Part XVI: The Frugal Pantry

I haven't changed topics in a couple of years, mainly because I'm still focusing on lower-carb, Mediterranean-style dishes.  There are so many out there, from over a dozen cultures, and I've barely scratched the surface.

Still, I've noticed an evolution in my tactics related to the economic times we live in.  I've also been rereading the Little House books.  I read them every ten to fifteen years, and get something different out of them every time.  This time, I appreciate the homesteading aspect and how scary it must have been when you couldn't rely on a fully stocked grocery store.  We all faced that for a few months in 2020, and North America is on the verge of that again.

As a single-person household, what I purchase lasts far longer than it would for a large family.  The principles I use to stock what I need are the same as someone who manages a household of 10.  Just far less of it.  I also may keep very different items than some others, based on what I like and dietary needs.

In this section, I'll go into the elements of food storage and creative ways to use pantry staples.  There will be ways to use less expensive ingredients in fancy-looking dishes and how to use the sales to stock items you know you will go through.  I'm constantly learning new tricks and figuring out how much I actually use.

Again, this is what works for me.  I don't feel like I can go back to the four day supply of groceries I kept pre-pandemic.  Planning meals a month ahead seems to be how I personally feel I can best take advantage of sales and product availability.  It won't be the same for everybody.  My pantry is large enough for a family of 4-6, so carrying that much inventory of non-perishables is easy.  The fridge is rarely more than half full, and I've been working on the freezer ahead of the annual defrost.  I had too much meat in there anyway, for someone who eats vegetarian half the time.  But that's another post.

Irish Stew

I really wanted to make a whole meal in the large Crockpot.  I wasn't in the mood for corned beef and cabbage for St Patrick's Day and found this to make instead.

What I found around the interwebs was that Irish stew is commonly made with either beef or lamb.  What makes it "Irish" is the beer.  I've never had Guinness, so I just bought a single bottle and felt guilty about it.  The checkers at the grocery store don't care.  They don't even check ID on me anymore.  (Thanks, grey hair and eye bags.)  I did not buy Worcestershire, since the last thing I want right now is another condiment in the fridge I can't use during Passover.  I subbed soy sauce.

The lamb came from Western Kosher, a surprising development.  I was in there for hamantaschen filling, but they didn't have the prune.  Does no one like it anymore?  Hoping the stop wasn't a waste, I went looking for lamb stew meat or shanks, and found neck bones for $2.99 a pound.  Had to get three pounds to have enough meat off them, but that still came out less than the two shanks I had expected to buy at Pavilions, and they would make their own protein-rich broth.

I'm starting a new broth bag.  I still have plenty of chicken stock left, but the veggie is out.  Beef may end up being cheaper to buy unless I find a killer deal on bones again.  All the mirepoix veggies I've been using the past couple of weeks are adding up fast, so I might as well.

I'm using the slow-cooker recipe from Seeking Good Eats.  The biggest change I made was using half as much thyme and salt.  Oh, and I added half a bag of green beans at the end because it's all root vegetables.  You can do the same thing in a pot on the stove set to simmer or in the oven at 225ºF for about four hours.  I needed something to cook all day and be ready when I got home.

1 lb lamb stew meat, 2 lamb shanks, or 3 lbs lamb neck slices
1 large onion, thinly sliced
3 medium carrots, peeled and cut in chunks
1 lb red potatoes, peeled if desired, cut in chunks
*1 Tb Worcestershire or soy sauce 
*1 Tb tomato paste
*2 tsp dried thyme
*1 tsp dried rosemary
2 tsp kosher salt (one if using salted broth)
1/2 tsp pepper
1 Tb parsley flakes or 1/4 C fresh chopped parsley
1 Tb flour, optional
1-1/2 C water or broth
1 C Guiness

1.  Spray or line a large slow cooker.  The fatty meat is going to be hard to clean off.  Arrange meat in the bottom of the crock.  Sprinkle with thyme, rosemary, parsley, salt, and pepper.  If using flour to thicken the sauce, sprinkle on top so it mixes with the fat off the meat.

