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#i should get cooking tools. instant pot i miss you.. like. if cooking was easier i think there's a very real chance i might cook more
autistic-shaiapouf · 4 months
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I need you to understand that this curry is the first meal I've actually cooked in WEEKS that wasn't just oven ready or microwavable, and I'm eating this like I've never had food before
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thehuntinggadget · 3 years
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What Should I Have in My Hunting Pack?
What should I have in my hunting pack? This is one of the most common questions asked by hunters, especially newcomers. Actually, it mostly depends on the type of hunting you’re on. Though there are some necessary items or tools that you should always carry, no matter the hunting type.
When you go hunting, you totally depend on what’s in your hunting backpack for survival. That means you can’t miss any essentials out. Therefore, to make things easier for you, we will write out the list of the most necessary items that you should carry in your backpack. So, let’s dive into them.
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What Should I Have in My Hunting Pack?
Experienced hunters know how hunting equipment can make a difference in hunting trips. Therefore, you’ll need to give proper thought to what are the things that you will require while hunting. So, here’s what should I have in my hunting pack along with the hunting license, weapon, binocular, and ammunition-
Hunting Backpack
At first, you have to ensure having a backpack that is specifically designed for hunters. Also, before getting into what things you’ll require it’s essential to decide what type of backpack will meet your needs. You should remember, when coming back from the hunting, you have to carry your prey’s meat. 
So, your backpack should be able to handle or carry this heavy meat load effectively. A regular backpack can’t carry the weight of your hunting tools and meat. So, look out for getting hunting packs for packing out meat and other equipment as well. 
These backpacks are designed with robust and strong materials to handle heavy loads conveniently. Even with these packs your body and shoulder also won’t feel much strain as they will balance the weight appropriately. 
Hunting Gears
After that, start collecting the essential gears that you will need to make the hunt possible. So, the must-have gears are range finder, spotting scope, tripod, headlamp, walkie-talkie, battery pack, wind detector, maps, game call, fire starter, and lighter. Also, you will require, haul rope, parachute rope, tree hanger, folding saw, utility knife, skinning knife, etc. 
Blind
There are several types of blinds available, and all serve the same purpose. The types are- portable, pop-up, duck blinds, deer blinds, goose blinds, etc. Based on the location and atmosphere you can choose any one up.   
Clothes or Camouflage
For hunting, you have to carry camouflage, and other than that you should keep rain covers, rubber gloves, camo face paint tubes, lightweight shoes, hiking shoes, hat or cap, etc. 
Essentials for Comfort
You may go hunting for a day-long, or more than that. Based on the day you will spend you can add or exclude the things. Ensure keeping water bottle, thermos, foam sleeping pad, tent, pillowcase, matches, insect repellent, first-aid kit, cooking stoves, utensils, small pans and pots, soap, towel, tissue, etc. 
When it comes to food, try to keep all the instant foods and packaged foods. For example, coffee, instant hot cereal, granola with powdered milk, summer sausage, fresh fruit, instant oatmeal, dehydrated meals, cheese, hard rolls, candy bars, dried meat, instant potatoes, rice, pudding, freeze-dried dinner, and lunch. 
For Backcountry Hunting
When you are going to hunt in the backcountry, you will need to spend several nights and days. In that case, you will require some other stuff like a garbage bag, down jacket, base layers, extra clothes, trekking poles, camp shoes, water purification system, satellite phone, etc.   
So, these are the basic things, you may not require all these so, as per your requirement you can include or exclude things in your checklist.
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Last Thoughts
Since you have to spend most of the time in the jungle sitting on the blind when it comes to hunting. In that case, if you need something, you just can’t get out of the blind and look out for it in the jungle, as it’s nearly impossible to find. Thus, you have to ensure bringing all the necessary things with you. 
Here, we’ve shared almost everything about what should I have in my hunting pack. So, when you start packing your hunting backpack don’t forget to review this guide. Make a proper checklist and ensure you have everything for your hunting trip.
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adtwixt · 5 years
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Adtwixt - News: How to Cook on Vacation
Vacation should never be stressful, but unexpected things do happen. One of the reliably unpredictable aspects is just what your rental house kitchen will be like. If you want to cook on vacation, there are some things you can do to make it as pleasurable as possible, no matter what you encounter upon arrival. For some people, of course, the whole point of vacation is not to do anything, and even those who enjoy more active holidays may choose to have their meals made for them. But some of us love cooking, and look forward to doing it while we’re away. Whether we’re making our favorite dishes or trying out new ones we don’t have time for in our daily lives, cooking on vacation isn’t a chore, but a pleasure—or at least, it should be. Vacation rental kitchens can be very different from our own, though, and not always in a good way. They’re often missing equipment, or stocked with sub-par tools, and they may or may not have basic items like salt and pepper. In order to keep your vacation as enjoyable as possible, here are some tips on cooking in a rental kitchen: Make a meal plan (but stay flexible). Make packing and shopping lists. Research local markets and stores beforehand. Bring staple ingredients and tools along if you can. Head for the bulk bins. Pre-measure ingredients for baking. Take inventory and be inspired by what you find (or don’t find). Adapt to your circumstances. Make a plan to deal with leftovers. Let someone else do it. Make a Meal Plan, but Don’t Marry It If you’re cooking on vacation, step one is to figure out what you’ll make. This can be as simple or as complicated as you like, but either way, try to plan meals where any leftovers can be turned into the next day’s lunch, or even another dinner (if you make fajitas one night, you can mix leftover grilled veggies into another day’s frittata—but that dish won’t depend on the leftovers either). And choose dishes that utilize some of the same ingredients. If you buy a bunch of basil for one night’s pasta, for instance, but it only calls for a tablespoon of the herb, think of another meal that will use the rest of it so you’re not wasting anything. It could be something as easy as a simple herb butter to melt over roasted or grilled salmon, or a slightly