BEFORE WE GET STARTED

So it occurred to me that with the New Year coming, a lot of people are going to be making New Year's Resolutions. With that in mind, I think it makes sense to start officially posting my recipes the first Monday of the New Year. Hopefully this blog can help people that want to be healthier, eat healthier, lose some weight, whatever for the new year.

In preparation for the first week I have compiled a list of things that you will need, but will not be purchased on a weekly basis. These are kitchen staples and can be bought in bulk because I will be using this stuff stuff for a lot of different meals in a lot of different ways. You should have plenty of all of this stuff before you attempt to make any of my recipes.

Cooking Oils
I exclusively use two cooking oils:

1. Olive Oil- I use olive oil for everything including cooking and sautéing at lower temperatures, in marinades, sauces, dressings, to finish off dishes, to shave, etc. Buy some good olive oil and buy a lot of it. This is the good stuff.

2. Canola Oil- I use canola oil for higher temperature cooking. Olive oil, while great, has a low smoking point and when it smokes it looses its nutritional value and flavor. Canola Oil can be used at very high temperatures and is perfect for the highest temperatures like pan-searing meats. Again buy in bulk and keep it around.

Another really healthy alternative to using oil for sauteing is cooking in chicken broth. I have cooked in chicken broth at various times and it gives your food a nice, but different flavor and texture than oils. I suggest you try it and see if you like it. Its not perfect for all dishes but I will try to point out where chicken broth could be used as an alternative.

Herbs and Seasonings
Salt, Pepper, Sea Salt- Absolutely buy in bulk. I recommend those huge Sea Salt and Pepper grinders from Costco (Kirkland Brand I think). Pretty much everything needs to be salt and peppered and it lasts for ever, so stock up.


Garlic Powder, Cumin, Cayenne Pepper, Italian Seasoning, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Rosemary, Thyme, Sage, (Lawry's) Seasoned Salt


Its worth building up a nice spice cabinet. This is the best way to bring out the natural flavors in your food in a healthy way.

Fresh Garlic- Bad breath, good taste, use liberally.

Soy Sauce- for cooking and marinades

Carbs
Brown Rice
Whole Grain Pasta


I don't believe in "no-carbs." I don't even believe in the no carbs after dark rule. I work out early in the mornings most days of the week so I find myself needing carbs for dinner to energize me for my morning workouts. HOwever, if I am going to have carbs I prefer to also get the nutritional value that brown rice and whole grain pasta give you.

I have also been meaning to try Spaghetti squash and will be doing that soon. My understanding is that its a bit more labor intensive but a nice pasta substitute. More on this in a week.

Hardware
A good, large non-stick pan, a pyrex baking dish, oven trays, saucepan, blender


A great knife- I cannot describe how great it is to have a really good knife. I was given a beautiful WUSTHOF knife from a family friends a few years ago for Christmas and it is one of the best presents I have ever gotten. It really makes a difference for slicing meats, I don't know what it is but nicely sliced chicken just tastes and looks better that chicken that has been torn apart by a dull knife.  It is worth it to invest in a good knife if you are going to make cooking a priority in your life.

Energy
Bring it everything you do.