2.  Add onion slices, carrot chunks, Worcestershire, and tomato paste.  At this point, you are at the make-ahead stage and can refrigerate everything overnight.

3.  When ready to cook, chop up potatoes and add to the crock, along with the water and beer.  All the alcohol will cook off.  I did this part at 3am in less than 5 minutes.  It's very easy.

4.  Cover and cook on the low setting for about 8 hours, stirring halfway through if able, to make sure the potatoes are cooking.  The onions are going to disappear into the meat and lower the level of the stew, but the potatoes may still not be in the sauce.  I did this when I got home from work, dumped in the green beans, and let it finish while I took a shower.

5.  Serve in a bowl with plenty of juices and bread or noodles on the side.

Difficulty rating  π

Passover Cleaning Update

Here we are, post-Purim, and the cleaning has begun in earnest.  I don't generally go into this here because this is a cooking blog.  This year, I want to share why a lot of my recipes are on the simple side this month.

My first project was actually cleaning behind and under the California king bed.  I've never done it, and the layer of dust has bothered me for years.  One day, I finally realized how to make it light enough to move.  I had to take off the mattress, which probably weighs more than I do, and put the headboard feet on pieces of wood which could slide on the carpet.  Yes, that was the easiest way.  After wiping down the walls, cleaning the baseboards, peeling the dust off the back of the headboard, and emptying the Dyson four times, I was happy with the results and put everything back.  This is not going to become a yearly thing.  If I'm still strong enough to do it in five years, maybe.  I definitely now appreciate how easy it is to roll the other bed on the hardwood floors.

The next week, I worked six days and also threw out my back somehow, so I barely did the basic cleaning.  That was frustrating.  I mean, it's a big list.  I just couldn't scrub three bathroom floors with a lower back spasm.

The week after that was Purim, and time to really start focusing.  All I did Tuesday was sweep out the garage and start my tomato seeds.  One cherry tomato has sprouted so far.  I was so behind on routine things that even that and making dinner felt like an accomplishment.

Wednesday of last week, I buckled down and made the calendar.  Yeah, I'm not getting to everything I wanted to.  More went on it after I took the photo.  The cabinet painting and organizing the office will probably happen during Passover week.  I simply don't have enough buffer days.  The ones I left blank are because I have closing shifts and know I won't feel like doing any cleaning.  At best, I can catch up for 15 minutes after dinner.  I also have to squeeze in a couple of hours one day to do my taxes, since I'm a huge procrastinator.  This also presumes that I stay in good health and don't have muscle spasms, tired days, or catch a cold.

Some of the things on the calendar I really do only once a year, like checking every corner for cobwebs.  If I notice any at other times, I clean them up, but the full check is once a year.  I rarely hose down and clean the outside of every window except during Passover cleaning, because it's a lot of work for something you don't notice.  I put routine bathroom cleaning on one day just so I don't forget to do it shortly before the big night, but I obviously clean them more than once a year.  Dusting is on there twice, because dust.

I love how clean the house is on Seder night.  For a few hours, everything is perfect.  It also gives me motivation to do deep cleaning projects weekly for several months afterward.  I just hate getting it done.

Grape Leaf Pilaf (Dolmadakia)

I could have made dolmades for my Purim feast side, but they're quite a bit of work.  This deconstructed version is popular among cooks who feel the same way.  This rice salad has the same ingredients as the appetizer rolls.  You chiffonade the grape leaves and toss everything together, creating the exact same taste with a fraction of the work.

It still didn't use up all the grape leaves in the jar.  I'm running out of ideas.  Should have bought the more expensive small jar.  Remind me never to buy them again unless I'm making rolls for a party.  I bet I could make Asian spring rolls with them.  They're just camped out on the pickle shelf of the fridge with the kimchi.

I'm using the recipe from Dimitra's Dishes, which seemed the most basic and what I was looking for.  I did substitute dried parsley and mint, which means dividing the amount by three.  This is when I prefer tablespoons to grams, because you just change word to teaspoons and you're done.

