Can I have a peek at your grocery list? What are some of your staples for versatile cooking?!
Thanks!
Answers: I like to cook new things but often find that I don't have the right thing on hand. I am interested in knowing what you pickup from the store on a regular basis and if you have any suggestions for creative, yet economical cooking?
Thanks!
These are the staples that I ALWAYS try to have on hand - I love to cook & try to make a wide variety of things.
Pasta (all shapes and sizes!)
Rice - Brown, wild, white, and arborio for risotto's
Canned tomatoes - whole peeled, diced and crushed
Canned and/or dry beans - kidney, black, northern & chick peas - or whatever you really love
Chicken, beef, & veggie stock (low sodium preferably)
Canned tuna, salmon, and anchovies
Onions
Shallots
Potatoes
Garlic
Eggs
Butter (the real thing, usually unsalted)
Half & half and/or heavy cream
Cheese of all varieties, but always parmesan, swiss & mozzarella
Field greens, arugula, and or romaine lettuce
A variety of fresh fruit and veggies and herbs
Olive oil
A variety of vinegars
In the freezer, I always keep:
Chicken - whole and parts
Ground Beef
Italian sausage
Shrimp
Scallops
Ravioli & tortellini
Pizza crusts
I love to do homemade "white" pizza's - without tomato sauce. Just brush the crusts with olive oil and minced garlic, add some Italian cheeses, top with fresh tomatoes, baby bella mushrooms, peppers, red onions, whatever you love & you've got dinner in 10 minutes - and it's healthy!
I also love to do whole roasted chicken - super easy and the leftovers can become soup or chicken salad the next day.
Omelets are nice for dinner & great with a side salad.
I love to make meatballs when ground beef and pork are on sale - they freeze great and make not only an easy pasta dish, but great meatball subs!
Pasta is an easy dish to throw together with a quick alfredo sauce or pesto. Or homemade mac & cheese is actually pretty easy and way better than store bought! Or saute up some seafood with olive oil, garlic and shallots and serve over hot pasta - yum!
A big pork roast (like a boston butt) can go all day in a slow cooker and they are really inexpensive. The next day, shred the leftovers and add some bbq sauce & have pulled pork sandwiches.
I could go on forever, but I hope that helps a little!
i only cook asian food and i am not asian - so anything thats makes me stink loads
whole chicken
lentils
root vegetables
chicken/beef broth
real butter/olive oil
a good selection of herbs and spices
different shapes of pasta
white/whole wheat/and cake flour
many fruits
and a big variety of cheeses
Those are pretty much in the house at all times
Rice, pasta, as many spices and herbs as I can. I don't use recipes 'cos I do a lot of 'one pot cookng' in other words whatever is in the cupboard is thrown in a casserole with rice or pasta. I buy chicken or good minced beef---never ever buy economical mince as it has everthing in it.
My shopping list is never really versatile. I usually eat chicken daily. I like chicken nuggets made with corn flakes and garlic powder. I also eat just plain boiled chicken with potatoes. I know it's plain but it is so easy and economical. Just throw it in the crock pot and it's ready when I get home. I eat it Monday through Thursday every week. On the weekends I'll get a little more creative with tacos and fish. Lots of apples. One a day for breakfast.
I'm a single dude who lives alone. Try frogmore stew. Delicious.
Ground meat is pretty versatile. You could do alot with it & it's cheap. Usually on my weekly list is, olive oil, pasta, tomato sauce, rice, soups, tuna, lots, of eggs & cheeses, eggpant is versatile, bananas, apples... There are 6 in my family so I have a big shopping list every week. Lots of Luck
The magazine Simple and Delicious will give LOTS of economical and creative ideas. It used to be called Quick Cooking, by Taste of Home's. Here's the website:
http://www.quickcooking.com/Default.aspx...
