You know that Nancy Meyers feeling of abundance? Well she knows all too well the power of a stocked fridge and an organized life – an almost universal appeal. The holidays is the time of the year when the shelves in our home are at their most full, and its a joy to be able to try new things without the need to run out. In this crazy year, when running out is more of an inconvenience than ever, i’ve set out the dream Thanksgiving pantry. Of course I know that this is a luxury list, a fantasy but its a useful exercise nevertheless.

Here are things that being topped up on will make cooking and particularly cooking Thanksgiving easier. FYI we have been doing the bulk of essential shopping online but buying all of our perishables — bread, eggs, meat, vegetables, fruits — and luxuries — champagne vinegar, olive oil, olives, tapenade, cheeses — locally. The island we are living on functions a bit like Europe: a different farm stand for a different specialty! Each has a walk up window/pick up service for COVID safety so it feels easy to continue to support as it’s all outdoors.

For bulk dry goods we have fallen in love with THRIVE (not sponsored). We buy all of our spices, dry beans, large packs of raw nuts for baking and granola, oats, flour, dried fruit, snacks and cereals and teas through THRIVE. If you’re on the mainland I suspect Prime or Instacart will work well!

Olive oil (a beautiful one for salads and a cheaper bulky one)

Grapeseed oil

Vinegars (red, champagne)

Salt (course and fine)

Pepper (I use peppercorns and put through the pepper grinder)

Flour (AP 80% 20% whole wheat)

Eggs (tons, I have four dozen in the fridge at all times)

Unsalted butter (you can freeze this, I buy six at a time)

Sugar: confectioners, white/cane, brown (both light and dark)

Milk (whole) — i usually make butter milk by squeezing lemons vs buying buttermilk

Heavy cream ** extra around Thanksgiving.

Baking soda

Baking powder

(advanced class: condensed milk, raspberry jam)

Baking chocolate (bittersweet, semi sweet, unsweetened — lots of bars, they keep)

Chocolate chips (my preference is not the mini ones, semi-sweet)

Cocoa powder (unsweetened/untainted)

Jam (raspberry)

Lemon curd I have been making and it’s really easy and delicious

Pecans

Walnuts

Almonds 

Cinnamon 

Nutmeg

Shredded coconut

White onions

Red onions

Garlic

Celery

Carrots (multicolored)

Parsnips

Scallions

Salted butter

Leeks

Japenese Yams (I prefer these to sweet potatoes)

Delicata Squash/Butternut/Honey Squash

Lemons

Arugula (for me I can’t forgo a salad every night, even on Thanksgiving)

Cream cheese for baking

Sour cream

Creme Fraiche

Whole milk greek yogurt (if youre going to make banana bread or waffles)

Herbs:

Thyme

Oregano

Parsley

lemons

Course sea salt

Fine sea salt

Pepper (I like peppercorns)

Chicken stock

Also one must have copious amounts of vanilla ice cream on hand (I am a diehard Ben & Jerry’s girl because of their stance against white supremacy, it happens to be SO delicious and actually relatively local to where we live now).