*1 C grape leaves
1 small onion, diced
1/4 C olive oil
1 C Basmati rice, soaked 30 minutes (I used Jasmine because I prefer it, close enough)
1 tsp salt, or to taste
1/4 tsp pepper
*1/4 C fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
2 T fresh parsley, minced, or 2 tsp dried flakes
2 Tb fresh mint, minced, or 2 tsp dried
*1 tsp dried dill

1.  Rinse leaves well.  I prefer to soak them in hot water first for a couple of minutes, then rinse.  Cut off any stems, then roll them up and slice thinly.  What looked like a cup when I pulled it out of the jar was a giant pile once shredded.

2.  Cook the onion in the oil over medium heat until softened.  Add the chopped leaves and a pinch of salt and cook until the leaves are softening.

3.  Drain the rice and add to the pot.  Add 1 C water, 1 tsp salt, the pepper, and the lemon juice.  Stir together and bring to a simmer.  Cover and cook on low until the rice is done, about 15 minutes.  I ended up adding a little more water, but I like mushy rice.  The grains do get an odd gel-like appearance from the oil in the dish.  It's fine.

4.  Remove from the heat, add the herbs, and fluff with a fork.  Can be served hot or chilled, garnished with lemon wedges if desired.

Difficulty rating  π

Turkish Red Lentil Soup (Mercimek Çorbasi)

YouTube doesn't know what to make of me.  Watching Spanish recipes led to other Mediterranean cuisines, and even Ramadan iftar spreads.  I can't pronounce this one, but thought I'd give it a shot for Purim.

What really intrigued me was the presentation in many photos.  I wasn't sure I could pull off the fancy drizzle until I saw it's just olive oil heated with paprika.  Easiest part of the dish.

I'm going with the Simply Lebanese version, with an assist from Days of Jay, and scaling it down to 4 servings.  The red pepper paste sounded intriguing, but I didn't want to upset my stomach and subbed an extra tablespoon of tomato paste.  You can absolutely make this as spicy as you want with Aleppo pepper or any other kind of chili flake.  I'm also not sure why a vegan-sounding recipe has chicken broth in it, so there will be other options listed.  I'm sure it tastes great and gives a wonderful mouth-feel, but it wasn't what I wanted that day.

You will notice an annoying trend of "one onion", "one carrot", and "one potato" if you go looking for variations of this soup.  I guessed, without weights or cups to go by.  Half pound for the potato sounded right, since it's there for thickening and not flavor.  Onion is a matter of personal taste, the same way people usually put in more than the recommended amount of garlic.  Also, whether you blend the soup fully or leave it a little chunky is up to you.  I went for smooth.  And one day, I'll get a new immersion blender so I don't have to duck and cover when I run the regular blender for a hot soup.

1 C red lentils, sorted and rinsed
1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium carrot, peeled and large diced
1 small-ish potato, peeled and diced 1"
*2 Tb tomato paste (or 1 Tb each tomato and red pepper paste)
1/4 C olive oil, divided
1 tsp salt, or to taste
1-1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp white pepper
1 quart chicken or vegetable broth, or water
2 tsp dried mint
2 tsp paprika, for the garnish
any optional red pepper flakes, chopped or whole chilis, etc

1.  In a soup pot, heat 2 Tb oil over medium heat and cook the onion until softened.

2.  Add diced carrot and potato and cook a few minutes, then add the garlic and tomato paste and cook until fragrant.

3.  Add lentils and broth and stir to combine.  Bring to a simmer and cook on low 20 minutes, until the lentils are done.  Remove from heat.

4.  Add in the cumin and white pepper.  Blend with an immersion blender, or in batches in a standard blender.  Stir in crumbled dried mint after blending.

5.  Return to the heat and bring back up to a simmer.  Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary.  While that's happening, combine other 2 Tb oil and the paprika in a small pan and heat until uniform.  To make it spicy, add chili flakes or hot sauce to the oil.

6.  Serve the soup hot, garnished with a drizzle of the paprika oil and sides of lemon wedges.  Squeezing fresh lemon juice into it at serving brings a little acidic zing that enhances the flavors.

Difficulty rating  :)

Chicken Curry #2 (pre-cooked chicken version)

I reread my original chicken curry recipe, and it was so much simpler than how I do curry now.  I have matured as a cook to use a greater number of spices to create a more complex flavor profile.  It really isn't much more work than the first one.

