The Ultimate Shopping List

My cousin, Annelisa,  has just been visiting from NYC. She couldn’t believe the Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods here – couldn’t specifically believe the lack of a line. She’s so right: whenever I visit Manhattan, I can’t believe how laborious grocery shopping is compared to Los Angeles, where you sail into a large car park, and customers here throw a hissy-fit if they have to wait in line for more than 5 minutes. No wonder NYC residents get their groceries delivered.

Our shopping discussions led my cousin to suggest that I create the ultimate shopping list for everyone to make sure they have all the basics for most recipes. She said that she’s always put off trying a new recipe if it contains something that she has to schelpp to a gourmet grocery store for. It’s also useful for someone who is just setting up home to have the perfect “basics” list.  I provide a number of shopping lists that are suited to the eating plans in The Gorgeously Green Diet, but for those of you who would find a general master list useful, I’ve decided to start one right here.

This list is good for all the basics. The only things you will need to get on top of this for most of your cooking needs, are perishables. Keep in mind that I’ve probably left a few things off the list, and this is where you come in –  I’d love you to add whatever necessity you think is not on the list, and in about 2 weeks from today, I’ll compile a master list with all your added suggestions, and have it made into a printable PDF format. You can keep it stuck to your fridge or inside a cabinet door and check off before leaving for the store. This may prevent numerous, annoying short trips. Sounds good? Here we go:

Pantry:

• Vanilla Extract
• Cinnamon
• Turmeric
• Ground cumin
• Chilli Flakes
• Dried: Bouquet Garni, Thyme, Oregano, and Dill
• Curry Powder
• Garlic Salt
• Sea Salt (my fave is Maldon or Murray River)
• Pepper corns
• Fennel Seeds
• 1 can chipotle chilis in Ancho sauce (usually found in Asian section, & great if you whizz up in blender and keep in a jar)
• High heat sunflower or canola oil ( I like Spectrum best)
• Pure/refined olive oil (for frying)
• Extra Virgin Olive oil
• Virgin/Raw coconut oil
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Wine whine or white Balsamic vinegar
• Some really good aged Balsamic vinegar
• Yellow mustard
• Dijon mustard
• Honey
• Maple Syrup
• Raisins
• Dried cranberries
• Raw Almonds
• An assortment of bags of nuts you like most: cashew, pecans, pistachios etc
• Pine nuts
• Stock Bouillion Cubes
• 4 boxes of organic chicken or veggie stock
• 4 boxes or cans organic soup of choice ( I always keep boxes of organic tomato soup)
• 2 cans coconut milk
• 1 jar tahini
• 2 jars mayo
• 2 jars pickles
• 4 cans organic tomatoes
• 2 tubes tomato puree
• 1 tube garlic (in case you run out of fresh)
• 1 large bottle Tamari sauce
• 1 large bottle Worcestershire sauce
• 1 large bottle organic tomato ketchup
• 4 cans garbanzo beans
• 2 cans black beans
• 2 cans white Navy beans
• 6 cans of tune or sardines
• 2 cans anchovies
• 2 jars of capers
• 2 jars of marinated bell peppers
• 2 jars Kalamata olives
• 2 jars sun-dried tomatoes
• Honey
• Maple Syrup
• 1 bag unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 bag all-purpose baking mix flour
• 1 bag almond meal
• baking powder
• baking soda
• Cacao powder
• 1 bag brown sugar
• 1 bag of Xylilol ( I like Xyla), or Agave Nectar
• 2 jars of jelly
• Maca powder (amazing super food to put in smoothies)
• Ground flaxseed and/or hempseeds
• Green tea and black tea (even if you don’t drink it, you may have guests who do)
• Dark Chocolate for cooking and eating!
• 4 bags pasta (I always buy gluten-free pasta and regular)
• 1 bag brown rice
• 1 bag white Basmati rice
• Arborio Rice
• Green & Red lentils
• 1 box quinoa
• 1 box cous-cous
• Lasagna sheets
• Dried mixed mushrooms
• 4 boxes of your nut/rice milk of choice
• Almond Butter
• Peanut Butter

Freezer:

• Bread crumbs
• Blueberries (or whichever fruit you like for smoothies)
• Coffee (if you don’t drink it, your guests may)
• Croissants ( I like the ones from Trader Joe’s that you leave to defrost and puff-up overnight)
• Peas and corn