Stocking the Pantry
Back in the 1950s in Peshawar, Pakistan, my grandparents lived in a small home with mud walls, no fridge, and no stove. With limited means, my grandmother made miracles cooking on an open fire. Her culinary abilities were unrivaled in her lifetime. She could make comfort and joy with the most modest of ingredients.
Once every month my grandfather would stock the pantry with basic essentials, particularly dry goods such as flour, rice, and lentils. With these essentials on hand, the weekly/daily grocery bill was cut by a fraction in both the short and long-run. Meat and fresh produce were bought on a daily or weekly basis, while the staples were bought in bulk every month.
Even in this day and age, I've learned from my family that having an arsenal of staple ingredients in your pantry is a profoundly important part of eating well and saving money. Once we have some core ingredients on hand, the amount we'll need to make meals for the rest of the month will be drastically less.
So, here's what you'll need to have on hand in your pantry (with average prices of what I paid for them... look for sales!):
1. 10 lb sack of basmati rice: $7
2. 10 lb sack of potatoes: $3
3. 3L canola oil: $4
4. 3 lb sack of cooking onions: $3
5. table salt: $1
6. black pepper: $2
7. packet of coriander powder: $2
8. 5-pack of fresh garlic: $1
9. 2 lb of red lentils: $3
10. 3 cans of crushed tomatoes: $1/each=$3
TOTAL: $29
The rice and potatoes will last at least a month, and longer if you have a small family. The cooking oil will be enough for about 2-3 months. The salt, pepper, and coriander will last at least 3 months. So your $29 will be feeding you for a good long while, and by investing up front, you'll be able to save on the cost of food over the course of the month. That $7 sack of basmati rice up front means that you can feed 4 people on about 75 cents worth of rice. And you'll have the flexibility to be creative in the kitchen, so that you do not have to eat the same horrible thing again and again. This is well worth it!
The sack of onions will last about 2-3 weeks and the garlic about a month, after which they will need to be replenished. And it's always good to have a pack of lentils around in case you run out of other rations. Lentils make me feel safe.
You should add some extra spices to your pantry wish list, in case you can't afford these things right away. You can manage without for a while, but spices are important for your arsenal if you want to enjoy some diversity. Take your time and be patient in looking for the sales.
Spices wish list
1. packet of dried basil: $1
2. packet of dried oregano: $1
3. packet of paprika: $1.50
4. packet of powdered red chili pepper: $1.50
5. packet of bay leaves: $2
6. packet of tumeric powder: $2
TOTAL: $9
Be kind to yourself. You deserve to eat good, healthy food. I remember saving up for my pantry in my first month, but once I got started, the money I saved made the following month much easier. So even if you have to boil lentils and rice for a week to afford the basics, it will be much easier and more joyful in the weeks to come. Be kind to yourself.
This week, I'll post my Mom's chicken and rice recipe with the prices of all ingredients, including fractions of what was used from the pantry above. Looking forward to cooking!
Once every month my grandfather would stock the pantry with basic essentials, particularly dry goods such as flour, rice, and lentils. With these essentials on hand, the weekly/daily grocery bill was cut by a fraction in both the short and long-run. Meat and fresh produce were bought on a daily or weekly basis, while the staples were bought in bulk every month.
Even in this day and age, I've learned from my family that having an arsenal of staple ingredients in your pantry is a profoundly important part of eating well and saving money. Once we have some core ingredients on hand, the amount we'll need to make meals for the rest of the month will be drastically less.
So, here's what you'll need to have on hand in your pantry (with average prices of what I paid for them... look for sales!):
1. 10 lb sack of basmati rice: $7
2. 10 lb sack of potatoes: $3
3. 3L canola oil: $4
4. 3 lb sack of cooking onions: $3
5. table salt: $1
6. black pepper: $2
7. packet of coriander powder: $2
8. 5-pack of fresh garlic: $1
9. 2 lb of red lentils: $3
10. 3 cans of crushed tomatoes: $1/each=$3
TOTAL: $29
The rice and potatoes will last at least a month, and longer if you have a small family. The cooking oil will be enough for about 2-3 months. The salt, pepper, and coriander will last at least 3 months. So your $29 will be feeding you for a good long while, and by investing up front, you'll be able to save on the cost of food over the course of the month. That $7 sack of basmati rice up front means that you can feed 4 people on about 75 cents worth of rice. And you'll have the flexibility to be creative in the kitchen, so that you do not have to eat the same horrible thing again and again. This is well worth it!
The sack of onions will last about 2-3 weeks and the garlic about a month, after which they will need to be replenished. And it's always good to have a pack of lentils around in case you run out of other rations. Lentils make me feel safe.
You should add some extra spices to your pantry wish list, in case you can't afford these things right away. You can manage without for a while, but spices are important for your arsenal if you want to enjoy some diversity. Take your time and be patient in looking for the sales.
Spices wish list
1. packet of dried basil: $1
2. packet of dried oregano: $1
3. packet of paprika: $1.50
4. packet of powdered red chili pepper: $1.50
5. packet of bay leaves: $2
6. packet of tumeric powder: $2
TOTAL: $9
Be kind to yourself. You deserve to eat good, healthy food. I remember saving up for my pantry in my first month, but once I got started, the money I saved made the following month much easier. So even if you have to boil lentils and rice for a week to afford the basics, it will be much easier and more joyful in the weeks to come. Be kind to yourself.
This week, I'll post my Mom's chicken and rice recipe with the prices of all ingredients, including fractions of what was used from the pantry above. Looking forward to cooking!
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