Gourmet Trading stocked our pantry with Stonewall Kitchen specialty foods. Here’s how they went over.

Like a lot of people trying to feed a family on a budget, we tend to stock our pantry with the same things week after week. We know what will get eaten, what probably won’t, and how long our favourite dishes will take to prepare. We shop with a list, pick up what we need, and generally ignore the rest (unless something’s on super sale, which I cannot resist). But when Toronto-based Gourmet Trading reached out to me last month, I was reminded that there’s a whole world of foods and flavours available to explore and enjoy. Gourmet Trading has been bringing that world to Canada for nearly 30 years as an importer and distributor of specialty foods. They sent me a selection of products from one of their top-selling brands, Maine’s award-winning Stonewall Kitchen, and I was pleasantly surprised to see how well they went over. Will they be new pantry staples? Read on and see. 

In some ways I don’t get pancake mix — it’s one of those things that seems silly to buy when it’s so easy to make yourself. But since we’ve tried the Farmhouse Pancake & Waffle Mix, I get it a little more. The pancakes were nice and fluffy and the waffles light and crisp, which isn’t always the way when we make them from scratch. If you’re picky about your pancakes and want them to turn out perfectly every time then yes, I can see stocking your pantry with this mix. Or picking up a can to bring camping or include in a breakfast basket for a hostess gift.

Dressing takes up a lot of real estate in our fridge, with more than a few half-empty bottles we probably should have thrown out long ago. But this Classic Greek Dressing won’t go to waste. It’s delicious in an easy mason jar salad Greek salad and I bet it would be just as good as a chicken marinade. A little bit goes a long way and thank goodness because it’s not low-cal by any means.

Who knew the kids liked curry? No no, not like — they absolutely love! We’ve used the Coconut Curry Simmering Sauce twice now and both times my guys asked for seconds. I find it a bit spicy (but even pepper is spicy to me), and hubby finds it just right (and he puts hot sauce on just about everything). A must-have for the pantry!

Now if there’s a way to make mustard look good I haven’t found it. But then I don’t like mustard, so maybe it’s just me. Luckily the man of the house is a big fan. He said he couldn’t make out the caramelized onions but liked it in his sandwich all the same. I wonder if the onion flavour would be stronger if we used it in a vinaigrette. Have you tried the Caramelized Onion Mustard?

And finally in our Stonewall Kitchen five, this Boozy Bacon Barbecue Sauce, which I’ve been saving because I want your ideas. Tell me how we should use it and I’ll send one lucky reader a bottle to try too. All comments posted by Canadian readers by 11:59 pm EST on September 12 will be put in a random draw. (One comment = one entry, one entry per person.) I’ll announce the winner here on the blog by September 15.

Now I know some of you (hello Linda!) are big Stonewall Kitchen fans. Which products do you recommend? Would you stock your pantry with any of these? Tell me in the comments! I love hearing from you.

Update September 13, 2017: Congratulations Florence C!

Gourmet Trading sent me a selection of Stonewall Kitchen products to facilitate this post. All opinions are my own.