Groceries

I was inspired by Ate Aileen to suggest a grocery list for people who are new to cooking. I first made this list when I was in college, living alone, and just learning how to cook. Most of the recipes I made were based on food and dishes I saw on TV or have eaten somewhere.

Here were some of the stuff I always had on my fridge and kitchen cabinet…

Oils
It is important, of course, to have corn oil or vegetable oil for sauteeing or frying food. You can store or use other kinds of cooking oil but these two are the best for the health-conscious. You should also have some olive oil for making pasta sauces. One must always, always, always have butter. Butter may be used for simple veggies dishes, and to make dishes tastier. But then again, if you’re health-conscious skip this one. For cooking and baking, I prefer unsalted Magnolia Gold Butter. If you do use salted butter, lessen your salt when seasoning your food.

Condiments
You must always have good soy sauce and vinegar. These are essential in cooking Filipino and Asian dishes. I think cane vinegar is a good choice. As for brands, I use Silver Swan for Soy Sauce and Datu Puti or Del Monte for vinegar. For those who like Western dishes, you can also stock up on quality balsamic vinegar. If you have extra budget, you may buy Lea and Perrins Worcestershire Sauce, Knorr Liquid Seasoning, Kikkoman Japanese Soy Sauce, and some good mustard and ketchup.

Seasonings and Herbs
For seasoning food, it is a no brainer that you must have salt and pepper ALL THE TIME. You can also store up on bay leaf, peppercorn, basil, rosemary, and thyme. And because it’s a hassle to make your own broth, buy some chicken or beef broth cubes.

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