more complex pesto or chimichurri sauce (which you could then use on a sandwich the next day). Chowhound’s Grilled Chicken Fajitas Don’t get overly attached to your plan, though, because you never know if you’ll find everything you need at the store—so think of it as more of a rough sketch than a final blueprint. The avocados you want for your first night’s guac may all be rock-hard and there will be nothing you can do but shift your plans, or ditch them completely. Other setbacks can be worked around. If you can’t find that basil, be willing to replace it with another herb (or have a backup meal in mind)—or, if you’re less into planning ahead anyway, let yourself be inspired by whatever you do find; however, it’s still helpful to write down exactly what you need for each dish as you envision it on the fly, so you don’t leave the store without something important. Chowhound’s Guacamole And don’t count on special equipment, either; it’s standard for rental sites to list the major appliances and amenities each house has, but even if they definitely have a grill, that’s not an iron-clad guarantee it’ll be working when you get there. So you can plan to char some steaks, but if that ends up not being a possibility, be ready to broil them instead. Read More: Easy Meals You Can Cook In Any Vacation Rental Kitchen Make a List (or Two): For Packing & Shopping I always make two food-related lists when renting a vacation house: one for the things I’ll pack (more on that a bit below), and one for the things I’ll buy once we get where we’re going. I’m addicted to Google Keep—in part because sharing lists with the other people in the group so they can edit and check items off if we split up the shopping duties is so easy—but good old-fashioned paper works as well, or use your favorite note-taking app. Refillable Leather Pocket Travelers Notebook, $12.95 on Amazon There's no reason your travel journal can't include your shopping lists (it's also great for jotting down new recipes you come up with). Buy Now If you’re not obsessed with lists and this seems like a total drag, well, I can’t really sympathize (I made lists just for fun even as a kid), but I do suggest taking a mere ten minutes to do it anyway, since it really minimizes the chances of kicking yourself down the road…when you realize you left the lemongrass you wanted to use for simple syrup at home, for instance, and there’s none to be found at your destination. Or you discover you forgot to pack your favorite fancy coffee beans, or didn’t bring cumin and the store ends up charging $8 for it. Planning ahead can help mitigate many minor disasters. Chowhound’s Green Bean and Cherry Tomato Salad with Grilled Steak Scope Out Local Stores and Markets Beforehand Thanks to the internet, you can usually get a good sense of what grocery stores, specialty shops, and farmers markets there are near your destination before you actually get there, which can help you better prepare your meal plan. For instance, there’s an amazing supermarket in Poulsbo, Wa. (what up, Central Market!) that has a great Asian food section I didn’t expect to be there (not to mention a superb prepared foods department)—so now I know I can make authentic pad Thai while vacationing on that part of the Puget Sound if I want to, which wouldn’t always be the case in other small town locations. If there’s a dock where you can buy fresh seafood directly from fishermen, consider stopping there one night for your main ingredient, or visit the Saturday market to stock up on fresh produce and other local gems. Chowhound’s Grilled Paella Take Staple Ingredients & Tools with You This is obviously a lot easier if you’re driving to your destination, but it’s doable on a smaller scale even if you’re flying (particularly if you’re checking a bag). Related Reading: 7 Packing Cubes That Make Travel a Breeze | What Foods Are Allowed Through Airport Security? Think about what you absolutely need—like salt and pepper—and just bring it with you if you’d rather not have to buy it once you arrive, especially if it’s likely to be pricier, as with olive oil and specific spice blends. This also ensures you’ll have the exact brands and types you like (Diamond Crystal kosher salt and your perfect pepper mill, for instance). 8-Pack Reusable Squeeze Bottle Containers, $9.36 on Amazon These are petite (though not TSA-approved) and perect for bringing small amounts of your favorite oils, vinegars, sauces, and condiments along. Buy Now You can decant things into smaller containers if need be—place a pinch of saffron in a snack-size bag, or use one of those seven-day pill organizers to pack a couple teaspoons of multiple spices, because even if the rental kitchen has a full spice rack, the seasonings are likely to be past their prime. Auvon Weekly Pill Organizer, $7.98 on Amazon Perfect portions of all the spices you'll need, and you'll know they're fresh. Buy Now If you regularly consume chia pudding and you doubt there’ll be a store near your rental that stocks the seeds, better bring them with. Chowhound’s Overnight Oats with Summer Fruit Bring along your essential equipment too, if you can. A good, sturdy, sharp knife is something even gourmet kitchens in rental units are often missing. But think about what else you regularly use in your cooking. If you always grate your garlic on a Microplane, or use a citrus press to make fresh orange juice every morning, be sure to take those smaller items too. Vegetable peelers are another little tool that are often dull and disappointing in strange kitchens. 8-Piece Kitchen Utensil Travel Set, $22.99 on Amazon Designed for camping, but just as handy for other forms of travel. Swap in whatever tools you'll want or need for each trip. Buy Now It may seem silly to pack multiple pieces of equipment, but it’ll be better than making do with inferior versions (and better than buying all new ones, although if you want to be generous you can always leave them behind for the next people). If you have the trunk space and you can no longer live without your Instant Pot, then don’t! If you’re hellbent on frozen margaritas and are at all worried there might not be a blender, bring yours! Or, recall the importance of being flexible and try the freeze-in-a-bag method for slushy drinks. Related Reading: 7 Ways to Churn Out Ice Cream Without an Ice Cream Maker Buy from the Bulk Section This is good practice in general, but especially on vacation. If there is a bulk bin section at the store where you end up shopping, buy things like rice, nuts, and even spices from there, since you can measure out only as much as you’ll need during your stay, and it’ll usually be much cheaper than purchasing full-size bags and boxes. Pre-Measure Components if You Want to Bake This is the same idea as bringing small amounts of seasonings, but a bit more elaborate and precise. Since I sometimes like to make blondies, brownies, or bar cookies on the first morning of vacation and I never know if the pantry will be stocked with flour and baking soda, I pre-measure all the dry ingredients for a specific recipe and bring them along in baggies (everything that gets sifted together goes in one, with sugar in a separate bag if it’s supposed to be creamed with butter before the dry mixture is folded in). Related Reading: This One-Bowl Apple Snacking Cake Is a Life-Saver