Onions- I never really liked them until I started cooking with chives (green onions) and really liked the flavor
Potatoes- can be used in stews, soups, mashed, baked...plus they are pretty cheap
rice- good as a side dish and is really good for adding to other dishes with some spices (mexican rice, jambalaya, curry, etc)
carrots
garlic
chicken- can be bought on sale and frozen- good to add to just about anything to make it more of a meal
One of the best thing I can suggest is to find spices you like and make sure you have those on hand at all times. Adding a little cumin to a dish can make the difference between a ok dish and a wow this is really good. Another thing, most of what is on the list above are items that generally last a while so it's easier to keep them on hand and buy special items on the night you are going to make something different.
hamburger
potatoes
onions
eggs
bread
milk
butter
sour cream
macaroni
canned vegetables
I always keep these on hand, they are so versatile to use for quick easy meals.
Pineapples, cardamon, cumin, smoked paprika, fennel seed, sultanas, lots of apples, tomato puree, anchovy puree, fresh garlic and loads of onions. Peas and Beans. Fresh vegetables of all kinds, bananas. Buckwheat. Pasta.
That'll give you a good base to just add a little meat occasionally. Look at our menus in The Russian Tavern
milk,cheese,eggs,bread,butter,cooking oil,lunch meat,hot dogs,hamburg meat,bacon,sausage,chicken,potatoes,onio... ,pasta sauce,soup,coffee,iced tea,snacks, beverages. if i have a recipe that i want to make i check to see if i have every thing that i need and if not i go to the store to get it. if you want any recipes you can email me or search for me on here. i have red hair now but i used to have blonde hair.
My staples are things like rice, pasta, olive oil, real butter, our favorite cheese, flour, corn meal, sugar, honey, vinegar, mustard, ketchup, steak sauce, salad dressings, fresh garlic, onion, eggs, milk, lots of different seasonings, especially things like Mrs. Dash, it's great for seasoning on anything. Other things are beef and chicken stock, tomato sauce or diced tomatoes, and a variety of frozen veggies. All of these are items that are good to have with meats or other main dishes or to make a small meal just by itself. My grocery budget isn't alot, but I find that if I keep these items on hand we can have a pretty decent meal without doing a lot of extra shopping. I am probably forgetting a few items but these are a good start.
My family likes pasta, so I get creative with it, using different kinds of pasta and adding different items to it such as olive oil with garlic, veggies and/or chicken. Or sometimes we have it with just butter or olive and garlic, or just red sauce or diced tomatoes.
Options are endless. Check to see if there's a cooking class in your area. It's amazing the things you can learn from it, even if you are already a good cook.
Here are some of my staples:
Green vegetables, cilantro, onions, tomatoes, granny smith apples, potatoes, scallions, garlic.
Milk, sour cream, butter, half 'n'half and eggs
Bacon
All of the herbs and spices you can nameChocolate chips,cake mix, biscuit mix, Jiffy Corn meal mix, canned frosting, raisins, dried cherries
Rices, pastas, dried beans and lentils
Ritz crackers
Flour (Whole wheat, bread, all purpose - I make my own bread), Sugar,
Vanilla and lemon and mint extract.
Canned condensed soups, dry onion soup mix, dry salad dressing mix, soy sauce, liquid smoke, oils, vinegars.
Canned tomatoes in all stages, canned clams, Peanut butter, preserves and jam, condensed milk, relish, ketchup, mustard.
Thats about it, I think...
I just got back and here's what I bought: (I'm making homemade pizza tonight!!):
canadian bacon
pizza sauce
bananas
green pepper
mushrooms
oranges
tomatoes
pineapple chuncks
pepperoni
olives
bottled water
mozzarela
energy drink
dish soap
By the way... I live right next door to a supermarket, so I just go and buy whatever I need for that day!
fresh basil, onions, garlic, celery, tomatoes, butter lettuce, vinegar, olive oil, tater tots, short ribs, whole rotisserie chickens, bob evans mashed potatoes, soy milk, green tea, pickles, peanut butter, bread, wine, cheese, olives, the list goes on and on.