WHAT’S IN YOUR PANTRY?
August 9, 2008 by Joan in Potpourri, Product Recommendations | 8 Comments
Kitchen Credo
Keep a sufficiently well-stocked pantry, market for fresh products weekly,
and have a little sense of adventure!
The Stars of My Kitchen
I’d like to introduce you to a few of the products that seem to find their way into many of my preparations. And, no…just in case you were wondering, these product recommendations are not paid endorsements. (I wish.) Just offering them up out of the goodness of my heart. For the record, you’ll find my product criteria will always be relatively low(er) calories, some redeeming nutritional value and, of course, taste!
Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Crumbled Bacon: I keep a bag of each of these in my freezer. Since a little goes a long way, a teaspoon of both would only add about 25 calories and a whole lot of flavor and texture to any of your recipes! Try them with eggs, pastas, vegetables (particularly leafy green), fresh salads, paninis, pizzas, etc.
You’ll be seeing them in lots of my recipes…lots!
Chicken Broth: I use it for anything that requires liquid but, most especially, with vegetables. Why cook in water, butter or oil when you can add a non-fattening layer of flavor from the onset? The new container packaging makes it easy to use and store in the refrigerator for the next time.
Meet a few of my other ‘can’t-live-without” pantry staples: olive oil (extra virgin, like everyone else), nuts (walnuts & almonds in particular), olives (all kinds), honey, Goya Sazon (dry seasoning) and, of course, pasta. With pasta in the pantry, there’s always a meal on the table!
From the Fridge: No-fat sour cream (tastes just like Greek yogurt), hummus, whole grain tortilla wraps, Parmigiano Reggiano.
Favorite cereal: Nature’s Path Organic Flax & Pumpkin Seed Granola. Try it sprinkled over berries, walnuts and no-fat sour cream for a breakfast parfait.
Favorite non-wine beverage: Crystal Light Green Tea mix.
Favorite non-traditional spice: fennel seeds.
Favorite Chocolate Snack(s): Fudgsicle 40-calorie fudge bar, chocolate covered expresso beans, 1 square (I swear!) of Lindt’s Dark Chocolate Cherry & Chili bar.
Fresh from the Market: Always tomatoes, spinach, arugula, basil, berries, broccoli, garlic, lemons. Those are the ‘givens’. The rest is decided on the spot.
And, did I mention wine? It’s a staple here, no different than the others mentioned…medium-bodied smooth reds (the house ‘fave’) and crispy whites like the Sauvignon Blanc from Nobilo in New Zealand. Wine completes the meal…unless, of course, we’re talking breakfast! (…and then it’s Cafe Pilon.)
And may I just take a moment here to mention that sliced white bread is for toddlers…once you’ve lost your baby teeth, go for the grains and crust!
Like the CapOne ad campaign “what’s in your wallet?“, how about commenting here and telling everyone what’s in your pantry? What are your can’t-live-without products?
Note: FOODalogue suggests this recipe as a guide to food pairings and techniques to be experimented with…in your own kitchen…to your own spice and taste levels…and to your preferred portion sizes.
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