Friends often ask me which store bought items I like to keep on hand for easy weeknight meals and casual entertaining. Since we live in the woods the grocery delivery options are limited (and a trip to the store requires driving down the hill) so it’s nice to know I can whip something together without leaving the cabin.
These are the items I frequently have on my shopping list so they are always at the ready:
Veggie sausages (I like the links & patties from Morning Star—I also put these in kid lunches)
Nuts - especially roasted almonds , salted macadamia nuts and Marcona almonds
Dates (they last a long time and go well on a cheese platter if you’re having people over)
golden raisins (great on salads)
Bagged kale and/or arugula (a great start to any grain bowl!)
Everything Bagel seasoning (I love it on cooked vegetables)
Quick cooking Farro (I sometimes get at Trader Joe’s)
Quinoa
Small corn or whole wheat tortillas (for a quick weeknight stir-fry veggie wrap or veggie tacos)
Canned black beans (for bowls and tacos) and garbanzo beans (for salads or to mix with cooked veggies)
Veggie broth or bouillon cubes (in case I want to make a quick soup by blending whatever squash I have on hand)
Triple cream brie and/or burrata (great to have on hand for an easy happy hour if friends stop by)
Fruit (especially apples and pears are great with cheese for snacking, or on salads and last a while)
Wraps + Bowls: If I can’t figure out what to make for dinner, I often stir fry onions, carrots, greens and whatever other vegetables happen to be in the fridge. I will then turn that into a wrap or tacos (using either type of tortillas above) or put the stir fry mixture on top of greens, grains and beans to create a “bowl”. You can also add veggie sausage. I like putting warm veggies on top of cold greens with salad dressing— a sort of warm/cold salad combo that is both filling and covers the bases of carb (grain of tortilla), protein (legumes) and veg.
For a super simple side dish using a handful of items from this shopping list, check out this Everything Bagel Greens recipe below!
Greens sautéed with Everything Bagel seasoning
What’s on your grocery list every time you shop?