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| Photo Credit: Women's Health Magazine |
I had it so easy:
- We lived in an apartment complex where it had a large grocery store in it. I can be spontaneous with cooking dinner because I knew I was only a few steps away from getting the ingredients.
- Prices of grocery items there were so low. I can fill up a cart filled with a week's worth of meals for only about $50.
- We also lived a couple of blocks away from a 'wet' market. How wonderful it was to have easy access to fresh fish that was caught literally that morning!
- I had a helper who came in on certain days of the week to assist me in household chores. This meant that I was blessed to have someone do the food preparation for me.
- On really busy nights, there was a cafeteria located also inside the our apartment complex. It only takes one quick phone call and I have someone knocking on our door with a freshly cooked dinner. And it was delicious food. The price? Only $2 per plate!
Now that we live in new city with a higher cost of living, I am starting to appreciate the importance of menu planning so that we can stay within our monthly food budget. I have been a big believer that planning is an integral part of stewardship -- God has blessed me and Robert with so much; and I want to be able to use everything He has given us in ways that give Him honor.
We are currently concluded our 21-day fast. On the beginning of February, the first order of business is to stock our pantry with cooking staples. I will be planning our menu based on what is stocked in the kitchen.
Lifestyle, culture, and dietary preferences determine what makes the 'staple pantry list.' By giving this a lot of thought, here is the list that I came up with.
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Pepper
- Sugar
- Soy sauce
- Vinegar
- Canned tuna
- Chicken broth
- Jarred spaghetti sauce
- Brown rice
- Whole grain bread
- Whole wheat pasta
- Tomatoes
- Garlic
- Onions
- Butter
- Milk
- Dry cereal
- Eggs
- Cheeses - mozzarella, parmesan, American
- Carrots
- Whole kernel corn
- Sweet peas
- Lemon
- Dried fruits
- Nuts
Share with me:
What is your list of pantry staples?