This was made even easier by opening a jar of ugly chicken.  Whole chicken pieces are prettier, but I felt like I could take more care with the sauce if I wasn't also cooking the chicken.  Canned chicken is under-rated and often relegated to chicken salad.  You could also pull apart a rotisserie bird and use the shreds in this dish, or any shredded leftovers.

Ok, long ingredient list because most of it is seasonings.  I totally cheated and got tomato paste, garlic, and ginger out of the freezer.  That's what they're there for.  Since my greens were cabbage, and that takes a long time to cook, I measured everything else out while it was wilting.  This recipe took roughly five minutes longer than the rice.  It goes faster if you use a tender green, like spinach.

1 Tb olive oil
1 C diced onion
*4 C greens of choice
*2 Tb tomato paste
2 cloves garlic, minced
*2 tsp grated ginger
1-1/2 tsp curry powder, or to taste
1/2 tsp crushed coriander seed, or ground coriander
1/2 tsp ground turmeric
1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp salt, or to taste
1 15 oz can coconut milk (lite ok)
2-3 C shredded or canned chicken
1 C chicken broth, or to taste

1.  In a large skillet or soup pot, heat the oil over medium.  Add the onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.  Add the garlic, ginger, tomato paste, and spices and cook until a fragrant paste forms, 2-3 minutes.

2.  If using a tough green like cabbage or kale, stir in now and allow to cook down until softned.

3.  Stir in coconut milk and chicken.  Bring to a simmer for 5 minutes, for flavors to meld.  If you want a thinner sauce, add broth to desired consistency.

4.  If using a more tender leafy green, like spinach or chard, add that last and continue to simmer until wilted.  Taste, adjust seasonings as necessary, and serve hot over rice.

Difficulty rating  :)

Chickpea Polenta

The continued quest to use canned beans marches on.  This Mediterranean-inspired dish actually comes up with a lot of ideas when you search it.  I was originally going to make it with chickpea flour, but most of the recipes I found use corn polenta and I ended up liking the idea of a mildly contrasting color.

I didn't actually buy polenta meal because I have quite a bit of corn meal I rarely use.  I've also been in the mood for cornmeal mush at breakfast lately, especially after picking up some Lil' Smokies for a breakfast protein.

I'm topping it with roasted vegetables tossed in pesto and a sprinkle of parmesan.  A tomato sauce would be a good option, or tahini.  I'm considering this a pasta-like starch, just with a soupy consistency.  If you're having this with a simply seasoned side like chicken, steak, or just vegetables, go ahead and add sautéed onions, garlic, and/or herbs to the polenta.

*1 15 oz can chickpeas
*3/4 C corn meal or dry polenta
*2 C vegetable stock
1 C milk, water, or more stock
salt to taste

1.  Drain and rinse chickpeas.  Place half in a medium saucepan and mash.  Reserve the whole ones to add at the end.  I don't use the Visions pot much, but everything else is non-stick and I didn't want to scratch the coating when I used the potato masher.

2.  Add dry cornmeal, stock, and a pinch of salt to the saucepan and stir to combine.  Allow to sit 5 minutes, until the meal turns to sludge and the lumps are gone.

3.  Turn on the heat to medium-low.  Bring to a low simmer, stirring frequently at first and constantly once you feel some resistance.  This could take 15 minutes or more.  Once thickened and starting to spurt when you stop stirring, add the other cup of liquid.  Continue to stir until it thickens again.  Carefully taste (it's hot!) and add salt as needed.

4.  Stir in reserved chickpeas, bring to temperature, and serve in bowls before it cools into a corn brick.

Difficulty rating  π

Pintos with Salsa

I was not expecting to get three posts out of a pantry meal, but here goes the rest of that little Mexican throw-together dinner.

I did can some more tomatillo salsa.  I was disappointed that I only got four half-pints out of all that work, but was fine with one not sealing because I was going to use it for this.  I probably only need three for the next six or eight months, and then I'll make another batch at the end of the summer.

