Grocery List

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.

Dairy

You must always have fresh full cream or skim milk and some all-purpose cream. These may be used as base for many sauces and soups.

Cheese, such as Magnolia Quickmelt and grated parmesan cheese can also be stored for pasta dishes, salads, and as topping for other dishes.

For healthier recipes, you may also stock up on plain yoghurt.

Thickeners

To thicken sauces, gravy, or even soups, store all-purpose flour and cornstach in airtight containers. Use flour and butter (also called as roux) to thicken western dishes, or cornstarch with water for Asian dishes. Cream of Mushroom (canned or powder) can also be used as a base for gravy, pasta sauces, or other saucy dishes.

Meats

Beef cubes and pork cubes can be used for a variety of dishes. For chicken, you may opt to buy packages of cut pieces, but the health-conscious can opt to just buy boneless, skinless, chicken breasts.

To add flavor to some dishes, you can buy ham or sausages. These can be sauteed with garlic and herbs in olive oil and served as pasta sauce. I suggest Hungarian sausage for spice, plain or picnic ham, Chorizo Macau, and Chorizo Bilbao.

I don’t suggest buying seafoods unless you are already knowledgeable in preparing and cooking it. So for some seafood, buy tuna packed in brine or oil. I usually buy Century Tuna.

Vegetables

Onions and garlic are must-haves. You can also use carrots, mushrooms (fresh or canned), and potatoes for a variety of dishes. These won’t rot or overripe easily. But it’s best to use these (except the canned mushrooms) within one week after purchase.

Potatoes aren’t technically vegetables, but they’re on the same lane so I put those in this category. Potatoes may be added in dishes or used as a carbohydrate substitute when mashed, baked, or fried.

You can also buy canned whole kernel corn to be heated with some butter, salt, and pepper and served as a side dish to meat dishes.

Grains and Carbs

Always stock up on rice. If you are health-conscious, buy brown rice.

You should also always have pasta. Any form of pasta. Easy pasta sauces can be made with garlic, herbs, and olive oil or butter and cream, or basic tomato sauce as bases. These are easy to make and can easily impress guests.

And it’s good to have sliced American bread, French bread, or Foccacia to accompany some of your dishes. Whole wheat bread is a very option for the health-conscious.

You can also store up on some Japanese bread crumbs for deep frying purposes. A substitute can be potato chips.

Sweets
For easy desserts, buy fresh or canned fruits, fruit yoghurt, some syrup or honey, and quality chocolate powder or bars. You may also stock up on some gelatin and easy bake cake mixes.

Others

EGGS! You must always, always have eggs. Eggs are best cooked when fresh.

And of course, tomato sauce and tomato paste. It’s AND not OR as each has its own purpose. These are used for may dishes, sauces, and soups.

When shopping for groceries, always take note of the expiry date. And when buying canned goods, choose cans which do not have any dents. And store these goods in cool, dry places away from direct heat.

With these ingredients and supplies, there’s a lot of things you can easily prepare, cook, and serve.