What to List on a Shopping List?

Before I go shopping for the week, I look at the main things I already have (types of meat ect..), and than I sit down with a cook book and plan the whole weeks worth of meals. While I am planning, I make my list according to what I need for each meal and do not have. That way I know I am good for at least the next 5 or 6 days before I have to go back to the store.

Hi M.,

It sounds to me like you are "officially cooking" now! ;-)

For starters, think about what you made within the last week. Are those foods some that you would want to have again? If so, buy ingredients for them, and keep them in your pantry.

Libraries also have many cookbooks to borrow.

Here are some things we always have, we just add them to the list when they get low: lettuce, celery, carrots, onions, radishes (yep, salad is often on our table!); potatoes, canned mushrooms

Canned Chinese veggies --baby corn, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, sometimes bean sprouts (for stir fry; add carrots, celery, onions, garlic, meat of choice)

Ketchup, mustard, salad dressings (I also make a homemade Italian style one), bouillon cubes or powder

Canned soup, especially clam chowder and some kind of cream soup e.g. cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, cream of celery

Rice and various pastas (spaghetti and elbows most often)

Sliced or chunks of Cheese of some kind; parmesan always

Flour, sugar (white and brown), baking powder, baking soda, salt,pepper, tenderizer, cinnamon, chocolate chips (good cookie recipe on package,usually), vanilla

Tomato sauce and paste

Tuna

Eggs, milk

Frozen corn

Frozen chicken breasts; ground beef

Some recipes:

Chicken breasts over rice:

Thaw chicken. Brown in a little oil or margarine, may add garlic or other seasonings.
In a 9x13 pan, put in rice, and as much water as it says for that amount of rice (on package) Sorry, I don't know how many you are cooking for, this can be adjusted! use smaller pan if needed.
Lay chicken on rice, pour a cream soup over top.
Cover with foil or lid, bake 1 hr at 350. May remove cover for last 15 min to brown a little or if too soupy. May sprinkle cheese over at this time if desired. May substitute pork chops or pork steaks for chicken.

Broccoli-Rice casserole (my Mom's recipe)

Cook a package of frozen broccoli or a couple cups fresh. Add a can of cream soup, and some diced cheese, maybe a cup or so? not sure. It's flexible!! May add diced cooked chicken or meat, and/or chopped onion. Cover and cook at 350 for until heated through and cheese is melted.

Casseroles in general:
Take a starch (rice, cooked noodles, sliced potatoes), a cream soup, a veggie, and a protein (meat, chicken, cheese, tuna). Mix all and cook until heated through. If you ae addign raw meat/chicken, you have to cook longer.

GLOP (my husbands's name for it, also his recipe)

Brown a pound of ground beef in skillet, seasoning with a little allspice and cloves. Drain fat. Meanwhile cook about a half pound of elbow macaroni. Drain macaroni; he adds a blob of margarine, I prefer not to. Mix with beef in bowl, tear up a couple of slices of cheese and mix in. He and I like to add sauteed onions and mushrooms but our kids don't like that so we sometimes just fry those separately and add them to our plates.

Soup--Dice up any vegies you feel like, potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, frozen corn. I like to saute the onions first. Add all to pot of water, add bouillon if desired. Simmer until veggies are soft as you like them. May add cooked meat, chicken, rice, noodles near end of cook time, to heat through. If you are adding raw meat or uncooked rice/pasta, cook longer.

Email me if you want more! Have fun cooking!

K. Z.

I officially love to cook and out of this hobby I have created a website that provides moms with great new menu ideas and simple to make recipes that taste great! I usually get inspired by what is fresh and available in my grocery store circulars (and even if you are not in Dallas almost all store have pretty much the same "in season" sales) and go from there.

Check out my Market Menu for some great menu ideas including recipes for simple to make delicious meals that your family is sure to love!

http://www.ittakesavillagedallas.com/It_takes_a_village/M...

It Takes a Village...
www.ittakesavillagedallas.com

VillageMom

I sit down once a week and make a list of dinners for the upcoming week. Monday, tortilla soup, Tuesday, spaghetti and meatballs, etc. Then I check my cupboards and write down anything I will need to buy to make everything on my list. I get out recipes if I need to double check ingredients, and I make sure I have breakfast and lunch items as well, so that by the time I leave for the store, I know exactly what I need to buy to feed us for 7 days. I try to shop only from my list to cut down on impulse purchasing, though I do usually just by whatever produce is in season and looks good to go with whatever I'm planning to make. I don't always stick to the list for fresh fruits and veggies, since I often won't know what looks good til I get to the store.
As far as recipes, I really like America's Test Kitchen, they have a website you can check out, or www.foodtv.com is good too.
Hope some of this helps, good luck!

If you want some healthy, quick and easy meals with a PLAN and a SHOPPING LIST-check out this cookbook-
Lickety-Split Meals for Health Conscious People on the Go! by Zonya Foco.
I checked it out of the library twice before I finally just bought it. I was surprised that my children liked almost everything I made from it. She also has a website www.zonya.com. Don't be fooled by the diet-free mentality. Even if you don't need to lose weight, it's for you. It's just to get healthy. But it is YUMMY too. She has a seven day a week plan and a DETAILED shopping list for EVERYTHING in the cookbook. Good luck! I hope you enjoy it too!

Check out this website http://www.thecookingguy.com/cookbook/recipes.php
I have been watching him for years, he has 2 cookbooks out and the 1st actually tells you everything you should always have on hand. His recipes are super easy and taste wonderful, I get many compliments on the stuff of his that I make. On his website he gives you some of the must haves as well. Hope this helps :)

Without knowing the flavors and ingredients you enjoy, there are a few tips I can share.

A. Stock up on some basics, such as beans, rice, pasta, eggs and always have some preferred fresh veggies in the fridge for a quick salad or side dish.

B. Stray away from the internal aisles and shop primarily on the outside of the aisles (produce, dairy, meats/poultry/seafood, breads, deli).

Also get a good recipe book, such as Sharing Mountain Recipes, which has over 450 diverse but relatively easy recipes.

C. Together discuss potential meals for the week ahead, and then go grocery shopping, preferably together, but if not possible write down a list of foods needed for the week ahead.

As a Culinary writer I have lots and lots of recipes. But because I am not sure what kind you are looking for,please specify: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Desserts??????

R./The Muffin Lady

You can get a lot of recipes on the food network online or other websites. But before you go shopping I would recommend getting your recipes books out and make a dinner menu and at the same time make a list of what you will need for that dinner. You can always buy multiples same item so you will have it on hand. If you make your shopping list you will have bought everything you need for the meals, so you won't have to go to the store as often. Good luck.

Google "what should I have in my pantry?" and go from there.