I have been working on more ways to use the beans I canned last year.  I got so used to soaking and cooking them, I have to make an effort to grab a jar instead.  Looking for a super-fast way to make this helped.

You can use any salsa you like for this.  It's the seasonings and tang that are the goal.  Like having tomato soup with a grilled cheese sandwich, the flavor profile goes with a quesadilla.

*1 15 oz can pinto beans
*1 C salsa
Sour cream, jalapeños, cilantro, or any other garnish, optional

1.  Drain and rinse beans.  Add to a small saucepan with salsa.  If dry, add a few tablespoons water.

2.  Bring to a low boil over medium heat.  Simmer for 5 minutes to heat through.

3.  Serve hot with garnishes as desired.

Difficulty rating  π

Tomato and Avocado Quesadillas

These turned out prettier than I expected, so they're getting a post.  I also realized that the relatively bland guacamole from the previous post was exactly what I wanted on them, so that made me happy.

Quesadillas are an easy 10-minute meal.  I usually just throw some shredded cheese on a tortilla, toast it in a dry pan, and slice up an apple for a balanced lunch or afternoon snack.  For dinner, I went to a little more effort and had beans on the side to up the protein and veggie factor.  I wasn't very hungry and only made one the day I took the photos.  They were small tortillas, and other days I made two for a dinner.  For the sake of the recipe and quantities of ingredients, we'll pretend that there are two 6" fajita tortillas per serving.

*8 6" flour tortillas
*1 C guacamole
*2 C shredded "Mexican" cheese
1 C diced Roma tomatoes
1/2 C cilantro leaves, chopped (optional)

1.  Preheat skillet or griddle over medium-low heat while you top the tortillas.

2.  On a work surface, lay out as many tortillas as fit on the griddle.  Spread 2 Tb of guacamole on each, like it was pizza sauce.  Sprinkle evenly with about 1/4 C cheese, then a generous sprinkle of diced tomatoes on one half.  It will make it easier to fold later.  If using, scatter with cilantro.

3.  Place topped tortillas on griddle.  Toast until cheese melts and underside of tortilla is lightly crispy, about 5 minutes.  Fold over into a half-moon shape (non-tomato half over tomato half), press lightly to make sure all the cheese is melted, and remove to a cutting board.

4.  Cut quesadillas into wedges and serve hot.  Optional to have salsa and/or sour cream on the side.

Difficulty rating  π

Freezer Guac

I was going to have a Mexican night because they're easy and I wasn't going to have time to cook something elaborate.  It was either that or a slow cooker meal.  There was a last-day bag of three large avocados for 99¢, but I was shopping four days before the meal.  I mean, $6 worth of avocados for a dollar is pretty hard to pass up.

Then I realized I was going to be pulling frozen avocado chunks out for the meal anyway, so there isn't much difference between that and making guacamole with the intention of freezing it.  You can buy frozen guacamole at the store, but it costs quite a bit more than what I was about to make.

As for the freezing process, I'm using my silicone muffin cups to make half-cup portions.  You can use ice cube trays, scoop them onto wax paper-lined sheets, pack it into a single tub, whatever works for how you want to use it.

I don't have a specific guacamole recipe and just threw together what sounded good at the time based on what I had on hand.  I decided that the cilantro wasn't going to freeze well and saved it to add on the day, but other than that this is pretty much how I make it.  Bland.  Feel free to add jalapeños, red pepper flakes, diced tomatoes, or whatever your favorite thing is.

*2 C mashed avocados (about 2 large)
*1/4 C diced onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp black pepper
*1/4 C lime juice

1.  Combine avocado mash, diced onion, garlic, and seasonings with a fork until well mixed.  Add the lime juice two tablespoons at a time until incorporated.  Yes, it's a lot of juice, but even frozen avocados will oxidize without a significant amount of acid.  There's nothing wrong with them if they turn brown, but it isn't as appealing to the eye.

2.  Transfer guac into a mold or container, or scoop onto a wax paper-lined cookie sheet.  Freeze until solid, about 3 hours, then transfer to a sealable container.  I just used a ziplock at first, then vacuum sealed the ones I didn't use that week.  It gives me a couple more months to figure out a use.

Difficulty rating  π