We have all experienced that moment when you wander aimlessly in your kitchen wondering what to make for dinner. You haven't had a chance to get to the grocery store and now have to pull together a meal with whatever is on hand. This is one stressor in your life you can eliminate if you keep these 10 cooking ingredients on hand.
1. Pasta
Pasta offers a variety of options for whipping up a hot, delicious meal. It can be something as quick and simple as buttery noodles, adding your favorite pasta sauce or creating a baked pasta with sauce, veggies, and cheese. By keeping different types of noodles on hand you have even more choices. With pasta you can also add just about any type of protein that you have in the freezer: chicken, ground beef, soy crumbles, turkey, Italian sausage, or even seafood like shrimp or scallops. The possibilities are almost endless.
A quick check in your spice rack and just about any spice can be added to spruce up your pasta dish. You can also create an olive oil-based sauce. Just heat 1/2 cup of olive oil in a skillet, add in some fresh vegetables like spinach, tomatoes or mushrooms. Cook the ingredients for about 3 minutes or until the vegetables are tender and then season with a little salt and pepper. Mix with your pasta and you have an easy, healthy pasta meal.
2. Chicken Broth or Bouillon
Chicken broth or bouillon is a wonderful ingredient to have on hand because this is the base for any number of meals. You can create a soup or stew using other ingredients that are available. A hodgepodge of vegetables, meats and spices can create the perfect meal for any day.
You can also use chicken broth to add some moistness and flavor to a baked chicken dish as well as cook rice or flavor-steam your vegetables by using chicken broth instead of water.
3. Frozen or Canned Mixed Vegetables
Frozen or canned mixed vegetables can be a lifesaver when it comes to whipping up a quick meal. They can be easily warmed up in a skillet and sautéed with a little olive oil and spices. If you have the broth on hand you can also combine these two must have ingredients to put together a soup or stew. Throw in some chicken or pan-fried tofu and you have a hearty meal.
4. Chicken
You can prepare chicken a thousand different ways that make putting a meal together easy. You can broil it, roast it, sauté it with vegetables, bake it, fry it, use it in a stir-fry or make a burrito - the choices go on and on.
An easy baked chicken parmesan recipe is to dip pieces of chicken into a beaten egg mixture. Coat the chicken with bread crumbs. On top of the breaded chicken spoon some tomato sauce. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and bake in the oven at 350 degree F for about 45 minutes or until the chicken is done.
Chicken is a great protein that goes with so many different flavors and cuisines. Just having a few skinless, boneless chicken breasts in your fridge is a great start to a delicious meal.
5. Potatoes
Potatoes are great as they can easily figure into a wide variety of cuisines and are super easy to prepare using an oven, stovetop, or microwave. Potatoes are great ingredients for soups and stews, are super yummy shredded into hash browns or potato latkes, and who can resist the tempting lure of a bowl of mashed potatoes?
The most versatile way to use potatoes (and perhaps the healthiest depending on your toppings) is by making a baked potato. Baked potatoes can be topped with just about anything: sour cream, cheese, vegetables, bacon, or whatever else you have on hand.
6. Eggs
Eggs are a great ingredient to have on hand. They keep fresh for a long time and can be used in a variety of delicious ways. Keep in mind that eggs aren't just for breakfast. You can create some hearty egg dishes for dinner. An easy frittata that makes for a delicious meal is one that uses the following ingredients:- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cups frozen shredded hash browns
- 1 cup chopped red or green pepper
- 6 lightly beaten eggs
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 3/4 grated parmesan cheese
Heat the oil in a skillet on a medium high heat; then add the hash browns and peppers. Cook them for about 5 minutes or until the hash browns are slightly browned. In a separate bowl, mix the eggs, milk and 1/2 cup of the parmesan cheese. Pour this mixture over the hash browns and peppers; cover. Reduce the heat and let the eggs set, which takes about 10 to 12 minutes. When done, sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese over the eggs and re-cover. Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Cut the frittata into wedges.
7. Ground Beef
Ground beef is another versatile ingredient that is great to have on hand. Lean ground beef can be used for tacos, hamburgers, meatballs or a meatloaf. All of these meals can incorporate spices that you probably have on hand, such as garlic, chili powder, salt and pepper. If you are looking for a slightly healthier option, choose ground turkey and you can still make all the dishes listed above but with less fat and calories.
8. Rice
Rice is definitely a must-have ingredient as it can be a great side dish for almost any meal or a main ingredient if you enjoy making risotto, sushi, chicken and rice soup, jambalaya or paella. Rice is also an ingredient that comes in a lot of yummy varieties that all lend themselves to different types of dishes. Next time you are in the grocery store, don't just grab the first bag of white, short grain rice you see. Why not try some wild rice, arborio rice, jasmine rice, basmati or any of the other 40,000 rice varieties in the world.
9. Canned Tomatoes
Canned tomatoes can be the basis for a hot meal like chili, soup or a stew. You can also blend canned tomatoes with some spices like Italian seasoning to create your own pasta or pizza sauce. Canned tomatoes are also yummy in casseroles or baked pasta dishes.
10. Bacon
It may come as no surprise to some of you, but bacon is a great ingredient to have on hand. Bacon (even the soy variety, for our vegetarian friends) adds wonderful flavoring to any number of dishes. Sprinkling some bacon on top of your pasta dish, over your potatoes, or in a soup are just some of the ways you can spruce up a meal.
Beside the typical BLT's, you can also create an easy delicious sandwich by cooking up a few slices of bacon and sliding them into your grilled cheese sandwich before cooking it in a skillet. It can also make for a heartier egg dish if you cook the bacon first, crumble it up and then add to the eggs you are scrambling.
There you have it. With these top 10 simple ingredients on hand you'll never be more than a few steps away from an easy and delicious meal between trips to the grocery store.