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Monday, February 18, 2013

My Grocery Must-Haves - The Fridge

Recently, I've received quite a few emails from readers wanting to know what my favourite foods were - and what exactly I pick up when I go to the supermarket - so I decided to put together a series of posts, sharing my must-have items for both Jesse and I. 

First off, let's start with the fridge. Obviously, living at home - I have to share the fridge with my entire family. Whilst I'm ridiculously organised with baskets and jars and things in order - my family is the opposite. 

Jesse and I have one and a half shelves and one vegetable drawer to ourselves - and we share the cheese drawer with everyone else.

But let's get onto the food - right? As you may already know if you're a long-time reader, I have some serious allergies and intolerances - but Jesse has none whatsoever! 

Veggies: 
This includes vegetables stored in the pantry, just for convenience.
  • Carrots 
  • Cucumbers 
  • Baby Cucumbers You can find them at Woolworths 
  • Spinach 
  • Beetroot For me! Jesse hates beets!
  •  Zucchinis
  • Butternut Pumpkin/Squash
    O
    nce cut, I store the pumpkin in the fridge
  • Potatoes 
  • Sweet Potatoes 
  • Avocadoes
  • Asparagus
    When in season
  • Spaghetti Squash
    Occasionally - Australians, you can find them at Harris Farm Markets
  • Onion 
  • Garlic 

Veggies Just for Jesse (because my food intolerances suck)-
  • Green Capsicum/Bell Peppers
  • Green Beans
  • Broccoli 
  • Tomatoes 
Fruit: 

  • Green Apples 
  • Bananas
  • Blueberries When in season
  • Watermelon I eat 1-2 whole watermelons per week - obsessed
  • GrapesFor Jesse
Dairy and Alternatives: 
  • Chobani - I always have plain Chobani in the fridge, either 2% or 0%, depending on what I'm making - we use the tangy 0% for a sour cream replacement and the creamy 2% when we're having it on its own. 
  • Unsweetened Almond Breeze - We go through carton after carton of Almond Breeze and I will not have any other brand - once you try Almond Breeze you can never go back!
  • Fruche -
    The vanilla fruche may be Jesse's favourite food. We have a constant supply of it and he eats at least one a day.
Dairy Treats:
  • Flavoured Yogurt
    Generally Vanilla yogurt. We like Yoplait's Vanilla best and it's great for a quick froyo base!
  • Vanilla Le Rice -
    Le Rice is one of our quick desserts that we pick up when we feel like something sweet. Whilst I make Rice Pudding from scratch or quick brown rice pudding, sometimes you just want something you can pick up and eat without fuss!
Cheese: 
I am a self proclaimed turophile, so you bet my cheese drawer is stocked up!
  • Reduced Fat Cheddar Cheese
    The more natural and fuller flavoured, the better. We like Bega So Light Vintage Cheese, Cracker Barrel Light Vintage Cheese, Mainland Noble Cheddar
  • Parmesan Cheese
    We love Perfect Italiano Grated Parmesan Cheese and I also buy the small blocks from time to time (and have been known to eat chunks - shhh!)
  • Cream Cheese -
    We like Philadelphia best. I use it in pasta sauces, on sandwiches and wraps, in recipes, in cheesecakes etcetc.
  • Cottage Cheese - 
    I like the Bulla Cottage Cheese best, it's the creamiest and most delicious of all the ones I've tried. I buy the large tubs because I eat it so much!
  • Ricotta Cheese - 
    My favourite is Perfect Italiano Light Ricotta. I use ricotta in pastas, baked ricotta, ricotta muffins and on its own as a snack.
  • Laughing Cow Cheese - Light
    Perfect for spreading on crackers or bread and it can also be used in cooking.
  • Kraft Mexican Blend Cheese
    It's not low in fat, but it has a delicious flavour and you don't need to use much. We love using this on Mexican style dishes and I like to mix it through my avocado quinoa (recipe to come - one day!)
  • Occasional Cheeses
    I love almost all cheeses (I'm not brave enough for blue cheese) and I often buy different cheeses when they come on sale. A lot of these are full fat cheeses - but that's perfectly fine! My favourites are; Smoked Cheddar, Edam Cheese, Jarlsberg Swiss Cheese, Dutch Smoked Cheese, Goat's Cheese and the list goes on and on!
Eggs:
  • Regular whole eggs
  • Naturegg Egg Whites
    I don't eat whole eggs - and never have because I think they smell/taste/look/feel awful - so I buy egg whites and use them in oatmeal, grits and other different recipes. One of my favourite ways to use them is to simply mash a banana, add some egg whites and scramble it together - yum! - but be sure to top it with lots of nut butter too ;P (Everyone in my family thinks the idea of sweet scrambled eggs is nasty - but trust me, it's so good!)
Dried Fruit, Nuts and Seeds:
I store my dried fruit and nuts in the fridge for two reasons - it keeps them from spoiling so quickly and it also makes dried fruit super chewy!
  • Dates
    Whether they're whole dates (I buy the huge tubs from Costco) or dried dates, I eat at least a handful a day. Addicted.
  • Raisins and Sultanas
  • Dried Flattened Banana
    Easy to get in the US - but not so easy here in Aus! They occaisonally have the flattened banana at Aldi and when they do - I jump at it! Otherwise I make my own in my dehydrator
  • Apple
    As I can't eat sulphur, I buy Made in Nature Organic Dried Apple from iHerb.
  • Naked Ginger (uncrystalised ginger)
    I love ginger but it comes in handy when I'm feeling nauseous. I just eat a few chunks and I usually feel alot better very quickly.
  • Almonds
    I generally buy Whole Natural Almonds, Dry Oven Roasted Almonds and Slivered Almonds
  • Walnuts
  • Pecans
  • Pistachios
    I buy both raw pistachios and salted roasted pistachios (Jesse's favourite)
  • Salted Peanuts
  • Pepitas
  • Sunflower Seeds
  • Whole Flaxseed
    I then grind these up in my magic bullet when I'm using them.
Other Staples: 
  • Basil Pesto (I buy a brand called "Pacchini" which doesn't have any added nasties - you can find it at some IGA stores) 
  • Maple Syrup 
  • Applesauce
    We buy it both in tubs and I also keep the baby pouches (yeah) in my purse for emergency snacks. Trust me, when you have hypoglycemia - you eat whatever you can :P 
  • Salsa and Enchilada Sauce (for Jesse)
    We use salsa and enchilada sauce in many different recipes, so they're always in the fridge. 
Well, I think that just about covers it! Phew! 

So tell me, what's your current food-love? Anything I should try?! 

6 comments:

  1. Great list! I definitely always have greek yogurt and almond milk in the fridge. I agree that almond breeze is the best! I also love watermelon but I only eat that during the summer (it's winter here) and my parents usually do most of the shopping. I also like grapes, blueberries and strawberries...
    As for the dried fruits and nuts, I like making trail mix with it. =) I like baked apple chips (sprinkled with some cinnamon) and I also like craisins.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love a good trail mix! I got a dehydrator for Christmas and I really need to hurry up and make my own dried apple!

      Delete
  2. I bought that bulla cottage cheese to try and I love it! Oh and woohoo fellow date-obsessed friend! Isn't it funny how I'm worried I will gain weight not from chocolate or ice cream or any of that nonsense but from bloody dates! Haha, well not rly worried but sometimes they are so addicting you think, will I ever stop eating them!?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is the best cottage cheese available - for sure!

      Dates are insanely good - I seem to go through packet after packet and box after box, haha. They taste so good, who cares about gaining weight from them ;P

      Delete
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