Pantry Staples Recipe Roundup

Greetings from approximately Day 10 of Social Distancing! What a weird time. It seems like there are a lot of people looking for new recipes that focus on pantry staples, so I thought I'd make a list of past recipes from my blog that fit this format. I originally started this blog as a way of documenting things I was making from our weekly CSA vegetable share - but I haven't been doing the CSA for a few years.  Most of these recipes are vegetarian, some are vegan, and pretty much all encourage improvisation to use what you have on hand.

I've never really been a meal-planner, but with grocery stores not being able to stock some things, I've felt compelled to at least make a list of what I have on hand in the fridge, freezer and pantry, and make sure I'm finding ways to use what's on hand. I feel super-thankful that I had the instinct to get a stock-up shopping trip in right before our governor announced school closures, so I was able to find most of what I needed before the big rush happened. I also re-activated our Hungry Harvest subscription to get bi-weekly produce deliveries, so that's keeping us in fresh produce and eggs (unfortunately it looks like HH is not taking new subscribers right now; they are probably overwhelmed). Hoping to avoid a grocery store trip for as long as possible to let supplies get replenished and other folks get what they need.

Anyway, here's some recipes!

No-Knead Dutch Oven Bread
If you want to get into bread-baking but don't know where to start, THIS IS IT. This bread couldn't be easier (I am not a baker). I've made it 3 times this week. It's a crusty, rustic loaf that's great with soups or just eaten on its own with butter/jam/whatever. It's not really a sandwich bread. You do need a Dutch oven (enameled cast iron pot with lid), and to remember to mix the dough the night before. But it's literally just mixing flour, yeast, salt and water, letting it sit overnight, and then plopping the dough into a preheated Dutch oven. Much reward for little effort.

Mujaddara
A Middle Eastern staple of lentils, rice, onions and spices. Simple but really good, and super cheap eats.

Spiced Lentil Sweet Potato Soup
Sweet potatoes keep for awhile, so it's a good veg to stock up on - but if you don't have one, just make lentil soup. If you don't have all the spices just use what you have. You can also use water instead of broth.

Vegan Shepherd's Pie
Another lentil-based recipe. Got instant mashed potatoes? Use those instead. If you have other vegetables that need to be used up, this is a good recipe to stick them in. Have ground meat and want the meat version of shepherd's pie? I've got one of those too!

Stovetop Mac & Cheese
This uses evaporated milk! You definitely need the eggs as it's what helps thicken it in the absence of a flour white sauce.

Spicy Coconut Peanut Stuff
A base recipe for a sauce with canned coconut milk, peanut butter, sriracha or other hot sauce, soy sauce, lime juice and brown sugar (or honey, maple syrup). Stir-fry whatever veg and/or protein you want and add this!

Vegan Black Bean & Rice Bowls with Pineapple
Canned pineapple works. Top with avocado if you are so blessed.

Spicy Peanut Noodles with Tofu
My favorite tofu cooking technique that gives you a nice texture. Tofu is cheap and an unopened package keeps for a long time in the fridge. You can also freeze uncooked tofu, and when you thaw it it gets an even "meatier" texture. Add whatever vegetables or other protein you want - or just make noodles! You can use linguine or spaghetti.

ilyCHILI
A vegetarian chili (for happy band practices) with beans, sweet potato and some other stuff. Chili should always be somewhat improvised, so you do you.

Sauteed Spiced Chickpeas with Roasted Sweet Potatoes & Broccoli & Spicy Hummus Drizzle
No veggies? Just make the chickpeas and rice. Roasted broccoli works with frozen broccoli florets, too.

Spaghetti Squash Pie
We're sort of getting out of winter squash season now, but if you can find it, spaghetti squash keeps for weeks. This combines a base of angel hair pasta & spaghetti squash (the latter basically becomes undetectable) and layers in spaghetti sauce (can add meat if you want) and cheese. It's really delish.

Potato-Veggie Breakfast Hash
Potatoes and eggs are really the only must-haves; if you have any other veggies (especially bits of things that are nearing the end of freshness), throw them in here.


And here's a couple of desserts, because you should treat yourself:

Dark Chocolate Habanero Creme Brulee
You need heavy cream, eggs and dark chocolate. If you want to do the spicy chocolate thing, the "habanero sugar" may be findable online; you could also use a spicy dark chocolate bar, and/or just mix a little cayenne powder into the sugar for the top. You also really need a kitchen torch to get that good cracklin' crust. Broiling in the oven may get you mostly there, but I've never tried it.

Ghiradelli Incendio Brownies
This is basically take a box of brownie mix and sub some kind of alcohol for the water. We actually haven't been able to find the Patron Incendio (spicy chocolate tequila liqueur) for awhile. But you can use pretty much any liqueur (Kahlua, amaretto, cointreau) or bourbon, whiskey, straight tequila...