Kitchen Staples

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Stemming from Sams Blog about Baking Essentials (see what she wrote here: Baking Essentials) and recent questions about Meal Planning ( Another one of Sams blogs here: Meal Planning) How can we ensure that there is always something in the Pantry/Fridge/Freezer and Fruit Bowl the day before pay day ( I know that the hardest day for me!)

Shane walked into our pantry the other day and complained "Theres nothing to eat" Well to him there may not have been, cause there were no chips, lollies, or any of the other crap that jumps out at you when your feeling peckish. To me however i coudl see lots of things for him to eat.

With the cost of living rising and our pay packets staying the same, how can we get the most out of grocery shopping? Well there are lots of ways and no you dont have to compromise on the quality of your food!

Lets see how we can do it:

1. Research and Price Compare
2. Take some initiative
3. Have a well stocked pantry

To show you what Im talking about, Im going to get the ingredients to "make" Potato Gnocchi.

Researching and Price Comparing:

It been all over the media lately about price wars between 2 of the major supermarkets. So research and price compare. For instance:

Major Supermarket 1:

(Based on a completly empty pantry)

1 kg Plain Flour - $0.95

1 kg Beef Mince- $6.00

3 kg Potato - $5.98

1 kg Brown Onion - $1.48

2 x 400g Tinned Tomatoes $1.38

1 x 10gr Mixed Herb $1.87

Total Price:  $17.66

Major Supermarket 2:

1 kg Plain Flour- $1.02

1 kg Beef Mince- $6.82

2 kg Potato - $4.98

1 kg Brown Onion- $3.88

1 x 800g Tinned Tomato - $1.56

1 x 12g Jar of Mixed Herbs- $1.82

Total Price - $20.08

So as you can see there isnt much of a difference but there IS a difference. You would have to weigh up the quanity of what you are are getting also. In option 1 your getting more potato but in option 2 your getting more herbs.

Take Some initiative:

So in Supermarket 1 it cost $17.66 to make my Gnocci from scratch and $20.08 from Supermarket 2. Let see how much it would have cost if i bought all prepackaged items (and not have left over potato, onions, flour and herbs).

Supermarket 1:

1kg Beef Mince - $6.00

2 x 625g Premade Gnocchi - $9.64

1 x 690g jar Pasta Sauce - $2.45

Total Price: $18.09 ( as opposed to $17.66)

Supermarket 2:

1 kg Beef Mince - $6.82

2 x 500g Premade Gnocchi - $6.42

1 x 700g Jar Pasta Sauce - $2.14

Total Price: $15.38 (as opposed to $20.08)

So which one is more economical? In my opinion I would take take the initiave and make my own. In saying that, It would be for a few reasons. A) I know what is going in it. and B) I would have 'left over' stock Ie: Potatos, Flour etc etc.

Now we move on to having a well stocked Pantry.

Having a Well stocked Pantry:

Having a well stocked pantry/kitchen means never being without an ingredient and therefore never being without a meal.

Going pack to my 'making' my Potato Gnocchi. If I had a well stocked pantry all I would really have to buy is my Mince. But then, if you had a well stocked freezer you wouldnt have to buy anything at all!

The other day I posted what sort of recipes would you like to see more of? Well I came up with Gnocchi. I do my gnocchi, with a bit of pan fried mince and onion and tomato based sauce.

Heres the recipe:

Ingredients - Serves 4

• 4 (750g) desiree potatoes, unpeeled
• 1 1/3 cups (200g) plain flour, plus a little extra
• 500g Beef Mince
• 1 x Onion Diced
• 2x 400gr Tinned Crushed Tomato
• Mixed Herbs to Taste

Method:

1. Place potatoes in a saucepan. Cover with cold water and bring to the boil over high heat. Cook for 20-25 minutes or until just tender when tested with a skewer (don't test too much as potatoes will become waterlogged). Drain well. Set aside until just cool enough to handle. While still hot, peel by hand and discard skins. Puree potatoes into a bowl (I use a fork!). Season to taste with salt. Cool slightly.
2. Add a little oil to a frypan and add mince and onion over a medium heat. Cook till mince is browned and onion has softened.
3. Add Tinned tomatoes and mixed herbs. Stir well and ensure all ingredients are combined. Turn to a high heat and wait till liquid has reduced.
4. In you potato bowl, add flour to potatoes then use your hands to knead briefly until a soft dough forms. If mixture is still sticky, add a little more flour (the amount of flour added is crucial - too much flour will make the cooked gnocchi heavy and tough, while too little flour will cause gnocchi to disintegrate during cooking). Turn dough on to a lightly floured surface.
5. Cut dough into 4 equal-sized pieces. Using your hands, gently roll each piece out to form a log about 2cm wide. Using a lightly floured knife, cut each log into 1.5cm-long pieces.
6. Roll each ball of gnocchi over the tines of a lightly-floured fork, pressing gently with your index finger or thumb underneath as you go, to form a dent in the back of each one and fork marks on the other side (this creates a textured surface, helping sauces to cling to cooked gnocchi).
7. Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil. Add 1/4 of the gnocchi. As they cook, gnocchi will rise to the surface of the water. Continue cooking gnocchi at the surface for about 10 seconds then remove with a large slotted spoon and drain well. Repeat with remaining gnocchi.
8. When Mince has reduced add Gnocchi and fold through. Serve with a salad and Garlic/Herb Bread.

Notes: You can add finely diced vegetables to the mince to "hide" them from the kids. Or alternativley, Put the combined mix into a baking dish and top with cheese and then grill!

Its all good and well to say we have to have a well stocked pantry. But what do you stock your pantry with?

My Women Weekly Cooking from the Pantry recipe book has a LONGGGGGG list. Including things like Capers, Artichokes, Sumac etc. Things I would NEVER use (To be honest, I dont think i have ever eaten any of those things!). So You would need a compile a list of things you do eat and work out what ingredients go into you Meal Plans.

Heres a SHORTER list than the one in the book:

Pantry:

• Beans/Legumes - Chick Peas, Kidney etc etc
• Tinned Tomatoes
• Coconut Milk
• Salmon/Tuna
• Corn Kernels
• Creamed Corn
• A range of Herbs/Spice - All Spice, Garlic, Curry Powder, Chilli Powder
• Rice - White, Basmatic, Aborio
• Pasta- Spiral, Spaghetti, Penne, Risoni
• Honey
• Oil
• Tomato Paste
• Vinegar
• White Wine
• Breadcrumbs
• Salt
• Sugar- Brown, White, Castor

Fruit and Vegies

• Potatoes
• Pumpkin
• Carrots
• Sweet Potatoes
• Onions - Brown, Red
• Apples
• Lemon & Limes
• Tomatoes

Fridge/Freezer

• Milk
• Cheese - Block, Slices
• Butter/Margarine
• Cream- Sour, Thickened
• Eggs
• Mayonaise
• Diced Bacon
• Mince
• Sausages
• Puff Pastry

From this "short" list i can see so many recipes! Tuna Cakes, Curried Sausages, Gnocchi, Quiche just to name a few.

Im sorry for such a long blog! Ive had these thoughts running through my mind for days, but with Hospital appointments, the Flu, Kids under foot and LOTS of other Mamabake In Macarthur things to do I havent had a chance to post!

So right now, Im off to make myself a Hot Milo and work out what to make the boys for lunch - FROM THE PANTRY! Its way to cold and windy to step outside and go to the shops!

Sending lots of love and Light