Here are some items that I deem worthy of keeping on hand. I do realize that much of it will seem processed. Again, we do not eat like this all the time and the month of April will be highly exaggerated with my dining out ban and the launch of the blog.
When it comes to meat, dairy and produce I say buy the best you can afford. If you can afford organic, locally sourced, grass fed beef, go for it, but if your budget only allows for buying the 10lb chub at Winco, there's no shame in that. I've been in both places, the important thing is getting a balanced dinner on the table for your family.
Most of us are not so busy every single day that we need to cook like this on the regular, but I find it helpful to keep at least a couple meal options that can go from freezer to table quickly. Many of the options I will be listing could even be made from scratch and frozen for later if you so desire. This would cut back on preservatives and probably a few calories too.
I should also state that I detest thawing meat in the microwave, I find it very unappetizing and pretty much refuse to do it with a few exceptions that you will find listed below with some tips.
Without further ado, here is a list of items I like to keep supplied:
Ground Burger - Whatever kind you desire, beef, turkey, wild game or even a vegetarian alternative if that's your preference. Burger is one of the very few items I will defrost in the microwave. I never used to but many years ago we got a microwave that had an option to defrost by weight. When I put in a pound of frozen burger and programmed the microwave accordingly it would set the defrost time to eight minutes. It would stop at the four minute, halfway point and prompt me to pull the defrosted meat away from the still frozen core. After removing the thawed meat from the microwave I could then continue the next four minutes and defrost the remaining burger. It was perfect every time and this opened an amazing window for me. That microwave is long gone now but I still use this technique when I have forgotten to defrost.
Bacon - Bacon is another item that I will defrost in the microwave if need be. Using the same method as above but this time pulling off thawed slices at two minute intervals. The thing about bacon though is that if you're buying your typical national brand options the best by date is often at least a month from your purchase date which makes it the perfect candidate to just remain in the fridge, thawed for a busy day. Be mindful of the date, if you do not need to use it just toss it in the freezer before that date and it'll still be usable at a later time. I must say, as much food that gets wasted, bacon has never been one of them, at least not in this house.
Canned Meats - Tuna, chicken, Spam if you desire, I even saw canned pulled pork the other day.
Eggs - Eggs are an amazing, readily available protein that is usually always in our fridge. Don't underestimate their importance at dinner time as well.
Beans - Canned or dry. I prefer dried but let's face it, this blog was created out of my inability to plan ahead and dried beans take time to prepare correctly. I like to keep an assortment of canned beans on the shelf as well.
Lunch Meat - Usually a staple in most homes where kids go to school and parents pack a lunch for work. Don't forget this already thawed, lurking in your fridge protein when supper time comes around as well. Grilled turkey/ham and cheese with some tomato soup on a busy night is fast and really hits the spot.
Frozen Chicken Patties - These can be used for the obvious chicken sandwich but I've also used them to make a mock chicken parm, I've chunked them up to make a creation I call Chicken Parmaghetti, I've even sliced them up and simply placed them on a salad.
Meatballs - Meatballs are a prime example of a homemade make ahead if you have a recipe you enjoy. If not, they are available in the freezer section of your grocery store.
Cheese - Again, usually already in most homes. I like to make sure I have my basis covered. I usually have block, sliced and shredded all on hand. While I prefer the block, on a busy night it doesn't get much better than shredded cheese at the ready.
Peanut Butter - Yep, even for dinner. You might be surprised at the uses. From Asian dishes to stuffed French toast when breakfast is for dinner you can make this an easy dinner time protein. Also, I'm not a short order cook and I have a picky eater at home. I don't cook to cater to her and I refuse to make a second meal. If she doesn't like what I'm making she is always welcome to make her own PB&J sandwich.
Precooked Diced Chicken - This is another that you can buy already done but I recommend doing yourself should you find yourself with some extra time available. Buy 10-20 lbs of boneless chicken, breast, thigh or both. Trim it up and toss it in the oven or on the grill and then you can choose whether to leave whole, slice or dice to throw back in the freezer for later. I always freeze cooked chicken on a baking sheet first until frozen and then move it to a freezer bag. This allows me to grab a few handfuls of diced chicken for soup or chili instead of having a brick I have to chisel the pieces off of.
Chicken Breast or Tenderloins - If you're buying these bagged, get the ones that have been individually flash frozen. If you're buying fresh to portion out and put in the freezer yourself try freezing them on a baking sheet individually before placing them in a freezer bag. They will cook faster and you'll easily be able to grab just what you need.
Brown and Serve Sausage Links - Not the best choice when it comes to sausage but not to shabby in a scramble or omelet.
Kielbasa - This is another that can usually be in the fridge for several weeks usually, check your dates. I know this is another that contains a lot of preservatives but they are making some advancements towards offering uncured, nitrate free versions, just be aware they may have a shorter shelf life.
Nuts and Seeds - Not a huge alternative in our home but a good high fiber source of protein so I thought I would add it. I do enjoy seeds in my salads and nuts as a snack and occasionally in Asian cuisine.
Fish Sticks and Chicken Nuggets - In all honesty I can't remember the last time I bought fish sticks because I'm not a fan but they certainly are an option if you do like them. Chicken nuggets I have actually used in casseroles and find them slightly more versatile.
Breaded Fish Patties or Fillets - Mentioning fish sticks made me remember that there are also frozen fish patties and fillets that can also go from freezer to oven.
Burritos - Again, make your own ahead of time should you so choose, freeze individually and bag up for later. You can either do this with the intention of prepping or you could simply choose to double your ingredients the next time you're making burritos for your family and freeze the leftovers.
Corn Dogs - Rarely do these make it into our home but they are worth mentioning.
Hot Dogs - Again, it's rare but I do enjoy the occasional chili dog and as the days warm up we enjoy roasting them over the fire.
Pre Made Hamburger Patties - These can literally go from freezer to oven or grill.
Stew Meat - Since it's in chunks it usually cooks pretty quickly and can also be thawed in the microwave using the pull apart method mentioned in the burger segment checking every couple minutes.
Frozen Entrees - Never underestimate having a premade, throw in the oven, meal in the freezer. Whether you double your favorite casserole the next time you make it and throw one in the freezer for later or buy a Costco lasagna give yourself a little grace and allow to have a meal that you don't have to think about. These are great for when the hubby (or whoever is the non cook in the family) or kids need to fend for themselves or at least get things started.
Pizza Toppings - If you like pepperoni, salami or Canadian bacon these are also easy keepers in the fridge.
Pizza - In the same category as the frozen entrees, many families like to have a pizza night. Keeping a couple in the freezer makes for an easy dinner when you may have otherwise been tempted to dine out.
That's the start of my list, I'm sure there are items I'm forgetting. I will get pantry staples and simple sides also posted this weekend before I really dive in to my challenge on Monday, April 1st.
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