I often bring a disposable aluminum pan to bake them in too, and usually print out the recipe and tape it to the bottom so I don’t forget that. This not only ensures you have everything you need, but makes it super fast to whip up breakfast (hey, it is vacation) or dessert, since most of the tedious prep work is already done. Chowhound’s Crumbly Oat and Apricot Bars If you have the space, ability, and inclination, you can do the same thing for other meals—measure out panko breadcrumbs and cheese for an easy baked chicken dish, for instance, or bring just enough shredded coconut for a batch of tropical shrimp. It cuts down on how much you’ll spend at the store, and how much you’ll have to tote home (or leave behind). Envirogen Reusable Zip-Top Bags, 5 for $16.99 on Amazon These extra-thick, freezer-safe storage bags are a great eco-friendly way to take ingredients with you and bring leftovers home. Buy Now Take Inventory Once You Get There & Be Inspired If you’re not shopping for the bulk of your groceries until after you check into the house—or if you’ve inevitably forgotten something and need to run back to the nearest store within the first day or two—you’ll want to take note of exactly what the kitchen does have and allow it to inform your next moves. Maybe there’s a slow cooker that’ll inspire you to make pulled pork, which you can then stretch into two or three different meals (like sandwiches, tacos, and rice bowls). Or maybe there’s a bottle of really nice champagne vinegar you never would have splurged on yourself, but that screams for a fresh salad to be put together. Or an unexpected bottle of ouzo might urge you to get some cantaloupe to make our Melon Dip cocktail. Chowhound’s Melon Dip It could also be that the coffee filters were never restocked, so you might need to grab some of those too. Use the intel you gather to refine your meal plan and shopping list, and be sure to check for other things like plastic wrap, paper towels, and aluminum foil before you hit the store. Or, Get Creative & Adapt to Your Circumstances If you’ve already gotten all of your ingredients and are settled in but you find something else is wrong, just roll with it. If there’s no gas or charcoal for the grill and you can’t immediately replenish it, turn on the broiler instead. If your rental house is missing a baking pan but has a cast iron skillet, use that to bake in. If there’s only a tiny convenience store near your place and the sole pasta they stock is cheap macaroni, it will still taste (almost) as good as the artisanal rigatoni you may have had your heart set on. Or if the dishwasher’s malfunctioning and you don’t want to hand-wash a bunch of pans on vacay, foil packets work just as well in a beach house or mountain cabin as they do at a campsite in the woods. Chowhound’s Basic Fish Baked in Parchment And if you find the oven broken, you can even make pasta on a charcoal grill! Where there’s a will… Try not to stress, and know that you can laugh about these things later, even if they make you want to cry when they occur. (Or maybe you’re a normal person who doesn’t get that worked up over diverted dinner plans, but those of who do will still survive such setbacks.) Don’t Forget to Plan for the Leftovers You’re Not Supposed to Have Because even if you devise a meal plan that minimizes the potential for leftovers, chances are you’ll still have some edible odds and ends at the close of your trip. To account for this, be sure to bring zip-top baggies of various sizes and/or reusable storage containers with you, as well as bag clips , twist ties, and a cooler so you can pack any perishables home (plus ice packs if you won’t be near a source of bagged ice). Or try to find more creative ways to deal with them if there’s no possibility of refrigeration. On our last trip, rather than force down a bunch of blueberries I couldn’t finish or lose them all to a warm three-hour drive home, I cooked them into a syrup with sugar and lemon juice, then strained that into a bottle of vodka—an impromptu souvenir much nicer than anything I’d had in mind from the get-go. Chowhound’s Strawberry Syrup Let Someone Else Do (Most of) the Work Of course, if all this sounds like way too much work for what’s supposed to be a relaxing getaway, ignore it and order delivery or go out to a local restaurant instead—or even have meal kits delivered to your rental for the week! Related Reading: The Best Meal Kit Delivery Services | Eatwith Food Tours, Cooking Classes, and Dining Experiences Connect You with Local Foodies Everywhere If you’re in a spot that doesn’t support those options, sophisticated (but easy) sandwiches always work, as do various no-cook meals, including the ever-popular and highly grazeable cheese plate, plus a little wine or a fruity vacation cocktail. The important thing is that you enjoy yourself, wherever you are. What’s your favorite vacation cooking tip, trick, hack, or habit? Is there one meal you always make when you go away? Let us know in the comments! #HowTo #FoodNews
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Adtwixt - News source https://adtwixt.com/blogs/news/how-to-cook-on-vacation
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benjamingarden · 6 years
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8 Things I Wish I Knew About Meal Planning Before I Started
I've been meal planning for about 15 years, and I've been successfully meal planning for about 10 years.  What's the difference?  About 15 years ago when I decided to delve into this meal planning thing, the information I found was somewhat basic, which meant there was a lot of unknowns.  Also, the way I read it, it seemed every single person who used this system was successful.  So I felt like a complete failure when it just wasn't working out well for me. I've dropped meal planning, picked it back up, dropped it again, and then finally decided to pick it back up one last time, but only once I'd created solutions to the struggles I was having.  While I won't say it was an immediate success once I'd done this, I will tell you that once I was determined to stick with it for 2 months, regardless of any failures or stresses, it started becoming second nature.  It's now just a part of my week and it saves me time and money! There are a few things I wish I had known 15 years ago when I was struggling to adopt this very useful routine. 1. Meal Templates Will Make It Easier      By assigning a food theme to each night of the week, it makes it much easier when you're staring at a blank template trying to figure out which meals to plug in.      I automatically assign either 30 minute meals, slow-cooker meals, freezer meals or instant pot meals to the days of the week that I know I just won't have time (or energy) to devote to cooking.      Then, I've flipped between assigning proteins to the remainder days (chicken night, beef night, meatless night, etc.) or themes of meals (Mexican night, pizza night, etc.)  Either way, it works much better than having a completely empty calendar. related: The Ultimate Step By Step Guide To Meal Planning                6 Common Mistakes When Meal Planning (and how to avoid them) 2.  Keep Your Meal Plans      By recycling your meal plans (and, therefore, grocery lists) you will save yourself so much time and energy!  Why start from zero every week?
