Pantry Items

March 10, 2008

Your Five Senses - What's In Your Fridge?

Would love to know what’s in your fridge and what you keep on hand for your stable of “go to” ingredients. 

Was thinking it would be cool to post pics of “what’s in your fridge” as a way to learn how people shop, what are the staples in your lifestyle and the personality of your food.  Send us your fridge pics and we will post a collection of photos and list a cross-section of food styles across the country and hopefully the globe.

I opened the fridge the other night and my 30+ years flashed before my eyes.  Things were the same yet also drastically different.  Some of my tried and true favorites were still there:  Smuckers Jam, iced tea, tortillas.  But what the heck has invaded the space:  Smart waters, egg whites, colored yogurts, edamame, applesauce is now lite? and there is enough string cheese to feed a dairy addicted army.

I was reflecting on how our fridge is a direct correlation of past, present and future.  For me - it can truly prove challenging to get a meal together for dinner as our current family is time compressed, we have different schedules and everything seems to run faster than fast!  Convenience has woven its way into the fabric of our family mealtime.

It is interesting to me what my fridge has looked like over the years, morphing from college to bachelor life to family times.  Throw in up/down financial budgets and all the areas that I have lived in & out of the country and there is an interesting story each time that door has opened and the fridge light goes on.

What’s your story - what are your current top 5 favs that are kept in your fridge, that you just can’t live without?

For me right now its:

  1. Hard boiled eggs – buy them pre-cooked and peeled; 6 per bag; use these in everything:  eat whole as a snack, chop them up in salads; make egg/tuna salad for sandwiches.  Great for quick on the go sustenance.

  1. YO+  probiotic yogurt – tasty; can’t get enough of these lately; seem to be good for you although 1 a day seems just fine; all the flavors are great.

  1. Pickled ginger – real deal vs. processed; use this in salad dressings; entrees; beverages; tossed with grapefruit and strawberries; and as a general flavor kick.

  1. Mission tortillas – great for quick snacks; sandwiches and meals for the family; 6” size works best for us and has more uses.

  1. Swanson chicken broth (box) – my go to ingredient for quick sauces & flavor; adding flavor to veggies; soups; etc.  Great to have handy as it always seems to find its way into mealtime – as it gives you the feeling of scratch even if your are using prepared foods.

  See what's in my fridge