This is such a strange and challenging time in our history…the fight of a virus and lockdown. Since grocery stores are still open I thought it would be a good idea to put together a shopping list of things that can get you through a large span of time. Keep shopping trips only once in a great while, we all need to stick together and stop the spread. This list is going to give you several meals and you should consider keeping these things in your pantry all of the time anyhow:

Black beans

Dry rice

Pasta noodles (any kind really)

Tomato sauce

Chicken soup base

Beef soup base

Frozen chicken

Frozen hamburger

Any kind of frozen meat

Butter

Oil (I normally keep olive oil and vegetable oil)

Sugar

Potatoes

Soy sauce

Garlic

Onion

Cream of chicken

Flour

Butter

Vinegar

Lemon juice

Also to keep in mind frozen veggies (I prefer frozen over canned, the texture is better and they will still last a long time)

Seasonings: salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, taco seasoning

This is an extensive list I know, you don’t need to have it all but with these things you can make a variety of different meals. I’ll give you some ideas of what you can make but over time you will realize you can make a lot more then what you think with very little ingredients.

Take these ingredients for example chicken, frozen veggies, cream of chicken soup, flour, butter, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper. With these things, you can make a pot pie. The crust is simple to make, all it is, is flour, butter, salt, and a little water. I precook my chicken with a little pepper, onion, and garlic powder. After it’s cooked add to a baking dish and pour in a couple of cans of cream of chicken with frozen veggies. I just make a top crust usually then put in the oven and cook!

Another idea is taco pasta, I have the full recipe posted but all you need for it is, pasta, tomato sauce (there is some tomato paste but you can make it without) hamburger, taco seasoning, and water.

Chicken soup base and beef soup base are good to have because you can just add a little to water and substitute that for beef broth or chicken broth. They add tons of flavor to food and they take up way less space then having several cans of broth, not to mention they keep for a really long time.

Another example, you can make fried chicken and mashed potatoes with your frozen chicken, flour, seasonings, potatoes, and butter.

Black beans and rice: cook your rice most of the way and put your beans on the stove with a half of cup of water, fresh garlic, onion powder and a little bit of chicken soup base. I will admit I use more seasoning then this in mine but in a pinch, these will work just fine. Once your rice is starting to soften add to your beans with a cup of water. Cover and simmer until liquid is absorbed. Sprinkle some lemon juice on for extra flavor.

Simple chicken stir fry: cook your chicken with pepper and garlic powder once the chicken is cooked add a few tablespoons of soy sauce, a little sugar, fresh garlic, and vinegar. It’s a simple sauce that will still be full of flavor.

Butter potatoes: heat your oven to 425, slice potatoes and stir in with black pepper, onion powder, salt, garlic powder and oil. cook until crispy. Remove from oven put in about a quarter stick of butter, 2-3 cloves of crushed garlic and a couple of tablespoons of soy sauce. Put back in the oven and cook for a few minutes being careful not to burn the garlic.

If you are low on bread the easiest thing to make is flatbread, this recipe is just four ingredients: flour, salt. ¾ cups milk, 2 ½ tbsp. butter and a few pinches of salt. I use a measuring glass and put my mild and butter, for 30 seconds at a time heat until butter is melted. Mix in with a cup of flour, couple pinches of salt and roll out your dough into whatever size pieces you want. Heat up a skillet and cook until you get little brown bubbles, cook both sides and that’s it!

I will be adding full recipes and explanations of these but if you want to know before I do that just ask, or if you need more ideas ask and I will help you out!! Just give me a few ingredients you have and I will see what I can come up with.

Stay healthy!!