Pantry Staples

Alright, well I just realized that in order for me to go any further with this endeavor, I need to list out my pantry standbys! I find that as long as I have these things in some amount, I can whip up something delicious and nutritious and even multi-coursed for at least two people!

Canned Goods:

Pasta Sauces (I find these are good for 'quick fixes' - are also helpful when it comes to cutting down on time for otherwise labor intensive endeavors like casseroles or even stews and soups like chili!)

Canned Tomatoes (all kinds/mixes/varieties/whatever you like/is cheap) (Help to jazz up otherwise basic pasta sauce, soup, also saves labor in casseroles)

Chiles (as previously stated, I grew up in So. California - which means my comfort food is rice, beans, and tortillas! I use these in as many places as I can....mac-n-cheese. I also like Asian/Indian/African chiles, though those are generally more readilly available dry)

Tomato Paste (helpful in soups, stews, and when combined with a can of tomatoes, garlic and onions, you have a nice, quick, homemade tomato sauce!)

Evaporated Milk (Used for glazes, fudges, and cream/cheese sauces.)

Condensed Milk (Good for fudges, icings, and lower fat whipped cream alternatives.)

Coconut Milk (A nice vegan substitute for evaporated milk, also essential in many Asian/African/Caribean dishes!)

Beans (Though I prefer to cook my own from dried, these are essential to have around for those cases when you don't have any cooked, too lazy, or need multiple types and making a batch of all of them yourself would be excessive)

Fruits (Even if I am unable to afford going out to buy groceries for a month, I can gaurantee that I can make a pie at the very least! I always will have a few cans of peaches in the back of my pantry for these occasions.)

Overdue Absence/Secret Wonders of Produce!

So the past few months have found me relatively bed-ridden due to a knee injury! But, I now have started to once again cook, and with it being summer in Oregon, I have the delight of fresh produce being on sale!

Growing up in So. Cal, I learned the joy and appreciation of the local Hispanic produce stands. For $5, you could often get $20 worth of produce if you went to the local supermarket. If you have one near you, I heartily suggest stopping by and taking a peak. Often times these places are gems. A word of caution, these places tend to be a cash only set up, so make sure to have some cash on hand!

Recently, I ventured into the Hispanic produce store I have eyed for the past two years down the street from me. Being homesick for the produce and good prices, I grabbed a $5 from my purse and excitedly headed out. Upon arrival, I noticed a box of (what I assumed to be 'discards') moldy oranges complete with flies buzzing around. Not being disheartened, I continued into the tarp covered area and walked around. The prices were no better (if not higher) than my 'go-to' grocery store, and the quality left much to be desired. I could not have been more disappointed.

With a saddened pang, I trugged back to my car and drove 5 miles down the road to another produce store. There my quivering faith was renewed upon seeing some GORGEOUS Manilla mangoes 3/$1!!

Lesson learned: Produce markets are sometimes a dime a dozen, and never lose hope when another one is just down the street.

Keep a look-out for peanutbutter brownies, glazed doughnuts, blackbean avocado salad, and a strawberry, orange, poundcake desert of madness!

Life is to be Savoured, no matter how small the purse!!

This has been my motto when times have been tough on the wallet. The things I plan on sharing with you are: how to shop wisely, when to buy fresh vs frozen, how to make multiple dishes out of one or two "staple" preparations, how to stock everything from your pantry and spice cabinet to kitchen gadgetry, every day meals to extravagant black tie affair hor'dourves. It is with these tricks, and maybe a few others, that I have successfully fed two adults on $10/week for over 8 months straight.

In these hard times, please do not throw in the towel on eating well, and even more so, do NOT give up on the idea that food is meant to be enjoyed and can still TASTE GOOD!!