Q&A Wednesday - Kitchen Staples {Food}

"What are the foods that you always keep stock of in your kitchen? I want to start cooking more and eating out less, but I never seem to have everything I need for any of my recipes."

I've mentioned before that we don't eat a lot of processed foods, so things are pretty simple in my kitchen.

A few years ago, when I finally gave in to enjoying cooking for my family, I came across the book, "Express Lane Meals: What to Keep on Hand, What to Buy Fresh for the Easiest-Ever 30-Minute Meals" by Rachael Ray.

In this cookbook was a list of staples that Rachael Ray suggested people keep on hand. Then in each recipe, she listed the staple items that would be needed and a few additional items that could be purchased in the Express Lane on your way home from work. It really transformed how I thought about cooking.

Now that I'm much more comfortable around the kitchen, I have my own mental list of things that I try to have on hand. When things from this list are on sale, I stock up, so I rarely buy staples at a premium and my grocery bill stays low.

The following items are things that I use regularly enough that they don't expire before I need to replace them.

What's always in my FRIDGE?
- organic milk (both skim and 1%)
- bread
- eggs
- butter (both spreadable and sticks for baking)
- condiments (peanut butter, jelly, mayo, ketchup, mustard, relish, salad dressing, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, pesto, salsa)
- plain yogurt
- seasonal whole fruit (always apples, plus whatever we get at the co-op, and bananas are usually on the counter)
- washed and cut up fruit (for easy snacking)
- unsweetened applesauce
- deli turkey
- sliced cheese
- shredded cheese
- feta cheese
- shredded parmesan cheese
- garlic
- onions
- seasonal vegetables (zucchini, broccoli, celery, corn on the cob, etc.)
- salad ingredients (lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, etc.)
- flax seeds (I grind them up and put in oatmeal and smoothies)
- usually a couple of containers of leftovers

What's always in my FREEZER?
- minced garlic (from Trader Joe's, pictured)
- chopped onion
- chopped celery
- raw chicken breasts
- ground beef
- ground turkey
- salmon
- leftover grilled chicken, chopped
- cooked ground beef/turkey (sometimes a combo)
- cooked beans (black, white and kidney, stored separately)
- frozen vegetables (broccoli, green beans, corn and peas, plus leftovers from the co-op)
- frozen fruit for smoothies (strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, bananas)
- homemade chicken broth, portioned out
- homemade bread crumbs
- heels from bread in a zipper bag, waiting to be made into bread crumbs
- pureed vegetables to add to sauces and casseroles (things that my family doesn't normally eat: spinach, squash, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, kale, etc.)
- extra fresh items that I don't want to spoil (bread, butter, cheese, etc. - I freeze almost everything)

What's always in my PANTRY?
- baking items: unbleached flour, whole wheat flour, bread flour, sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar, chocolate chips, corn meal, cocoa and yeast. Plus I always stock up on stuff like brownie mix, cake mix and frosting when they're on sale to bring to parties and pot lucks if I'm in a hurry.
- old fashioned oats
- dry cereal: Cheerios, Kashi Go Lean and whatever other low-sugar cereals are on sale
- nuts: raw almonds, chopped walnuts, pine nuts
- lentils and dried beans: black, white and kidney
- raisins and dried cranberries
- granola bars
- tuna
- a jar for desserts
- pretzels
- crackers (usually Triscuits)
- raw agave nectar and honey
- spaghetti sauce
- canned tomatoes
- canned tomatoes with green chiles
- canned green chiles (usually two cans, unless on sale)
- canned evaporated milk (usually one can, unless on sale)
- canned sweetened condensed milk (usually one can, unless on sale)
- pasta: penne, spaghetti, bow ties (all whole wheat)
- dry brown rice
- taco seasoning
- oils: olive, canola, sesame seed oil
- vinegars: balsamic, apple cider, white rice
- whey protein powder (for smoothies)

What's always in my SPICE CABINET?
- olive oil spray
- canola oil spray
- salt
- pepper
- red pepper flakes (to spice up Mike's individual plate)
- garlic powder
- cumin
- Italian seasoning
- dried parsley
- dried basil
- chili powder
- corn starch
- kosher salt
- cinnamon
- baking soda
- baking powder
- nutmeg
- pure vanilla extract

Most of my recipes can be made with the items I have on hand. My staples used to be things like Hamburger Helper, canned vegetables and Rice-a-Roni, but I've made a conscious decision to eat more whole foods and eliminate preservatives where I can.

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