(ARA) – The sun is shining and that fresh, crisp smell is in the air – or is it? Don’t let the stale scent of old herbs and a barely stocked pantry take away from the fresh possibilities of the warmer months.

Giada De Laurentiis, Target culinary expert and Emmy award-winning chef, says “Being a busy chef, TV host, wife and mother, means there are days I just need to get dinner on the table fast. I frequently look to the items I have on hand to solve the weeknight dinner dilemma. Keeping my pantry stocked with the right essentials is fundamental to supper success.”

Once you’ve taken inventory and discarded out-of-date products, it’s time to restock with favorite ingredients for quick and easy meal preparation. According to De Laurentiis, some tried and true items are key to creating a functional pantry:

Dried pasta in a variety of shapes: This pantry basic creates a blank canvas with infinite possibilities – from salads and side dishes to traditional meals. Choose whole wheat varieties for a nutritional boost. A variety of pasta shapes will keep dinner interesting for both kids and adults.

Canned or jarred sauces: Prepared sauces are a staple. Marinara sauce is always a crowd-pleaser, but for a fun change of pace rotate in pesto as a perfect topping. When crunched for time, toss pesto with hot pasta, spoon it into minestrone soup or add to fresh steamed vegetables as a perfect topping. The Giada De Laurentiis for Target pasta sauces, such as the Roasted Garlic Pasta Sauce, include real tomatoes and fresh vegetables to truly deliver a homemade taste.

Functional flavor: Fresh ingredients such as garlic, onions, lemons and herbs impart great flavor to a dish and can sometimes help minimize how much salt you need to use. When fresh isn’t an option, dried herbs such as oregano, rosemary, thyme, red pepper flakes and the always-versatile herbs de Provence are good to keep in the pantry as backup. Sprinkle herbs de Provence onto meat or into a sauce to add a layer of flavor.

Favorite accessories: Make a basic recipe your own by keeping the pantry stocked with your family’s personal flavor favorites. Staples like canned cannelloni beans, Italian tuna packed in olive oil, a variety of red and white vinegars and capers are recipe regulars for De Laurentiis.

“Keeping your pantry up-to-date and well-stocked can help anyone put a simple and flavorful meal on the table on even the busiest nights,” De Laurentiis says.

View the entire Giada De Laurentiis for Target collection, along with a few of her favorite recipes, at Target.com/giada.