I know a lot of Hungries out there are overwhelmed right
now. And you know what, COVID-19 is overwhelming. Whatever your
emotions are during this odd time in our lives – bored, weepy, anxious, sleepless,
sleepy, lazy, angry, or nonplussed – they are valid, and you should let them
flow through you.
I also know many of us are home baking and cooking furiously,
which helps us chill out, but even that’s complicated, as store shelves are
bare and you don’t want to go to the grocery store too often right now. I
thought I’d lend whatever help I can with a foodie’s guide to food shopping
during this, the pandemic of our discontent.
Bread aisle
The bread aisle has been cleared out both times I’ve been to
the market in the last week. Understandable, as kids are home and sandwiches
are easy. Plus, toast is one of the most comforting foods ever, amiright? So
get creative with frozen pizza dough, biscuits, and dinner rolls, rolls and
biscuits in tube form, or a handy dandy old school box of baking mix. How long
has it been since you made garlic cheddar biscuits a la a certain chain seafood
restaurant that shall remain nameless? Well, they take about six minutes to
smash together if you have said baking mix, and I bet your kids would love a
turkey sandwich on one of those little flavor bombs!
Another tip: the Thomas’ English muffins are likely all gone,
but check near the place they usually stock the eggs – I was able to buy Bay’s
brand the other day, and I think I might like them better than good old Thomas.
You can make toaster oven pizzas, killer PB&J sandwiches, or even serve
burgers on a good English muffin!
You obviously could also make bread from scratch. I have no
advice there. I’m anything but an exceptional baker, but may the odds be ever
in your favor. I have successfully
made these
five-ingredient bagels in my air fryer before, and if you can get your hands
on some yogurt, they’re great for sandwiches!
Produce aisle
I’m sure the heavy hitters in this section of the store will
vary by region, but in my store over the weekend, there was nary a potato,
banana, or onion to be found. The basil was gone in small clamshells, but
available in plant form. Romaine and iceberg, gone; collards and frisee in
heavy supply. Bell peppers all snatched up; chiles in abundance. So my first advice is to hit up the frozen veg aisle and see what you can score there. Frozen vegetables aren’t as versatile as fresh, but they ARE just as nutritious, and you’d be surprised what you can do with a baggie of fire roasted mushrooms or mixed onions and green peppers. There’s a brand called Dorot that sells garlic and ginger pre-minced and in tiny little portions, frozen. I also found frozen spinach fully stocked, and will be using that in soups and stir fries in the coming days.
Sometimes you can find lemons and limes in other areas of the store, like the seafood dept. Check there before you despair.
Now circle back to those leftover items in the produce area, and trust that you have the ability to turn these neglected flora into delicious food! Grab those greens you’ve never made yourself and cook them up with the ham hock or smoked turkey leg I promise will still be available in the ransacked meat aisle! If you have older kids, use this chance to start to introduce spice into their diets with a little diced chile in their chili. Roast some of those lonely beets still on the shelf and toss them with local goat cheese, which I guarantee will still be there in the gourmet cheese section waiting for you, dressed in olive oil and a little vinegar with lots of black pepper.
I know you’re missing fresh herbs and aromatics, but scour the international
aisle for jarred and bottled sauces like pesto, Goya recaito and sofrito,
salsas, chutneys, and marinades. You’d be surprised how high quality some of
these products are, and how they can enhance your recipes when fresh
ingredients aren’t available.
Most folks stocking up and panic-buying groceries right now
are going for the easiest/cheapest meat cuts first, so boneless, skinless
chicken breasts, ground beef and turkey, pork chops, and steaks are likely to
be sold out at your store.
I spy chicken livers, second row from the bottom! |
But we’re Hungries, aren’t we? We can buy pork neck bones
and turn them into a rich Sunday-gravy style tomato sauce. We can scoop up that
plastic jar of chicken livers and make New Orleans style dirty rice! You’re
home all day, every day, so don’t be afraid to buy a tough cut and chuck that
sucker into your crockpot, InstantPot, or just let it braise in the oven all
afternoon. This is the time to perfect your carnitas game, your brisket bounty,
or your Singaporean chicken rice masterpiece!
Don’t forget that there are also overlooked spots in the
store that may still have meat. Frozen seafood and whole turkeys, canned tuna
in olive oil from the Italian aisle, and vegetarian alternative products like
Impossible burger or Field Roast sausages are all likely in stock. I saw that lots
of specialty sausages were still available in my market on Monday – like kielbasa,
chorizo, and andouille. You might not normally consider those your main meat
for dinner, but as a skillet or sheet-pan dinner, these become a delicious,
complete meal. And don’t forget my pancetta pasta with spinach, which is an
easy dinner that’s Shawn-certified delicious, and uses these still-available
items!
All the carbs
The fresh potatoes are sold out, and my pasta aisle was
decimated earlier this week, as was a lot of the rice. Again, look for the
items that might be slightly pricier or more niche, but still get you to the
same place. All our Barilla and Ronzoni were gone, but the “fancy” Delallo and
DeCecco were still in stock (same for the canned tomatoes; Redpack, store
brand, and DelMonte: gone; Muir Glen, my favorite anyway, was still fully
stocked in the natural foods section). Look high and low and you can find
options. And back to the international aisle, how about some German spaetzle instead
of egg noodles? Or Thai rice stick noodles instead of white rice for your stir
fry?
I know it’s a tough time all around, my Hungries, but the ritual of
cooking and eating with your family can be a source of fellowship and grace
even in times when you’re all crammed into the house together and fraying at
the edges. If you have any questions about shopping or cooking with the crazy
grocery state of the union, let me know and I’ll help you troubleshoot! Big
Hungry Shelby – always hungry; never thirsty!