🔥The Shopping List ( Heat Wave Edition)

Hello Gabbers! Have you melted yet? Here’s what I’m doing to avoid cooking this week—because who wants to even think about turning on the stove—or the kitchen lights! 

I love to play this game: stay cool but still eat decently good food! But if everything else fails, there is always a Pizza place nearby! You can always make it better by adding things on top, I have a list for that too.

Food Shopping List to Survive the Heat!

• 1-2  boxes or bags of mixed greens or whatever salad you like and trust! - I can talk for hours about “greens” already washed; unfortunately, these days it is one of the most common factors in getting some sort of parasite uninvited into your household. Working in food purchasing and in kitchens for so many years made me a freak about reading labels, checking recalls, looking at expiration dates, and the list goes on. In fact, let me go wash my hands again. They feel dirty just typing this!

• 2  Cans of tuna or any other little fish you like! I always have an assortment.

• 1 can chickpeas

• 1 can white beans or any other bean you like

• 1 dozen Eggs or more if you are a Breakfast Egg eater - The plan is to hard-boil ( or whatever minutes you like) and have them ready at arms reach in your fridge. I know you can buy them pre-cooked, but I am not there yet! Do whatever makes you  proud!

• Deli cold cuts (amount needed, don’t go crazy!) I am very lucky to have a very nice Cheese Store 2 blocks from my studio. For the longest time as a solo cook I shop  by the slice. DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK! Instead of having to guess  how much ¼ pound or half a pound is in terms of usage and how much it will cost by the time you get to the register,  just tell the person at your deli counter how many slices you want; it is easier for them too. I usually get 8 slices of Mortadella, 10 slices of ham. Sometimes they ask you how thin or thick you want it; most of the time I say medium unless a recipe specifies otherwise, if I am using ham for a quiche or empanadas, I want it on the thicker side.

• 1 Rotisserie chicken- My secret weapon, I always have a rotisserie chicken in thefreezer!

• 1-2 Ripe Avocados, keep them in your counter

• 1 pint Cherry tomatoes or, if in season, 2 medium heirloom tomatoes

• 1-2 Cucumbers any kind you like. Keep unused cucumber in water, in the fridge.

• 1 small jar Olives

• 1 jar Artichoke hearts

• 1 jar Roasted red peppers .Olives, artichoke hearts, and roasted pepper are generally sold by weight, and often they cost the same. You can ask for a mix-and-match container.If you are serving it yourself I avoid adding too much of the liquid in the container, and when I get home, I put a generous amount of olive oil and sometimes a splash of vinegar! Win-win!

• 1 jar Pickles

• Sauerkraut or Curtido ( recipe is in my book)

• 1 loaf Sourdough Bread

• 1 package Flour Tortillas

• 1 box Crackers

• 1 bag Tortilla or Potato Chips

• Assorted Fresh fruit - WATCH MY VIDEO about how to store them. Please wait for your fruits to ripen, especially stone fruits ( peaches and plums). You’ll thank me later!

• Mixed nuts (small bag, or skip)

• Lemons, Limes & OrangesEXTRA: Here’s a handy list of easy, budget-friendly vegetables you can mix and match for salads:

• - Lettuce (romaine, iceberg, butter, or mixed greens)

• - Baby Spinach

• - Arugula

• - Kale, I stopped eating it a long time ago, but if you like it, I suggest massaging it before prepping your salad.

• - Cabbage (green or red, shredded)

• - Carrots (shredded or in ribbons made with your peeler)

• - Cucumber (sliced, diced, or halved) I like to put the unused part of the cucumber in a glass with water in the fridge; somehow it stays fresh longer.

• - Cherry tomatoes or regular tomatoes (chopped)

• - Bell peppers (any color, sliced or diced)

• - Red onion or green onions (thinly sliced)

• - Radishes (sliced)

• - Celery (sliced)

• - Zucchini If you are into eating it raw, otherwise I suggest you sauté a good amount , check my Zapallitos Salteados recipe, you can ad them to salads or your scrambled eggs or even a sandwich

• - Broccoli or cauliflower (small florets, raw or lightly blanched) not my cup of tea, but to each his own

• - Snap peas or snow peas (whole or sliced)

• - Corn (fresh, frozen and thawed, or canned)

• - Mushrooms (thinly sliced) I like my mushrooms cooked

• - Beets (shredded raw, or pre-cooked and diced)

• - Fresh herbs (parsley, cilantro, basil, dill, mint)they add an extra layer of flavor and freshness

• Quick cooking Veggies, like baby spinach, asparagus, broccolini- none of this will take more than 10 minutes to cook, and you know my rule: cook them as soon as you buy them.

Staples, I am assuming you have

• Dry Pasta

• Rice

• Olive oil & vinegars

• Salt, pepper, dried herbs, spices

• Assorted Condiments (read Mayonnaise and Mustard )

I hope this helps you get started, let me know if you have any questions in the comments!

Until next time!

Keep Cooking. Be Happy 💚

Gaby :)

P.S. I write like I talk—sorry if my English isn’t perfect; it’s not my first language!