Staples

Yesterday, I went ice skating with a few of my girl friends (Karli, Hope, and Deirdre) at the Cass Park ice rink downtown. It was really fun but very cold! I personally prefer Lynah at Cornell because their rink is completely indoors and is much warmer than Cass (the rink there is partially open to the outside, so it is subjected to the outside temperatures and wind). After ice skating, we stopped by Wegman's to pick up a few food items (everyone is just getting back from break, so there are lots of empty pantries), and while shopping, Karli brought up the topic of "staple" food items in our diets. We discussed how everyone has staple items they generally purchase when they go grocery shopping, and how these items might change with the seasons.

Here is a list of my staple foods/ingredients that I am familiar with and use/eat on a regular basis:

COFFEE: I need it. Yes, I am addicted, but it is delicious, and since I have been drinking coffee for far too long considering how old I am, I have become really picky about drinking really good stuff. I usually use a french press, but occasionally use my moka maker, and really need to get a Turkish coffee pot. I have been drinking Gimme's Altamira lately, and it is quite delicious with some fresh raw milk :)

Milk: I never used to drink milk, but now that I have started milking Laura's cow, I drink it all the time in my coffee and sometimes just plain. Clover is done giving milk until she gives birth to her calf in the spring, so I started buying Ithaca Milk Co.'s milk, which is very good, but not quite as good as raw milk :)

Apples: Seriously, the more, the better. I love apples because they are the perfect quick snack. You can put them in your bag or backpack and they are more sturdy than bananas, which usually end up getting smashed and leaking their juices onto all of my stuff. When my blood sugar gets really low and I start getting shaky, I can grab an apple and feel better until I can eat a real meal.

Bananas: I also love bananas, but not as much as apples. I eat them on a regular basis, and love them in my oatmeal in the morning (usually topped with plain, local yogurt, buckwheat granola, applesauce, maple syrup, and raw cashews).


Eggs: they are so wonderful and delicious, and are the building blocks of many, many different kinds of recipes from breakfast omelets to crepes, soufflés, meringue, cakes, and quiches.


Vegetables: Every kind, all the time. My veggie staples change with the growing season (I really can't wait until the tomatoes are dripping off the vines again!). A major staple of my diet is a veggie stir-fry. I start off with onions and loads of garlic, then add things like potatoes, beets, peppers, spinach, kale, collards, chard, etc. My theory is as long as you start off with some high quality olive oil, a little salt and pepper, and loads of fresh veggies, you will end up with a delicious meal :)

Salt, pepper, thyme, oregano, basil. These are my main herbs I use in making everything.

Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cardamom (a new addition) cloves. These are my main spices I use in baking everything.

Oatmeal & yogurt: my staple breakfast (although it doesn't keep me full for very long!)

My breakfast: veggie stir-fry (onion, garlic, mushrooms, potatoes, beets, leafy greens) + eggs + more leafy greens... yum :)

Summer breakfasts:

Winter lunch: