A Few Ingredients for Infinite Dinner Options

Maybe infinite is an exaggeration, but this summer I've discovered that with a relatively small group of ingredients you can create a relatively huge amount of entrees. In later posts I will share the backbone recipes which can be altered in dozens of ways to make all sorts of options. By keeping to a small but flexible group of ingredients you cut down on size and frequency of shopping trips and cost of groceries. You also get to avoid planning a meal schedule before shopping.

Meat:
  -eggs
  -chicken (I use boneless chicken breasts)
  -bacon

Dairy:
  -sour cream
  -shredded cheddar
  -shredded mozzarella
  -grated parmesan
  -butter (not margarine)

Starches:
  -potato
  -bread
  -pasta
  -rice

Vegetables (I don't know yet what the best options would be in the winter time):
  -onion
  -green bell pepper
  -tomato
  -(frozen) broccoli

Sauces and Their Ilk:
  -marinara sauce
  -Italian dressing
  -soy sauce
  -vegetable oil
  -salsa

Spices and Seasonings:
  -rosemary
  -oregano
  -thyme
  -basil
  -cinnamon
  -black pepper
  -salt
  -garlic powder

By adding a few more less-often used cooking ingredients, you can expand your options even more (mostly to include breakfast for dinner, which I happen to love).

Extras:
  -lemon juice
  -brown sugar
  -white sugar
  -flour
  -milk
  -maple syrup
  -baking powder
  -baking soda

It is important to note that this list of foods is not a comprehensive list of what foods/ingredients you want to have in your kitchen. Note the absence of coffee, for instance. This is merely a list that will set you up for cooking dinner. You'll need to choose your own economical and tasty snacks, breakfasts, lunches, and beverages.