3. Plan Simple Meals For Busy Days       I spoke to this a tiny bit in number 1.  Do not plan to make a new recipe on a night where you won't have time or energy.  Do not plan to make a complicated recipe on a night where you won't have time or energy.  It won't work and you'll be frustrated.      I have a separate list for freezer meals and slow-cooker/instant pot meals.  I use meals from these lists on busy days (you could also have a no-cook list or a 30 minute meal list). 4. You Can Save Money!      I had no idea, when I first dove into meal planning, that I could use this tool to not only save time, but to save money.  LOTS of money!  We used meal planning to pay off our debt by planning by a tight budget.  Meal planning made it easier in that:
I knew exactly what I was buying each week
I was able to use up items we already had on hand
We were able to eat a more varied diet once I started planning.  Initially, when cutting our budget down from $130.00/week to around $60.00/week, I tended to cook the same things over and over because I couldn't figure out what else would fit in our budget.  Once I could plan it out, it became so much easier.
related: 6 Reasons Why You Should Be Meal Planning              The Ultimate List Of Meal Planning FAQ's 5. Inventory, Inventory, Inventory       Did I mention to inventory?  It really is such a useful tool that will save you both time and money.  Take an initial inventory of your fridge, pantry, and freezer(s) and keep it updated, if you can, for a quicker check each week.      This will be useful because:
 you won't accidentally purchase items you currently have
you won't miss an ingredient thinking you had it at home but didn't
you can see what's about to expire and then rotate those ingredients into the next week's meals so you won't have to throw them away
6. Use Your Perishables
     As noted above, you want to rotate in items from your fridge, freezer or pantry that are set to expire.  It's just a simple fact that American households throw out a LOT of money in food that has expired.  I used to think this wasn't me.  And then I challenged myself.  For 2 weeks I jotted down a cost to every single thing I threw out.  I was SHOCKED.  I began to take this point much more seriously, especially because we were using meal planning to pay off our debt.
7. If You Mess Up (Or Get Frustrated), Push Through
      It will happen.  It's just inevitable.  We are not perfect and we will drop the ball, make mistakes, or simply not want what we have scheduled for a meal one of the nights.  Set yourself up for success before that happens by putting a couple of back-up plans in place:
create a list of meals you can make from items you typically stock in your pantry/fridge/freezer. (spaghetti, buddha bowls, tacos, stir fry with rice, etc.)
welcome your family to participate meal planning.  Give them a cut-off time/date for requests each week and try to work in some of what they are requesting.
create a freezer meal or two as a back-up plan.  If they aren't needed, work them into an upcoming meal plan as a scheduled meal.  Then, create a couple more and do the same thing each month.
8. What Meal Planning Isn't
it isn't complicated.  We tend to rotate the same 20-30 meals all year anyway, now you're just planning in advance.
it isn't meant to be only for homemade meals.  You can absolutely "plan" to order take-out or go out to dinner.  The nice thing, is now those meals are planned and not something that just happens because you don't know what else to serve for dinner.
it isn't just for those who cook elaborate meals.  This is a planning system to allow you to answer the "what's for dinner" question once a week as opposed to every night.  And you can answer it without thought because it's already created!  Whether you serve rotisserie chicken with sides, frozen meals, or make from scratch a large portion of what your family eats, you will find so much benefit to using this tool.
Unofficially, here is #9.  Here's the thing.  Meal Planning is not for everyone.  I encourage you not to beat yourself up if it just doesn't work for you.  I receive a number of emails about exactly this.  Not everyone thrives on schedules, and that's perfectly ok.  With so much attention given to meal planning lately it's easy to feel like a failure if you can't make it work for you.  You are not a failure at all.  Continue to seek out what works for you.  This might be bits of meal planning or it may be nothing like meal planning at all.
How about you?  Have you tried meal planning?  I would love to hear from you what you've learned, tips you've come up with, or what your stumbling blocks are!
8 Things I Wish I Knew About Meal Planning Before I Started was originally posted by My Favorite Chicken Blogs(benjamingardening)
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realsimplegood · 7 years
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Are you excited to start the life-changing Whole30 program? We are so happy that you are taking the challenge and have found us! We’ve put together this Whole30 starter kit to help make the journey a little easier. We have some helpful resources, tips and tricks as well as links to some helpful kitchen tools and Whole30 compliant products that will save you time and effort along the way. Shall we get going?
Before we start, be sure to sign up and get our complete Whole30 Meal Plan. Trust us, it will save you tons of time and you’ll get delicious Whole30 compliant recipes delivered right to your inbox! Click over to our Whole30 Meal Plan post to learn more or sign up using the button below.
Send me a FREE  Whole30 meal plan
Step 1 – Educate yourself
LEARN THE BASICS
First off, you’ve got to learn the basics of the Whole30 program. The best resource for this is the original bestselling book from Melissa Hartwig – The Whole30: The 30-Day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom.
Be sure to check out the official Whole30 website. There is a lot of information on this site and you should be able to find answers to any question you might have. Some of our favorite pages are below:
The Whole30 Program Rules (This is essential and you’ll refer back to it often)
Whole30 101: The Official “Can I Have…” Guide to the Whole30 (Check here if you’re wondering “is this ingredient Whole30?”)
Whole30 Downloads (Our favorites are the the common additives cheat sheet and the guide to sneaky sugars)
LEARN FROM OTHERS
Read what others have to say about their Whole30 journey. You’ll get some helpful tips and tricks + a dose of inspiration:
15 Things I learned from Whole30 – by Kate, Root + Revel
6 Whole30 mistakes you might be making – by Dana, Real Food with Dana
How I survived Whole 30 – by Shannon, A Periodic Table
I went on the Whole30 diet and here’s what happened – by Lindsey, SELF
10 Things I learned during Whole30 – by Elsie, A Beautiful Mess
Step 2 – Clean up your kitchen
This has nothing to do with a scrub brush or soap. One one of the most important tasks to complete to ensure you’ll be successful on your Whole30 is cleaning out your refrigerator and pantry. This is different for everyone, but ideally you want to get rid of all of the non-approved Whole30 items in your fridge and pantry. If you can’t get rid of it all (maybe everyone in the house isn’t doing the program) at least try and move all of the non-approved items to a separate area or cupboard.
