** Red and yellow peppers (but you can keep frozen packages on hand, too)

** Onion from the pantry

** Canned mushrooms

** Canned water chestnuts, sliced into matchsticks

** Thai green chile curry for seasoning

** Fresh lime juice for seasoning

** Wild garlic for color (or green onions)

Am I wild about canned foods–not so much. But they are a godsend when I can’t get to the store. Certainly some are better than others, like artichoke hearts, sliced beets and these mushrooms and water chestnuts. And I don’t eat them alone; only combined into a dish with other ingredients.

Don’t have a good pantry? Can I encourage you to start building one–and then don’t forget to draw on it for emergencies–and inspiration.

Have a good pantry? Share some of your pantry treasures, and even a meal idea for it.