Over the years I’ve honed in on my staple ingredients; those necessary to the majority of my recipes, those that my husband and I love and those that cut down on frequent trips to the grocery store when we veer off plan.
1. Milk
Why: Got Milk?!? Yes, indeed!
2. Cheese
Why: The end all and be all of the toppings. Ooey gooey cheese! Yum! The uses are endless and cheese on sandwiches are a must!
3. Eggs
Why: My husband makes killer omelettes for me and I go through a lot of eggs when I get on a baking spree; plus occasionally I have a hankering for deviled eggs!
4. Bell Peppers
Why: Stuffed peppers are frequently made in our house, added to salads, put in soups and gobbled up with hummus, tzatziki and tuna.
5. Berries
Why: Fruit salads, baking, added to plain yogurt, berries are a healthy snack rich in antioxidants.
6. Salad Dressings
Why: I use my Kraft Kitchen’s Dinner On Hand cookbook A LOT and many of the dishes use a variety of Kraft dressings (Italian, Catalina, Ranch, etc); so that is why this has become a staple fridge item for me.
7. Chicken
Why: The only meat we don’t harvest; I love chicken; so I buy it in bulk from Costco; drumsticks, breasts and thighs.
8. Wild Game Meat
Why: We harvest most of our own meat and have it ground, made into pepperoni and/or sausage. We substitute it for beef all the time.
9. Garden Veggies
Why: Home grown, blanched and frozen for use throughout the year. This includes: green beans for casseroles and soups. Peas for side dishes. Zucchini for muffins, loaves and crustless pie.
10. Bread
Why: This way we always have it on hand. Since I don’t go through it fast enough when I am on my own; freezing it has cut down on food waste.