Once you’ve cleaned up your kitchen, you’ll need to restock it with some clean kitchen staples. To help with this, we have created a list of common Whole30 pantry and fridge staple items that we use in a lot of our recipes. You’ll need to stock up most of the items on this list to use when cooking your Whole30 meals. Click the button below to download the list.
Whole30 Staples
Step 3 – Plan, plan, plan
You can’t go through any portion of your Whole30 without having some sort of plan. For the most part, eating out will be off the table so you need to have a plan for cooking all of your meals at home. For this, we’ve got you completely covered with our Whole30 meal plan. We’ve already done the planning for you, so all you have to do is execute the plan! We’ve also incorporated time-saving make ahead meals, flexible prep steps and planned leftovers in our meal plan to streamline your time in the kitchen each week. You can read more about our Whole30 meal plan here.
For those of you who don’t follow our plan, we’ve created some weekly templates for you to help make your meal planning easier. These will provide a basic format to start your meal planning with. Just click the button below to download your weekly meal plan and shopping list template.
Download the free templates
If you are making your own plan from scratch, for inspiration be sure to check out our Whole30 boards on Pinterest for some delicious Whole30 meals. Also, below are links to some of our favorite fellow bloggers who all have a lot of Whole30 recipes on their site!
Jay’s Baking Me Crazy
Paleo Running Momma
Wholesomeliscious
Nom Nom Paleo
The Real Food Dietitians
Paleo Gluten Free Eats
The Movement Menu
Step 4 – Make sure you have all the tools
While we don’t recommend going out and buying a ton of new kitchen gadgets for your Whole30, you may want to invest in a couple of items that will make your life easier during the 30 days. Below are some tools that we use regularly and will be useful for the Whole30.
ESSENTIAL TOOLS
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GLASSLOCK CONTAINERS
CROCKPOT
INSTANT POT
SPIRALIZER
Glasslock Containers – These containers will hold your leftovers and any meals you prep over the weekend. They are dishwasher, microwave, oven and freezer safe.
Crockpot – This will do a lot of work for you during your Whole30. It’s good for large meals with leftovers.
Instant Pot – It’s like a space-age crockpot that cooks meals so fast you won’t believe it. If you’ve thought about getting an Instant Pot but haven’t yet, now might be the time.
Spiralizer – Turn zucchini and sweet potatoes into noodles and slice and dice veggies in interesting ways with this cheap gadget.
Step 5 – Know where to find WHOLE30 APPROVED Products
Most of what you eat during your Whole30 will consist of moderate portions of meat, seafood, and eggs; lots of vegetables; some fruit; plenty of natural fats; and herbs, spices, and seasonings. We’ve found that certain Whole30 approved food products can make life easier during the Whole30, so you don’t always have to make everything 100% from scratch.
OUR FAVORITE ONLINE STORES
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US WELLNESS MEATS
THRIVE MARKET
PRIMAL KITCHEN
PRIMAL PALATE
US Wellness Meats – A go-to online shop for quality grass-fed meats. You can find chorizo, sugar-free bacon, beef franks and more. Here is a direct link to all of their Whole30 approved products.
Thrive Market – Sign up through this link and get a free 30-day trial membership, 20% off your first order and free shipping! They have a Whole30 pro starter kit filled with products we use regularly.
Primal Kitchen – Their products are all clearly labeled so you know which are Whole30 approved. Here you can find mayo, chipotle lime mayo (our favorite), avocado oil and some salad dressings. They have a Whole30 kit containing these items too.
Primal Palate – Quality organic spices and seasoning blends. Our personal favorite is the meat and potatoes blend.
SOME BRANDS WE USE
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EPIC
RED BOAT
TESSEMAE’S
TIN STAR
EPIC – Their bars can be a lifesaver for a quality, protein-filled snack. They also have bone broth and quality animal cooking fats.
Red Boat Fish Sauce – This umami laden sauce adds so much flavor to many different recipes. It’s a pantry staple for us.
Tessemae’s – Tessemae’s has several Whole30 dressings, sauces and marinades. These can up your game in the kitchen significantly without having to make everything from scratch.
Tin Star Ghee – If you haven’t heard of ghee yet you’ll be very familiar with it by the end of your Whole30. We can’t imagine cooking without it.
You can also find a complete listing of all of the latest Whole30 approved products on the Whole30 website here.
Step 6 – Commit and stay positive!
The final step of our Whole30 starter kit is a friendly reminder to make sure that you are 100% committed to following the program rules for the entire 30 days. If you can, summarize why you are doing the Whole30 down to a simple phrase or mantra. This can be something simple like “for my kids”, “for my health”, “to support my husband” – anything that resonates strongly with you. This mantra is what you can tell yourself if you are ever struggling and need to remind yourself why you originally committed to the Whole30 and why you should stick through it.
If you go through some struggles during the 30 days (inevitably you will), remember to stay positive and keep moving forward. You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish with a strong commitment and positive attitude.
Ok that’s it – you made it through the Whole30 starter kit! We hope you found it helpful and you took away some valuable tools and knowledge that you’ll apply to your Whole30. Let us know if there is anything we missed by leaving a comment below.
Also, don’t forget to sign up and get our complete Whole30 Meal Plan. We’ve done all of the recipe planning, created weekly shopping lists and put together the whole package for you to make your Whole30 as easy as possible! Click over to our Whole30 Meal Plan post to learn more or sign up using the button below.
Send me a FREE  Whole30 meal plan
Whole30 Starter Kit Are you excited to start the life-changing Whole30 program? We are so happy that you are taking the challenge and have found us!
