Christine J. Patrick, County Extension Agent – EFNEP
It’s been a long day at work. You’re tired. You’re ready to sink into the sofa with something cold and refreshing when someone asks: “What’s for supper?” Or, if you’re from north of the Mason-Dixon line, “What’s for dinner?” While you may not want to think about cooking, you’ll eventually have to prepare a meal. Often the result is a surrender to fatigue and a decision to “get something out.” That’s unfortunate because well-thought-out meals at home are usually cheaper and better for you.
- A well-stocked pantry and freezer will make meal preparation less forbidding. The key to having a well-stocked larder is knowing what everyone in the family likes to eat. Get some ideas from them. Find out what the family would like to eat in the coming week, then make a list of what you’ll need before going to the grocery store.
- Some foods are considered staples. They are “basics” for the average diet. You can not do without them. Onions, garlic, carrots, and celery are on that list. Carrots and celery not only make healthful, low-calorie snacks, but they are starting points for many a recipe when used in conjunction with onions and garlic. Baby carrots are convenient. While a little bit more expensive, they are already cut and washed and can be either a snack or cooking in a hurry when you don’t have time to peel the regular carrots.
- Potatoes are versatile. They’re suitable in stews, or you can bake, steam, or mash them. Yukon Golds taste great, but baking potatoes are cheaper and better for mashing. Keep several stock cans on your pantry shelf – chicken, beef, or vegetable. They add lots of flavor to soups or other dishes. Try adding chicken stock to those mashed potatoes rather than sour cream or butter.
- Eggs are essential, with a million uses. Hard boil a batch and refrigerate them for egg salad or eating plain. Or consider eggs for creative omelets.
- If you like Italian dishes, keep several canned tomatoes on hand – whole, crushed, chopped, paste and sauce. Open some tomatoes for a quick beginning for your pasta sauce, or add zest to a casserole. Canned vegetables, fruits, beans, salmon, tuna, soups, mushrooms, and olives are just some of the basics you can keep handy for quick meal fixes.
- Keep several kinds of cheeses on hand. Mozzarella is essential for pizza, omelets, and lasagna. So is Parmesan. Cheddar is excellent for snacking and for an omelet topper. Ricotta is a crucial ingredient for lasagna fillings. You may have some other cheese favorites.
- Ground meat, such as hamburgers, has innumerable uses. Ground lamb, ground pork, and ground turkey are usually available at most major supermarkets. If you buy a quantity when it is on sale, you can cook up batches and freeze them for use on days when you’re rushing for time. No doubt you’ll have favorite foods you would prefer.
Remember, any well-stocked pantries begin with a plan. So, have the family sit down and discuss what you want in yours.
Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status, and is an equal opportunity employer.
