13 Things I Always Have on Hand

From the kitchen of The Veggie Vixen

1. Spices A well stocked spice rack goes a really long way and can transform anything from bla to wonderful with just a pinch or two of your favorite spice. My "go to" spice is a mix called Coastal Blend from Mickey's Pantry at Downtown Disney. It adds a little bit of dill and red pepper to veggies, chicken, or fish and is delightful.

Organize your spice cabinet with these spice rack clips available from Amazon.com.



Coastal Blend is available at Mickey's Pantry in Downtown Disney or from www.spiceandtea.com.

2. Almond Flour From baking to making breading on fish or chicken almond flour goes a long way. Bob's Red Mill Almond Flour in bulk on Amazon.

3. Flax Meal I often add flax to my smoothies, baking, and breading. It adds extra health benefits and I never even taste it. BONUS! Bob's Red Mill Flax Meal in bulk on Amazon.

4. Local Honey As a condiment, as a sweetener in baking, as a marinade or glaze. The possibilities for local honey are endless and there are numerous added health benefits too. In the Melbourne area check out Beez Bros Honey or The Flavored Honey Store.

5. Stevia In The Raw packets I buy them in bulk to save some extra money and use them to add a little extra sweet whenever needed.

Stevia in the Raw in bulk on Amazon.

6. Frank's Red Hot I use it on chicken, fish, veggies, and even as a salad dressing. It is my "go to" condiment.

7. Olive Oil I keep some in my Misto for use as a non stick spray. I use olive oil for all my cooking and non stick needs. It also works wonders for sauté or baking fish, chicken, or beef. You can even use it on your skin with salt or sugar as a scrub.

8. Cauliflower Yes, cauliflower. It's the perfect side dish for any meal.

9. Cheese I don't care what kind although I always keep a few varieties in the fridge. Always the kind with full fat! No lite or 2% cheese in this house.

10. Whole Milk Yogurt My favorite is Greek style but it doesn't matter if you prefer something a little more traditional. The key is looking for a brand that doesn't add sugar, that means the plain stuff.

This is my favorite! It's wonderful in a smoothie.

 

11. Whole Milk Our household recently made the switch from 2% milk to whole milk after learning the benefits of whole milk. It sure is yummy!

12. Fresh Fruit Seasonal fruit is great for making preserves, snacks, and my favorite - smoothies. I always keep fresh fruit in the fridge and some in the freezer. If you like quality fruits and veggies check out The Holland Family Farm, in Mims, where you can pick your own for great prices.

13. Lean Protein Even though I plan my family's dinner menu a week in advance (so I can get the best sales at the grocery store) I always keep a bag of boneless skinless chicken breasts as well as at least a pound of lean ground beef in the freezer. This keeps me ready for anything. When I find myself wanting something new I'll look up new recipies on the internet and play around until I find something that sounds like it'll "hit the spot." Click here for some Paleo Ground Beef Ideas & Paleo Chicken Ideas.