Are you feeling the pinch of inflation? I can’t believe how much more our grocery bill is compared to a year ago. I certainly try to be as frugal as possible, but it can be hard. With times as hard as they are, you want to make your meals go further. Fortunately, you can with the staple ingredients you have. Here are some pantry ingredients to always have on hand to make sure you stick to your budget and don’t go without.
Flour for Bread Making
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Making your own bread might seem hard at first. But it’s not as hard to make as you might think. And if you are scared of kneading or waiting for the dough to rise, you can make pan-fried flatbreads instead. There are a lot of choices. So, take a look at these recipes for artisan bread recipes anyone can bake. Or, if you wish to produce gluten-free bread quickly, use gluten-free flour made from whole grains. Most gluten-free bread is denser, and they don’t need to rise. I’ve been making sourdough bread for my family for over a year now and there is nothing like the smell of fresh bread throughout the house. It really doesn’t take much hands-on time either. If you bake as often as I do, you can get 25lb bags at bulk stores for a fraction of the price per pound as your local grocery store sells.
Quality Canned Goods
At the back of our cupboards, we all have stacks of canned foods. Like most people, you probably don’t know what to do with them. Tuna, different kinds of tomatoes, and even stew are all common ones. Any of these require a couple more ingredients to make something stunning. For example, you can mix the tomatoes with the tuna, add some cinnamon and garlic, and then stir it into pasta. There you have the classic tuna puttanesca. Stocking up on canned goods is a great way to budget shop. But think about what types of canned goods you can actually use before purchasing. That way no food will go to waste. After all, wasted food is lost money!
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Pasta and Grains
Grains and pasta are the simplest and speediest things to make for main dishes. They are also the easiest things to store in your pantry because they last for a long time. Those canned vegetables can be mixed with grains, pasta, and beans to make a flavorful dish on the spot. Grains like rice, couscous, and quinoa can be used in so many different ways. Also, when combined with their favorite homemade sauces, kids love them. And get an array of vitamins. They are also very budget friendly!
Eggs
Eggs are one of the most useful foods you can eat. Most people cook eggs any time of day, not just in the morning. This is because they are full of good fat and protein, as well as all the nutrients your body needs. Even though fried, scrambled, or poached eggs are delicious on their own, they are also useful for making other things. For example, if you mix eggs and flour, you can make a great base for cakes, different types of pastries, and homemade pasta. Yes eggs have substantially risen in price due to the avian flu, however this should be temporary and will prices will hopefully fall again soon.
Frozen Fruits and Vegetables
A lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, like berries and greens, go bad quickly. But if you buy these foods frozen, you can always have healthy produce on hand. Micronutrient-wise, the nutritional content of frozen fruits and vegetables is the same as that of fresh produce. This makes them a safe and convenient frozen food. You can add frozen vegetables to sauté and soups. And to liven up your morning smoothie, try adding some vibrant frozen berries, like blueberries. It’s also very easy to freeze your own fruits and vegetables. I freeze bags of rhubarb, tomatoes, and green beans each year. In the past, I have also frozen strawberries. For fruits, just wash and cut them. Then lay them on cooking sheets to freeze. After frozen, remove from the cooking sheet and bag them up for use later in sauces, crisps, pies, and more!
Summary
There are some amazingly versatile staple ingredients that are great to always have on hand. Items such as flour for bread making, pasta and grains, and frozen fruits and vegetables will help you cut your grocery budget while ensuring you always have food on hand when needed.