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adtwixt · 5 years
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Adtwixt - News: How to Cook on Vacation
Vacation should never be stressful, but unexpected things do happen. One of the reliably unpredictable aspects is just what your rental house kitchen will be like. If you want to cook on vacation, there are some things you can do to make it as pleasurable as possible, no matter what you encounter upon arrival. For some people, of course, the whole point of vacation is not to do anything, and even those who enjoy more active holidays may choose to have their meals made for them. But some of us love cooking, and look forward to doing it while we’re away. Whether we’re making our favorite dishes or trying out new ones we don’t have time for in our daily lives, cooking on vacation isn’t a chore, but a pleasure—or at least, it should be. Vacation rental kitchens can be very different from our own, though, and not always in a good way. They’re often missing equipment, or stocked with sub-par tools, and they may or may not have basic items like salt and pepper. In order to keep your vacation as enjoyable as possible, here are some tips on cooking in a rental kitchen: Make a meal plan (but stay flexible). Make packing and shopping lists. Research local markets and stores beforehand. Bring staple ingredients and tools along if you can. Head for the bulk bins. Pre-measure ingredients for baking. Take inventory and be inspired by what you find (or don’t find). Adapt to your circumstances. Make a plan to deal with leftovers. Let someone else do it. Make a Meal Plan, but Don’t Marry It If you’re cooking on vacation, step one is to figure out what you’ll make. This can be as simple or as complicated as you like, but either way, try to plan meals where any leftovers can be turned into the next day’s lunch, or even another dinner (if you make fajitas one night, you can mix leftover grilled veggies into another day’s frittata—but that dish won’t depend on the leftovers either). And choose dishes that utilize some of the same ingredients. If you buy a bunch of basil for one night’s pasta, for instance, but it only calls for a tablespoon of the herb, think of another meal that will use the rest of it so you’re not wasting anything. It could be something as easy as a simple herb butter to melt over roasted or grilled salmon, or a slightly more complex pesto or chimichurri sauce (which you could then use on a sandwich the next day). Chowhound’s Grilled Chicken Fajitas Don’t get overly attached to your plan, though, because you never know if you’ll find everything you need at the store—so think of it as more of a rough sketch than a final blueprint. The avocados you want for your first night’s guac may all be rock-hard and there will be nothing you can do but shift your plans, or ditch them completely. Other setbacks can be worked around. If you can’t find that basil, be willing to replace it with another herb (or have a backup meal in mind)—or, if you’re less into planning ahead anyway, let yourself be inspired by whatever you do find; however, it’s still helpful to write down exactly what you need for each dish as you envision it on the fly, so you don’t leave the store without something important. Chowhound’s Guacamole And don’t count on special equipment, either; it’s standard for rental sites to list the major appliances and amenities each house has, but even if they definitely have a grill, that’s not an iron-clad guarantee it’ll be working when you get there. So you can plan to char some steaks, but if that ends up not being a possibility, be ready to broil them instead. Read More: Easy Meals You Can Cook In Any Vacation Rental Kitchen Make a List (or Two): For Packing & Shopping I always make two food-related lists when renting a vacation house: one for the things I’ll pack (more on that a bit below), and one for the things I’ll buy once we get where we’re going. I’m addicted to Google Keep—in part because sharing lists with the other people in the group so they can edit and check items off if we split up the shopping duties is so easy—but good old-fashioned paper works as well, or use your favorite note-taking app. Refillable Leather Pocket Travelers Notebook, $12.95 on Amazon There's no reason your travel journal can't include your shopping lists (it's also great for jotting down new recipes you come up with). Buy Now If you’re not obsessed with lists and this seems like a total drag, well, I can’t really sympathize (I made lists just for fun even as a kid), but I do suggest taking a mere ten minutes to do it anyway, since it really minimizes the chances of kicking yourself down the road…when you realize you left the lemongrass you wanted to use for simple syrup at home, for instance, and there’s none to be found at your destination. Or you discover you forgot to pack your favorite fancy coffee beans, or didn’t bring cumin and the store ends up charging $8 for it. Planning ahead can help mitigate many minor disasters. Chowhound’s Green Bean and Cherry Tomato Salad with Grilled Steak Scope Out Local Stores and Markets Beforehand Thanks to the internet, you can usually get a good sense of what grocery stores, specialty shops, and farmers markets there are near your destination before you actually get there, which can help you better prepare your meal plan. For instance, there’s an amazing supermarket in Poulsbo, Wa. (what up, Central Market!) that has a great Asian food section I didn’t expect to be there (not to mention a superb prepared foods department)—so now I know I can make authentic pad Thai while vacationing on that part of the Puget Sound if I want to, which wouldn’t always be the case in other small town locations. If there’s a dock where you can buy fresh seafood directly from fishermen, consider stopping there one night for your main ingredient, or visit the Saturday market to stock up on fresh produce and other local gems. Chowhound’s Grilled Paella Take Staple Ingredients & Tools with You This is obviously a lot easier if you’re driving to your destination, but it’s doable on a smaller scale even if you’re flying (particularly if you’re checking a bag). Related Reading: 7 Packing Cubes That Make Travel a Breeze | What Foods Are Allowed Through Airport Security? Think about what you absolutely need—like salt and pepper—and just bring it with you if you’d rather not have to buy it once you arrive, especially if it’s likely to be pricier, as with olive oil and specific spice blends. This also ensures you’ll have the exact brands and types you like (Diamond Crystal kosher salt and your perfect pepper mill, for instance). 