Canned Tuna seems to be one of those ingredients that is associated with being a starving student. The sad image of a student hunched over their keyboard eating tuna out of a can with a fork. Or Tuna spread over dry toast. I'm a fan of the Tuna Melt myself. But while flipping through September's Bon Appetit Magazine I was pleasantly surprised to see that the BA Foodist had addressed the issue of cooking with canned Tuna.
These 5 Recipes will definitely be making an appearence in my kitchen this fall as I rush to get food in my belly before study time.
Click hear for 5 Things To Do With A Can of Tuna
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
How to Stock Your Cupboard:
As I find myself just 21 short days away from the classroom, I have found myself making more lists than ever before. I am a list maker in every sense of the word. I have "to do" lists of every kind, "to read" lists, "to listen to" lists, "to buy" lists, and of course grocery lists. When cooking and eating on a budget two of the most important things you can do is make a grocery list, and keep a well stocked pantry and fridge. Well-stocked may sound expensive but when I say this I simply mean make sure you always have the basics on hand. Making daily trips to the grocery store can be expensive both in time and in funds, so if you can keep the basics on hand and plan your meals around that you'll find yourself ahead of the game.
I try and keep my pantry cupboard stocked with the following 10 items (of course this will vary based on dietary restrictions):
1) Flour: I keep on hand various kinds of flour such as Buckwheat Flour, Rice Flour, and Cornmeal, but the basic all-purpose unbleached flour is ideal to have on hand.
2) Salt: Sea Salt or Kosher Salt is perfect. If you find yourself with a bit of extra cash, splurging on special salts such as rock salt is a great way to add extra flavour to a special dish.
3) Pepper: If you don't have a pepper grinder go out and buy one! It doesn't have to be a top of the line 80 dollar pepper grinder; a cheap IKEA one would do just fine but you will taste a world of difference between fresh ground pepper and pre-ground pepper. Fill your grinder with plain old black peppercorns and you're set.
4) Olive Oil: Olive Oil is one of the things I suggest you splurge on. If you spend a little extra on particular ingredients you will find that you need less to get great flavour in your dishes which means in the end you're getting more for your money. I try to buy organic first cold press Olive Oil, you'll be able to tell a really good Olive Oil because it smells like green bananas.
5)Grapeseed Oil: I like to keep grapeseed oil on hand to use in baking or in anything that I wouldn't use Olive Oil in. You can also use peanut oil or vegetable oil. I like grapeseed oil because it is fairly neutral in flavour.
6)Rice: Like flour I like to keep a few varieties of rice on hand like Arborio, Basmati, and Wild Rice. Rice is great because it can be used in a variety of dishes and it can be made quickly and easily.
7)Pasta: Pasta is a God send for anyone cooking on a budget. Now when I say pasta I'm including everything from soba noodles, to rice noodles, to penne noodles. Pasta is cheap and easy and can be used in so many dishes. And most importantly it keeps really well. Don't forget that couscous is another great pasta that fits perfectly into a student budget.
8)Grains: Quinoa, Farrow, Oatmeal, and Wheat Berries are great sources of nutrition, they keep well and they can be used in baking and cooking.
9)Legumes: Lentils, dried peas, dried beans etc. Legumes can be used in soups, salads, stews, chilli, and in a variety of Middle Eastern and Indian dishes (like Dal).
10)Canned Tomatoes: If there is one thing I try to constantly have in my cupboard it's Canned Tomatoes. They can be used in EVERYTHING and are perfect for a fast, delicious, and cheap meal. Of course if you can get fresh tomatoes that look delicious always pick those but in the winter months when you don't have the option for fresh, canned is a great option.
I try and keep my pantry cupboard stocked with the following 10 items (of course this will vary based on dietary restrictions):
1) Flour: I keep on hand various kinds of flour such as Buckwheat Flour, Rice Flour, and Cornmeal, but the basic all-purpose unbleached flour is ideal to have on hand.
2) Salt: Sea Salt or Kosher Salt is perfect. If you find yourself with a bit of extra cash, splurging on special salts such as rock salt is a great way to add extra flavour to a special dish.
3) Pepper: If you don't have a pepper grinder go out and buy one! It doesn't have to be a top of the line 80 dollar pepper grinder; a cheap IKEA one would do just fine but you will taste a world of difference between fresh ground pepper and pre-ground pepper. Fill your grinder with plain old black peppercorns and you're set.
4) Olive Oil: Olive Oil is one of the things I suggest you splurge on. If you spend a little extra on particular ingredients you will find that you need less to get great flavour in your dishes which means in the end you're getting more for your money. I try to buy organic first cold press Olive Oil, you'll be able to tell a really good Olive Oil because it smells like green bananas.
5)Grapeseed Oil: I like to keep grapeseed oil on hand to use in baking or in anything that I wouldn't use Olive Oil in. You can also use peanut oil or vegetable oil. I like grapeseed oil because it is fairly neutral in flavour.
6)Rice: Like flour I like to keep a few varieties of rice on hand like Arborio, Basmati, and Wild Rice. Rice is great because it can be used in a variety of dishes and it can be made quickly and easily.
7)Pasta: Pasta is a God send for anyone cooking on a budget. Now when I say pasta I'm including everything from soba noodles, to rice noodles, to penne noodles. Pasta is cheap and easy and can be used in so many dishes. And most importantly it keeps really well. Don't forget that couscous is another great pasta that fits perfectly into a student budget.
8)Grains: Quinoa, Farrow, Oatmeal, and Wheat Berries are great sources of nutrition, they keep well and they can be used in baking and cooking.
9)Legumes: Lentils, dried peas, dried beans etc. Legumes can be used in soups, salads, stews, chilli, and in a variety of Middle Eastern and Indian dishes (like Dal).
10)Canned Tomatoes: If there is one thing I try to constantly have in my cupboard it's Canned Tomatoes. They can be used in EVERYTHING and are perfect for a fast, delicious, and cheap meal. Of course if you can get fresh tomatoes that look delicious always pick those but in the winter months when you don't have the option for fresh, canned is a great option.
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