How to Create Easy Pantry Recipes
Creating Easy Pantry Recipes requires time and organization. It’s easy to forget yourself when you have a busy lifestyle. Thankfully staple ingredients or foods always bring us back to what a basic lifestyle should be. There’s no longer a need to feel that you have to have everything in your pantry. Knowing what the basic necessities are to create a healthy meal can help.
You may not be sure about the first step, but as long as you know that you need a solution, that’s what counts.
Do an inventory of what you have
Taking an inventory of what you have in your pantry and refrigerator is crucial when budgeting. We all want to save money, and many of us are not good at couponing. (The online dictionary describes couponing as the activity of seeking out or saving discount coupons to save money on food or household purchases.
The first thing to do is to create a list of what you have in your pantry and refrigerator. Making a list will help you figure out what you need to buy to create meals you and your family will enjoy.
Not only will it help you save money and time, but you also won’t have to run out for takeout or have your takeout delivered. Just cook up some pantry staples; it’s healthier.
Reasons to cook your pantry staples
There are lots of reasons to cook from your pantry. Stress, the number one killer, can be avoided easily. You can also save time and money and use specific ingredients many times. So, avoid stressful situations as much as you can.
For example, flour is sold in bulk. There is no way that you can buy just one cup. Buying bulk items that are pantry staples works.
Here’s a list to consider
- Flour
- Sugar
- Rice
- Beans
- Canned tuna, Canned salmon, Canned sardines
- Canned tomato products
- Different types of grains: quinoa, wheat bulgur, farro, millet
- Canned peas/beans
- Spices (baking and cooking)
The ingredients above are generally more affordable when bought in bulk. But if you don’t need a 5-pound bag of flour, rice, or sugar, a 3-pound bag is still a bargain.
These ingredients also require no refrigeration and must be kept in a cool place.
Easy recipes Pantry items
- Flour is an essential ingredient in baked goods and non-baked goods. Perfect for cakes, muffins, and even fritters.
- Sugar, a sweetener used in both baking and cooking
- Rice, one of the most common grains in many cultures. A dish of plain rice goes well with almost anything from meatless vegetable stew to rice and beans.
- Beans, perfect in salads, soups, chili and even as a side dish, bean puree served with plain rice.
- Canned Tuna, Canned Salmon and Canned Sardines are perfect for salads, sandwiches and even appetizers. They also can be substituted for meat, poultry or seafood main dish.
- Canned Tomatoes are a great substitute for fresh tomatoes.
- Grains such as Quinoa, Bulgur Wheat, Farro, and Millet may not be in every pantry but are quite common in many households. With many families and individuals incorporating more grains in their diet, it is quite normal to find these grains in their pantry.
- Canned Peas/Beans are quick meals fixers. They are great additions to salad, stews, and soups.
- Spices, whether they are for baking or cooking, are a must-have and provide tons of flavors to foods.
Need help figuring out how to create easy pantry recipes? Take a look at these recipes.