8-Pack Reusable Squeeze Bottle Containers, $9.36 on Amazon These are petite (though not TSA-approved) and perect for bringing small amounts of your favorite oils, vinegars, sauces, and condiments along. Buy Now You can decant things into smaller containers if need be—place a pinch of saffron in a snack-size bag, or use one of those seven-day pill organizers to pack a couple teaspoons of multiple spices, because even if the rental kitchen has a full spice rack, the seasonings are likely to be past their prime. Auvon Weekly Pill Organizer, $7.98 on Amazon Perfect portions of all the spices you'll need, and you'll know they're fresh. Buy Now If you regularly consume chia pudding and you doubt there’ll be a store near your rental that stocks the seeds, better bring them with. Chowhound’s Overnight Oats with Summer Fruit Bring along your essential equipment too, if you can. A good, sturdy, sharp knife is something even gourmet kitchens in rental units are often missing. But think about what else you regularly use in your cooking. If you always grate your garlic on a Microplane, or use a citrus press to make fresh orange juice every morning, be sure to take those smaller items too. Vegetable peelers are another little tool that are often dull and disappointing in strange kitchens. 8-Piece Kitchen Utensil Travel Set, $22.99 on Amazon Designed for camping, but just as handy for other forms of travel. Swap in whatever tools you'll want or need for each trip. Buy Now It may seem silly to pack multiple pieces of equipment, but it’ll be better than making do with inferior versions (and better than buying all new ones, although if you want to be generous you can always leave them behind for the next people). If you have the trunk space and you can no longer live without your Instant Pot, then don’t! If you’re hellbent on frozen margaritas and are at all worried there might not be a blender, bring yours! Or, recall the importance of being flexible and try the freeze-in-a-bag method for slushy drinks. Related Reading: 7 Ways to Churn Out Ice Cream Without an Ice Cream Maker Buy from the Bulk Section This is good practice in general, but especially on vacation. If there is a bulk bin section at the store where you end up shopping, buy things like rice, nuts, and even spices from there, since you can measure out only as much as you’ll need during your stay, and it’ll usually be much cheaper than purchasing full-size bags and boxes. Pre-Measure Components if You Want to Bake This is the same idea as bringing small amounts of seasonings, but a bit more elaborate and precise. Since I sometimes like to make blondies, brownies, or bar cookies on the first morning of vacation and I never know if the pantry will be stocked with flour and baking soda, I pre-measure all the dry ingredients for a specific recipe and bring them along in baggies (everything that gets sifted together goes in one, with sugar in a separate bag if it’s supposed to be creamed with butter before the dry mixture is folded in). Related Reading: This One-Bowl Apple Snacking Cake Is a Life-Saver I often bring a disposable aluminum pan to bake them in too, and usually print out the recipe and tape it to the bottom so I don’t forget that. This not only ensures you have everything you need, but makes it super fast to whip up breakfast (hey, it is vacation) or dessert, since most of the tedious prep work is already done. Chowhound’s Crumbly Oat and Apricot Bars If you have the space, ability, and inclination, you can do the same thing for other meals—measure out panko breadcrumbs and cheese for an easy baked chicken dish, for instance, or bring just enough shredded coconut for a batch of tropical shrimp. It cuts down on how much you’ll spend at the store, and how much you’ll have to tote home (or leave behind). Envirogen Reusable Zip-Top Bags, 5 for $16.99 on Amazon These extra-thick, freezer-safe storage bags are a great eco-friendly way to take ingredients with you and bring leftovers home. Buy Now Take Inventory Once You Get There & Be Inspired If you’re not shopping for the bulk of your groceries until after you check into the house—or if you’ve inevitably forgotten something and need to run back to the nearest store within the first day or two—you’ll want to take note of exactly what the kitchen does have and allow it to inform your next moves. Maybe there’s a slow cooker that’ll inspire you to make pulled pork, which you can then stretch into two or three different meals (like sandwiches, tacos, and rice bowls). Or maybe there’s a bottle of really nice champagne vinegar you never would have splurged on yourself, but that screams for a fresh salad to be put together. Or an unexpected bottle of ouzo might urge you to get some cantaloupe to make our Melon Dip cocktail. Chowhound’s Melon Dip It could also be that the coffee filters were never restocked, so you might need to grab some of those too. Use the intel you gather to refine your meal plan and shopping list, and be sure to check for other things like plastic wrap, paper towels, and aluminum foil before you hit the store. Or, Get Creative & Adapt to Your Circumstances If you’ve already gotten all of your ingredients and are settled in but you find something else is wrong, just roll with it. If there’s no gas or charcoal for the grill and you can’t immediately replenish it, turn on the broiler instead. If your rental house is missing a baking pan but has a cast iron skillet, use that to bake in. If there’s only a tiny convenience store near your place and the sole pasta they stock is cheap macaroni, it will still taste (almost) as good as the artisanal rigatoni you may have had your heart set on. Or if the dishwasher’s malfunctioning and you don’t want to hand-wash a bunch of pans on vacay, foil packets work just as well in a beach house or mountain cabin as they do at a campsite in the woods. Chowhound’s Basic Fish Baked in Parchment And if you find the oven broken, you can even make pasta on a charcoal grill! Where there’s a will… Try not to stress, and know that you can laugh about these things later, even if they make you want to cry when they occur. (Or maybe you’re a normal person who doesn’t get that worked up over diverted dinner plans, but those of who do will still survive such setbacks.) Don’t Forget to Plan for the Leftovers You’re Not Supposed to Have Because even if you devise a meal plan that minimizes the potential for leftovers, chances are you’ll still have some edible odds and ends at the close of your trip. To account for this, be sure to bring zip-top baggies of various sizes and/or reusable storage containers with you, as well as bag clips , twist ties, and a cooler so you can pack any perishables home (plus ice packs if you won’t be near a source of bagged ice). Or try to find more creative ways to deal with them if there’s no possibility of refrigeration. On our last trip, rather than force down a bunch of blueberries I couldn’t finish or lose them all to a warm three-hour drive home, I cooked them into a syrup with sugar and lemon juice, then strained that into a bottle of vodka—an impromptu souvenir much nicer than anything I’d had in mind from the get-go. Chowhound’s Strawberry Syrup Let Someone Else Do (Most of) the Work Of course, if all this sounds like way too much work for what’s supposed to be a relaxing getaway, ignore it and order delivery or go out to a local restaurant instead—or even have meal kits delivered to your rental for the week! Related Reading: The Best Meal Kit Delivery Services | Eatwith Food Tours, Cooking Classes, and Dining Experiences Connect You with Local Foodies Everywhere If you’re in a spot that doesn’t support those options, sophisticated (but easy) sandwiches always work, as do various no-cook meals, including the ever-popular and highly grazeable cheese plate, plus a little wine or a fruity vacation cocktail. The important thing is that you enjoy yourself, wherever you are. What’s your favorite vacation cooking tip, trick, hack, or habit? Is there one meal you always make when you go away? Let us know in the comments! #HowTo #FoodNews
