Ever wonder how our ancestors always seemed to
have food on the table even in lean times?
When we are visiting the grocery store every
week to the tune of hundreds of dollars, we
long to know their secret. In fact it isn’t
a secret at all. It is actually good
planning and preparation on their part. Once
we realize this and begin doing as they did,
we too will see our dollar stretch further.
The items that we have on hand are what
determine how far our food will go. Filling
your cabinets or pantry with a few useful
staples can be the difference between a trip
to the grocery store each and every week
versus once or twice a month. Stocking just
a few choice items is all you need to create
wonderful meals.
1. Flour. Flour is a starter item for
many recipes. You can add it to some water
and make gravy in the pan for many meat
dishes. Flour is used to make bread
(biscuits, rolls, loaves) and to coat
chicken. It can also be used to coat a round
or square cake pan to prevent the cake from
sticking. Of course, one of the favorite
uses for flour is in cookie recipes that
make scrumptious desserts.
2. Rice. My husband loves rice so much
that we once bought a fifty pound bag from a
grocery store in his hometown. Fifty pounds!
Rice is a side dish, but it doesn’t have to
be plain. It can be jazzed up with veggies
to accompany dinner. My mother uses leftover
rice for a dessert called sweet rice. Just
add evaporated milk and some sugar to a bowl
of rice and warm it in the microwave. It is
a tasty treat for after dinner. Another
popular dessert is rice pudding. Rice can
also be mixed with leftover meat and a cream
soup to form a casserole. Rice has many uses
and your sure to find a few that your family
will love.
3. Pasta. There are many different pasta
choices and all have great uses. Manicotti
can be stuffed with tomato sauce and
cheeses. Macaroni can be used to make a
creamy salad and also is great combined with
cheese or spaghetti sauce. Spiral pasta is
used in many different pasta salads.
Spaghetti can be used in a casserole topped
with cheese or in the traditional way with
tomato sauce and meat.
4. Spices. There are other ways to season
food besides salt and pepper. In fact, many
spices taste better than salt. Even diehard
salt-a-holics won’t miss the salt in foods
if other seasonings are used. Cayenne
pepper, chili powder, nutmeg, cinnamon,
oregano, and garlic powder are all useful
tools in your flavor arsenal to give foods a
fresh new taste.
5. Beans. There go those beans again.
Beans can top your salad (edamame), make an
awesome dip (black beans), and go well with
grilled foods (baked beans). They provide a
good source of protein with very little fat.
Beans are good in soups, stews, and over
rice for a simple yet filling meal.
Do you have these staples in your
kitchen? You can probably think of several
more that will enhance your pantry and save
money. Start with these and grow your own
list of basic kitchen staples that are
versatile and economical.
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