On Prepared Foods
The ones I love, buy, and endorse.
Welcome to the Tuesday UnRecipe post for all subscribers, about the foods I buy when cooking simply isn’t going to happen. On Friday, paid subscribers will receive the next edition of the Cookbook Chronicles, the first of which proved to be one of my most-read posts of all time. As always, check out my past posts here and learn more about my day job here. Thanks for reading!
Obviously, I love cooking. I have built my entire career around this fact, starting with a measly food blog, pivoting for a brief moment to catering, then doing an abrupt about-face into food photography. But lately, more often than ever before in my life, I’ve found myself dreading the moment I need to finally commit to what to cook for dinner.
Granted, the Cookbook Chronicles project has done wonders for this—having a reason to crack open one of my many cookbooks and follow a recipe is a great way to avoid the endless decision fatigue that comes with feeding one’s self. But in the midst of humdrum week nights when rain is falling and the sun doesn’t even come out to set at 4:30, we turn to the great world of consumer packaged goods (CPG).
Long-time readers will remember that last winter, as we renovated our kitchen, I took the opportunity to subsist largely on various packaged foods and bag salads. Though I haven’t yet become so tired of cooking that I’ve resorted to bag salads, I am relying once again on some helpful and delicious CPG products to make life easier right now.
Part of my strategy, as a generally tired person who is currently cooking way too much for work to cook for the sake of feeding myself, is to find healthy-ish, fresh-ish things to work into my meals. Here’s what I’m loving lately. What’s in your cart? Tell me in the comments below!
What’s In My Cart
Brooklyn Delhi Cashew Butter Masala: Such good sauce! Their products are simply *chefs kiss* and I thought that even before I got to shoot their exclusive new product in partnership with Little Spoon. This sauce has become a staple for busy nights: just mix it with…whatever you have and hey presto: dinner!
Tinned Fish: I’m pretty brand agnostic here, but I generally go for tuna, sardines, or anchovies. They’re a great way to sneak a little protein into a girl dinner, which has been a big deal in my household lately. Small salad + crusty sourdough + tinned fish = dinner, done and dusted.
Heyday Canning Co: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Heyday Canning Co has got it going on. I’m obsessed with every single product I’ve had from this powerhouse brand—they’re packed with flavor and all based around my favorite food group: beans. Opening a can of this streamlines dinner (or lunch) in the best way possible.
Little Sesame Hummus: This one is more of a lunch-saver for me, but having hummus on hand to add a dip element can sometimes be the difference between girl dinner and straight up snacks for dinner. I love the classic flavor, but I’m also getting more and more into the herby jalapeño, caramelized onion, and preserved lemon. Pro-tip: these go great with Unbothered Foods Sourdough Crackers!
Good Culture Cottage Cheese: I’m saying what I’m saying with the full understanding that it brands me as old lady: I LOVE cottage cheese. When I’m cooking dinner for a solo night in, it’s most likely going to be sourdough toast, Good Culture cottage cheese (the tang!), some sort of hot sauce (we love Pink Salt Kitchen’s Nam Prik Pao), and frozen veggies. See below.
Frozen Edamame Beans and Peas: Nothing makes me feel more secure than bags of frozen peas and edamame in my freezer. Warm ‘em up, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with sea salt, and you’re halfway to dinner.
Jenny’s Tofu: This local tofu brand is now stocked in Whole Foods, which means I don’t need to plan ahead at the winter farmers’ market anymore. They have three flavors (plain, smoked five spice, and turmeric), and I love each one of them more than the last. These tofus are always in my cart—they’re an easy way to bolster some greens or leftover grains into a dinner that leaves me feeling full.
See you back here on Friday for more cookbook chronicles! Thanks for reading.
Love this. I’m definitely on the tinned fish team (mostly FishWife but I pick up tins a lot when traveling) and am going to need to try this new local tofu!