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benjamingarden · 6 years
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8 Things I Wish I Knew About Meal Planning Before I Started
I've been meal planning for about 15 years, and I've been successfully meal planning for about 10 years.  What's the difference?  About 15 years ago when I decided to delve into this meal planning thing, the information I found was somewhat basic, which meant there was a lot of unknowns.  Also, the way I read it, it seemed every single person who used this system was successful.  So I felt like a complete failure when it just wasn't working out well for me. I've dropped meal planning, picked it back up, dropped it again, and then finally decided to pick it back up one last time, but only once I'd created solutions to the struggles I was having.  While I won't say it was an immediate success once I'd done this, I will tell you that once I was determined to stick with it for 2 months, regardless of any failures or stresses, it started becoming second nature.  It's now just a part of my week and it saves me time and money! There are a few things I wish I had known 15 years ago when I was struggling to adopt this very useful routine. 1. Meal Templates Will Make It Easier      By assigning a food theme to each night of the week, it makes it much easier when you're staring at a blank template trying to figure out which meals to plug in.      I automatically assign either 30 minute meals, slow-cooker meals, freezer meals or instant pot meals to the days of the week that I know I just won't have time (or energy) to devote to cooking.      Then, I've flipped between assigning proteins to the remainder days (chicken night, beef night, meatless night, etc.) or themes of meals (Mexican night, pizza night, etc.)  Either way, it works much better than having a completely empty calendar. related: The Ultimate Step By Step Guide To Meal Planning                6 Common Mistakes When Meal Planning (and how to avoid them) 2.  Keep Your Meal Plans      By recycling your meal plans (and, therefore, grocery lists) you will save yourself so much time and energy!  Why start from zero every week?
3. Plan Simple Meals For Busy Days       I spoke to this a tiny bit in number 1.  Do not plan to make a new recipe on a night where you won't have time or energy.  Do not plan to make a complicated recipe on a night where you won't have time or energy.  It won't work and you'll be frustrated.      I have a separate list for freezer meals and slow-cooker/instant pot meals.  I use meals from these lists on busy days (you could also have a no-cook list or a 30 minute meal list). 4. You Can Save Money!      I had no idea, when I first dove into meal planning, that I could use this tool to not only save time, but to save money.  LOTS of money!  We used meal planning to pay off our debt by planning by a tight budget.  Meal planning made it easier in that:
I knew exactly what I was buying each week
I was able to use up items we already had on hand
We were able to eat a more varied diet once I started planning.  Initially, when cutting our budget down from $130.00/week to around $60.00/week, I tended to cook the same things over and over because I couldn't figure out what else would fit in our budget.  Once I could plan it out, it became so much easier.
related: 6 Reasons Why You Should Be Meal Planning              The Ultimate List Of Meal Planning FAQ's 5. Inventory, Inventory, Inventory       Did I mention to inventory?  It really is such a useful tool that will save you both time and money.  Take an initial inventory of your fridge, pantry, and freezer(s) and keep it updated, if you can, for a quicker check each week.      This will be useful because:
 you won't accidentally purchase items you currently have
you won't miss an ingredient thinking you had it at home but didn't
you can see what's about to expire and then rotate those ingredients into the next week's meals so you won't have to throw them away
6. Use Your Perishables
     As noted above, you want to rotate in items from your fridge, freezer or pantry that are set to expire.  It's just a simple fact that American households throw out a LOT of money in food that has expired.  I used to think this wasn't me.  And then I challenged myself.  For 2 weeks I jotted down a cost to every single thing I threw out.  I was SHOCKED.  I began to take this point much more seriously, especially because we were using meal planning to pay off our debt.
7. If You Mess Up (Or Get Frustrated), Push Through
      It will happen.  It's just inevitable.  We are not perfect and we will drop the ball, make mistakes, or simply not want what we have scheduled for a meal one of the nights.  Set yourself up for success before that happens by putting a couple of back-up plans in place:
create a list of meals you can make from items you typically stock in your pantry/fridge/freezer. (spaghetti, buddha bowls, tacos, stir fry with rice, etc.)
welcome your family to participate meal planning.  Give them a cut-off time/date for requests each week and try to work in some of what they are requesting.
create a freezer meal or two as a back-up plan.  If they aren't needed, work them into an upcoming meal plan as a scheduled meal.  Then, create a couple more and do the same thing each month.
8. What Meal Planning Isn't
it isn't complicated.  We tend to rotate the same 20-30 meals all year anyway, now you're just planning in advance.
it isn't meant to be only for homemade meals.  You can absolutely "plan" to order take-out or go out to dinner.  The nice thing, is now those meals are planned and not something that just happens because you don't know what else to serve for dinner.
it isn't just for those who cook elaborate meals.  This is a planning system to allow you to answer the "what's for dinner" question once a week as opposed to every night.  And you can answer it without thought because it's already created!  Whether you serve rotisserie chicken with sides, frozen meals, or make from scratch a large portion of what your family eats, you will find so much benefit to using this tool.
Unofficially, here is #9.  Here's the thing.  Meal Planning is not for everyone.  I encourage you not to beat yourself up if it just doesn't work for you.  I receive a number of emails about exactly this.  Not everyone thrives on schedules, and that's perfectly ok.  With so much attention given to meal planning lately it's easy to feel like a failure if you can't make it work for you.  You are not a failure at all.  Continue to seek out what works for you.  This might be bits of meal planning or it may be nothing like meal planning at all.
How about you?  Have you tried meal planning?  I would love to hear from you what you've learned, tips you've come up with, or what your stumbling blocks are!
8 Things I Wish I Knew About Meal Planning Before I Started was originally posted by My Favorite Chicken Blogs(benjamingardening)
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