APPENDIX A

Shortcut Ingredients

Companies introduce thousands of new convenience products into the market every year. It’s worth your time to stroll through your grocery store every month or so looking for new products and advances in food preparation.

Shelf-stable grocery products can be stored at room temperature without refrigeration. Keep a good selection of these products on hand in your pantry, organized by type.

The number of prepared meat products has skyrocketed in recent years. From cooked deli meats to heat-and-eat entrées, these products not only make quick work of the main dish, but they can be used as an ingredient in recipes. Excellent value-added meat products include:

The produce and dairy departments have perhaps changed the most over the past few years, with introductions of many value-added and prepared foods. Many of these items will keep after opening, under refrigeration, for several weeks. Be sure there is a “use by” date on them; if not, mark the date of purchase and discard after a few weeks. Produce and dairy products that will save you time include:

In the frozen aisle of the supermarket, you’ll find totally prepared meals as well as ingredients to make meals quickly. For instance, add some chopped chicken to any of the frozen vegetable combinations, especially those with sauce, and dinner is on the table in less than 15 minutes.

And the deli department is bursting with wonderful precooked meats and vegetables, salads, cheeses, breads, and flavored oils and sauces. These ingredients do cost more than those you prepare yourself, but they are excellent time-savers. Not only can you serve them as is, but they are great components in many five-ingredient recipes. Deli ingredients to look for include:

There are many products on the market that will help you organize your kitchen and cook safely and more efficiently: from lazy Susans to spice racks, pot racks to storage containers. Think about investing some money in new products to help keep your kitchen in order. If you have a kitchen with little counter space, purchase a center island or work island on casters that can be pulled out when cooking, then rolled away into a pantry or closet after use.