinegars (I have red wine, apple cider, balsamic and rice vinegar), honey, bbq sauce, soy sauce, mustard (we really like Trader Joe's Aioli Garlic Mustard Sauce) and liquid smoke.

Fresh Herbs: Basil, mint, parsley, rosemary, thyme and sage.  My goal for this year is to plant (and keep alive) more herbs. 

In each category above I've tried to list them in the order of use, the first being the most used.  I understand it's not desirable to go out and buy a crapload of seasonings if you don't see an immediate use for them, so this ordering should help you decide what you'll need more than others.  My seasonings are not comprehensive to what's out there, so sometimes I'll skip some things in the recipe or replace it with other stuff.  I do that until I feel I've skipped it enough and just need to buy it :) 

We also have several lemon trees in our neighborhood, available when we need them.  I always try to have some salad stuffs, cheese, eggs, butter and Earth Balance vegan shortening on hand too.  Make sure you're stocked with sugar, brown sugar and flour too.  It's frustrating to find out halfway through a recipe that you've run out of something so simple.  I also keep whole cloves, but they're more for making flavorful tea and rice than for cooking.