Healthy staples for the cupboard

[PepperElf]

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/0...ntcmp=features

Not surprisingly the article seems to be sponsored by "Real Simple". That's one of my BF's fav sites for ideas & recipes.

Interestingly, we actually have probably most of the items on the list, sort of.

We have grapeseed oil vs olive oil, white rice vs brown, no barley, or quinoa, or lentils but I think I might have some bags of dried beans in there somewhere.

The one that makes me giggle though is the tuna. I think we have ... only 8 cans? Maybe we should restock soon. Seriously, it's one of the things my BF loves to stock up on cos it's always good for a simple meal. Mix it with a can of condensed cheese soup and some pasta and you get instant casserole!

so pretty much some interesting ideas of dry goods health.

although i'm a bit surprised they don't have powdered milk in there. i like having that on hand as emergency creamer and emergency "holy fuck there's a flash flood and i don't have any milk!" etc.

[fireheart]

For some bizarre reason, tuna makes both me and my boyfriend gag. For me, it gets to the point where I will skip dinner when my parents make anything with tuna in it. Funnily enough, the cats LOVE it (no, I don't give them my share!)

[MoonCat]

We always have olive oil around, and brown rice; but I never liked whole wheat pasta. Oatmeal, tuna, peanut butter, check; quinoa, no, but I've been wanting to try that. Dried beans, no; I heard it's better for you to cook your own instead of eating the canned ones, but it's a bit of a pain to soak them and all that. Canned tomatoes, sometimes; I love tomatoes; but I'm the only one in the house who likes the canned ones, so we don't get those a lot.

[Food Lady]

I have grapeseed oil on hand, but it's for my skin. I use EVOO for cooking and coconut oil for cooking, my skin, and my hair. Dry beans, rice or pasta, and canned tomatoes are nearly always on hand. Well, the beans are usually in my freezer, as I cook a big batch as soon as I get them home. But I don't keep a lot of dry goods. I freeze everything. If there is a weather disaster, I'm in trouble.

[bhskittykatt]

Hubs loves canned tuna. I never use it, though.

We have sooooo much brown rice and dried beans. Use them in chili, for taco salad, etc. If I know I'm going to be using the beans later in the day I just pop them in the crockpot before I go on my paper route (or even the night before if I remember in time).

We go through peanut butter quickly since we make a lot of peanut sauce. We use a lot of whole-wheat pasta so we have something to put the sauce on. Sriracha sauce should also be on the staples list...it is for me at least. Mmmm....peanut noodles with chicken/tofu and sriracha is a weekly meal for us!

I have oatmeal, but I really only ever use it to make oatmeal cookies...

[sms001]

powdered milk in there. i like having that on hand as emergency creamer and emergency ... i don't have any milk!" etc.

The biggest "etc." for me is mac and cheese. I usually do from scratch, but there is nothing more frustrating than to cook up the box mix and find you don't have any milk. Protip - water, sour cream, or yogurt just don't cut it.

Thanks for the link Pep.

[fireheart]

The biggest "etc." for me is mac and cheese. I usually do from scratch, but there is nothing more frustrating than to cook up the box mix and find you don't have any milk. Protip - water, sour cream, or yogurt just don't cut it.

Thanks for the link Pep.

My boyfriend does the Easy Mac...with water.

Ugh.

[ComputerNecromancer]

Dried beans, no; I heard it's better for you to cook your own instead of eating the canned ones, but it's a bit of a pain to soak them and all that.

I used to think so, then a friend gave me a bag of beans he'd gotten in a food box. They were the government handout sort and they had what I've since heard is called the "quick soak" method on the package.

Cooked dry beans

2 cups dry beans
5 cups water
2 teaspoons salt

Wash and drain beams.
Put beans and water in large pan and bring to boiling. Boil 2 minutes
Remove from heat.
Cover and let stand 1 hour.
Add salt. Cover and boil gently 1.5 to 2 hours, or until tender.
Add more water during cooking if needed.
Makes about 5 cups cooked beans.

The above *works*. Which is more than I can say for the "soak overnight" method.

[Food Lady]

I thought adding salt would toughen the beans?

[Kittish]

Hmm, I have everything on the list in my cupboard, plus grapeseed oil, coconut oil, almond meal, rice flour, dry milk, and lots of other stuff. I do most of my cooking from scratch.

And for those of you that like mac n cheese, it's just as easy to make yourself and much, oh so much tastier than anything from a box. Cook and drain your pasta. While your pasta is in the colander, pour 1/2 to 1 cup of heavy whipping cream into your pot. Add shredded cheese of your preference. I usually do about equal amounts of cheese and cream. Stir over medium heat til the cheese melts and the sauce is smooth. Dump the cooked pasta back in and stir. Done. Takes maybe 5 minutes to make the sauce. You can use half and half instead of cream, but plain milk doesn't work nearly as well, the cheese won't blend in as smoothly.

[bhskittykatt]

This is my fav mac & cheese recipe. It's mac & cheese & butternut squash! It works. http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recip...?recipe=439845