A little over a year has passed since we started out on this venture, a wonderful journey 
. Over this year we have learnt and shared a lot along the way about the world of blogging. Over this time we have spoken to many people with regards to the blog and what we are trying to achieve, and the one thing that keeps on coming back is, are there any recipes for single people or students? So we got thinking and decided to add a section where there will be a list of store cupboard ingredients and some simple meal ideas on how to prepare in advance so that you can have a wide variety of world cuisines.
Like me, the majority of us who start off on our careers, university is the first steps to looking after our own health and well being. Along the way we have many cooking disasters and find new tastes.
As I have grown have grown up, my eating & cooking habits have changed a great deal. However one thing that has remained is a need to ensure the food is healthy or tweaked to have, say, wholemeal flour instead of plain flour. As I have become a mother I am more aware of this need to ensure a healthy balanced diet which is good for the mind & body. There are so many things which are inter-related and connected. We forget what an important part food plays in our life, to keep us fit, healthy & well. So with all of that in mind I am adding another dimension to our blog, please feel free to send me your recipes to try out and add to this or any other section of our blog. Our main aim is to share our passion and love for good vegetarian food for all to enjoy
In recent years there have been many studies looking at how food improves our intelligence and well being. I myself borrowed a book from the library on this very subject, because I want to give my son the best possible start in life. Also being vegetarian I wanted him to have all the necessary nutrients and vitamins needed to grow and develop in life. Actually it does not matter how old we are – all age groups should try and maintain a well balanced diet, one which incorporates all the food groups in every meal. It is vital that, from children to when we become young adults (students), we take the responsibility of looking after our own well being and food is a very important part of it.
Now that I think about it and look back, when I was away at university, I just cringe at the thought of what I used to eat as my dinners (a packet of jaffa cakes) and my cooking disasters !!! I remember one time I really fancied having an Indian snack called pawa bateta (flattened rice & potatoes), so I made the correct portion for 1 person but then added the spices for 5 people. That is how I learnt to cook for the family, so … we live & learn. So bearing that in mind and a conversation I had with my cousin, thanks to her ground work, I thought of adding a basic store cupboard list as well to help students, single or couples along the way to make a multitude of cuisines, from these standard ingredients. For example, I use kidney beans for my traditional curry, Mexican, soup, salad, Italian, and Jambalaya rice, so the one ingredient can be used to make 6 different types of meals. So the correct store cupboard ingredients are not only good value for money, but at the same time the ingredients should provide meals filled with vitamins and foods which nourish physically and mentally. Below is a list of what I feel would be good to have from which as mentioned you can make many different vegetarian meals.
| Cupboard | Perishables |
Freezer | Masala | |
| Pasta & Rice
Canned Chick Peas Canned Kidney Beans Canned green lentils Baked Beans Tomato puree tube Sun dried Tomatoes Couscous Red lentils Dry Cereal of your choice & Oats Wholemeal Flour Self raising flour baking powder Tortilla wraps Snacks like Nuts, crisps, cereal bars, savoury (Indian) snacks |
Nan/Pitta Bread
Bread Cheese Butter Milk Yoghurt Olives Vegetables like, Courgettes Aubergines Mushrooms Broccoli Potatoes Onions / garlic / ginger Butternut squash Fresh Juice Apples Banana Seasonal Fruit |
Peas
Spinach Sweet corn Burgers Waffles or chips Puff pastry Ice cream Pre made curry pastes & pasta sauce |
Oil – sunflower & olive
Salt Pepper Chilli Powder Turmeric powder Jeeru Powder Dhana Jeeru Rai / Jeeru / Hing Garam masala Soy sauce Ketchup Oregano or mixed herbs Chilli flakes Peanut butter Chilli sauce |
Below is a list of some sites that are good to use as a resource for some quick ideas or good recipes to try out. Feel free to forward links if I have missed out on any sites that you would recommend.
