@shaynobayno
START BUILDING YOUR PANTRY WITH THESE THREE STAPLE ITEMS
@shaynobayno
Do you ever go home with the full intention to cook, but lose motivation, and just end up grabbing your phone to order food from the closest pizzeria or Chinese store? Having the right items in your pantry can really help you become more agile when cooking. Let’s be honest, NO ONE wants to spend an hour cooking after a long day at work.
Building up a pantry can take months, and it can be pricy. Im speaking from experience. Today, I want to start with the must have pantry staples that I like to keep on hand to help me whip up nutritious meals on the fly. They are basic, versatile, and can be used in various ways.
1.QUINOA
@shaynobayno
Quinoa is a lifesaver not only is one of the most rich aliment we can eat, it is also one of the simplest foods to cook, you can barely mess it up! So, if you aren’t great at cooking this is an ideal way to start :^)
Quinoa is usually cooked and eaten like a grain and has a similar nutritional profile, but it is in fact a SEED packed with protein. 1 cup of cooked Quinoa = 8 grams of protein. It is also high in fiber, phosphorus and magnesium which can help you maintain strong bones and improve the health of your brain and heart.
You can find this beautiful food in almost every supermarket. It usually comes in three colors; white, black, red, and sometimes you can find a mixture of colors. You can expect to pay from 5.99 to 9.99 per pound if its organic.
Quinoa takes approximately 10 minutes to cook opposed to 50 minutes that can take to cook brown rice. You can pair it with grilled chicken, steak, fish, vegetables, tuna, fresh salsa, add it to your salads to make them more hardy, or even give it a sweet turn around and have it for breakfast or a snack.
When I tell you that Quinoa is something you should ALWAYS have in your pantry, I mean it.
Daniela Garcia
2. AVOCADO OIL
@shaynobayno
Avocado oil has a nutty, mild flavor that goes well with many ingredients. This oil can be a great substitution for butter or margarine. I love it in salads, fresh salsas, fish marinades but I mostly use it in cooking.
If you already have olive oil in your pantry don’t hesitate to add avocado oil too. Both avocado and olive oil have a place in our diets. However, If you need versatility and have a limited budget, I would choose avocado oil over olive oil because it can be used for baking, cooking, and salad dressings. Think of it as only needing that one bottle for everything. It also has a very high smoke point which makes it great to use for frying (ex. sweet plantains) Moreover, it can work wonders when you apply it on your skin!
Finding this oil at your local supermarket could be a little harder. I suggest you buy it online, you can find better prices and more variety in sizes.
@shaynobayno
3. TUMERIC
@shaynobayno
One thing is for sure; tumeric can add a lot of flavor and color to almost any dish.
This is one of my favorite spices. I like to use it to give a natural yellow color to my rice and soups. Tumeric has tremendous medicinal benefits too, it can help you purify your blood as well as fighting joint pain and bad cholesterol.
Tumeric can indeed work wonders in your body, but overdosing with it or taking it for prolonged periods can deplete the blood system (limited to 2 spoons a day)
Be careful when cooking/using this golden spice, it is prone to leave stains on clothes, nails and white plates!
When purchasing this spice I 100% suggest you buy it in bulk. You can get as much as you want, and it is WAY cheaper than buying it in a jar.
This is a great addition to your pantry now that the winter is coming.