Help me stock my locker pantry!
September 4, 2010 3:02 PM Subscribe
Help me build the perfect locker pantry! Suggest non-perishable staples that I can keep in my locker to create quick lunches.
I love to shop the twice weekly farmers market near my work, and I'd love to be able to create quick lunches from my market bounty. What can I keep in my locker to make this happen? I'm not interested in prepared foods so much as ingredients.
Current list:
Olive oil, sherry vinegar, salt, pepper grinder, almond butter, chocolate, bowl, plate, knife, fork, spoon.
Note: while there is a fridge, I'd rather not keep anything in it aside from fresh produce. We've got a microwave, and water coolers that dispense near-boiling water.
I love to shop the twice weekly farmers market near my work, and I'd love to be able to create quick lunches from my market bounty. What can I keep in my locker to make this happen? I'm not interested in prepared foods so much as ingredients.
Current list:
Olive oil, sherry vinegar, salt, pepper grinder, almond butter, chocolate, bowl, plate, knife, fork, spoon.
Note: while there is a fridge, I'd rather not keep anything in it aside from fresh produce. We've got a microwave, and water coolers that dispense near-boiling water.
Tinned fish—sardines, herring, tuna, oysters—serves me well in a similar setup. I also keep breakfast cereal, tortillas, graham crackers, raisins and other dried fruit, peanuts, almonds, peanut butter, and I usually keep milk, yogurt, eggs, cheese, and often rice in the office fridge.
posted by cgc373 at 3:37 PM on September 4, 2010
posted by cgc373 at 3:37 PM on September 4, 2010
If you're buying fruit, you could try making smoothies with a stick blender and a cup of yogurt. You can keep protein powder in the locker.
Make sure your bowl has a lid, so you can microwave stuff in it. If you're not vegetarian, keep chicken bouillon cubes, dried ramen that you can add vegetables to, (same with couscous).
posted by Ideefixe at 3:40 PM on September 4, 2010
Make sure your bowl has a lid, so you can microwave stuff in it. If you're not vegetarian, keep chicken bouillon cubes, dried ramen that you can add vegetables to, (same with couscous).
posted by Ideefixe at 3:40 PM on September 4, 2010
I'd add basic spices, especially garlic, cayenne, and oregano. Also, rice.
I don't have the cooking skills for a lot of stuff, so I personally have a measuring cup, pasta, spaghetti sauce, Worchestershire sauce, Italian spices, cumin, chili powder, mayonaise, mustard, a cheese grater, tunafish, crackers, and butter.
posted by SMPA at 3:42 PM on September 4, 2010
I don't have the cooking skills for a lot of stuff, so I personally have a measuring cup, pasta, spaghetti sauce, Worchestershire sauce, Italian spices, cumin, chili powder, mayonaise, mustard, a cheese grater, tunafish, crackers, and butter.
posted by SMPA at 3:42 PM on September 4, 2010
Response by poster: Note: I do not have access to a stove or oven.
posted by mollymayhem at 3:59 PM on September 4, 2010
posted by mollymayhem at 3:59 PM on September 4, 2010
What about adding a nice toaster oven to the community kitchen ? You can get a pretty sweet unit for less than $100. That, or a hotplate would have an exponential effect on your menu.
posted by lobstah at 4:43 PM on September 4, 2010
posted by lobstah at 4:43 PM on September 4, 2010
Bob's Red Mill had a a hot breakfast cereal grain blend I love. I believe it comes in 7 and 10 grain versions; the three extra grains tend to be a little nuttier and stronger tasting so some people prefer the 7 grain.
It's healthy whole grains, easy to microwave, and a nice blank canvas of carbs. Try:
-Mexican Brown Sugar (panela) and raisins
-berries, peaches, or other Farmer's Market fruit mixed in
-scallions, olive oil, and a bit of parmesan if you can swing it
These suggestions also work for regular old oatmeal or cream of wheat. If you mix a bit of ground flax seed in there as well your tastebuds won't notice but your body will thank you.
posted by Juliet Banana at 5:25 PM on September 4, 2010 [1 favorite]
It's healthy whole grains, easy to microwave, and a nice blank canvas of carbs. Try:
-Mexican Brown Sugar (panela) and raisins
-berries, peaches, or other Farmer's Market fruit mixed in
-scallions, olive oil, and a bit of parmesan if you can swing it
These suggestions also work for regular old oatmeal or cream of wheat. If you mix a bit of ground flax seed in there as well your tastebuds won't notice but your body will thank you.
posted by Juliet Banana at 5:25 PM on September 4, 2010 [1 favorite]
Rice noodles! One of my favourite winter lunches is to bring in a small container from home with a handful of spinach and some canned beans, plus a packet of rice noodles. At lunch, all I need to do is add water from a kettle, mix it all together and let it sit for about five minutes. Yum!
posted by JoannaC at 9:06 PM on September 4, 2010
posted by JoannaC at 9:06 PM on September 4, 2010
Sriracha, hoisin, canned chickpeas, and tortillas -- mix nearly any ingredient with the first three and wrap in the tortillas, and it will become a filling, delicious, and proteiny sandwich.
Salad dressings can be surprisingly versatile (on sandwiches, mixed into rice, dipping sauce for crudites...), if you're willing to experiment and (unlike me) can afford the calories.
For that matter, sriracha + cheese mixed into rice creates a pizzalike goo that I would headbutt Grandma for.
posted by foursentences at 8:44 AM on September 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
Salad dressings can be surprisingly versatile (on sandwiches, mixed into rice, dipping sauce for crudites...), if you're willing to experiment and (unlike me) can afford the calories.
For that matter, sriracha + cheese mixed into rice creates a pizzalike goo that I would headbutt Grandma for.
posted by foursentences at 8:44 AM on September 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by nanhey at 3:25 PM on September 4, 2010