New to Cooking: Best OzBargain Pantry Buy

• 

  altomic on 24/07/2016 - 22:05

  +1

  Aldi - you usually have one choice. and it's usually as cheap, if not cheaper, than the Colworths.

  the selection/product quality is usually very good.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 25/07/2016 - 13:18

    Aldi just not complete… there are some sauces that I can't find there. Like herbs, some vegies/fruits/meat.
    Quality and price wise they are good though.
    But I also have to beat the queue, they queue on weekend can be crazy.

    Plus they don't bag the items…
    For same brand items they cost the same, like A2 milk for example.

• 

  bargainslut on 25/07/2016 - 02:23

  +2

  I like a nice stir fry, heaps of veggies soy sauce, sesame seeds and then 1 of the following, tofu, meat, prawns.

  Quick to prepare and very healthy.

  I agree that Aldi is cheaper, another way is to get 'specials' from coleworths.

  I usually combine these tactics with the local organic veg shop and have a good stream of quality for a decent price.

  Been a chef for 20+ years and the produce in Australia is amazing!

  • 

    ihbh on 25/07/2016 - 08:54

    Do you include any carbs in your stir fry?

    • 

      bargainslut on 25/07/2016 - 09:03

      +1

      It depends on what my body needs. If it needs complex carbs I may eat brown/black rice, I avoid processed empty carbs like white flour/white sugar.

      How about you?

      • 

        ihbh on 25/07/2016 - 09:17

        +2

        Stir fries were my main dinner option before I got married. I used to prep the vegetables in bulk in advance - e.g. purple or normal cabbages, broccoli, etc. - and leave them in the fridge/freezer, so it was very quick to throw everything in the wok. I used to include some variety of noodles with the stir fry, but over time the proportion of veg increased and the noodles reduced.

        But now we mainly eat brown/black rice and some quinoa for carbs.

      • 

        bargainslut on 25/07/2016 - 09:35

        @ihbh: Sounds lovely, good on you. What time is dinner? ;)

      • 

        [Deactivated] on 25/07/2016 - 13:20

        @ihbh: sounds like a great idea. I have been cooking a large batch for a week meal, by the end of the week it taste like frozen food.

        Maybe your way keep things fresher?

      • 

        ihbh on 25/07/2016 - 14:30

        @fm: Definitely. Just prep all your ingredients in one go and store them until you cook. This way you also get variety each day if you need by choosing the combo you want - e.g. with the veg, meat, sauce, carbs.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 25/07/2016 - 13:21

    I find organic vegies are so small, it's like lack of nutrition.
    They are so unsatisfying…

    Maybe just a coincidence.

    • 

      bargainslut on 01/09/2016 - 18:51

      Maybe find a better supplier? We have a couple of great stores that offer fantastic value for money and all organic.

• 

  [Deactivated] on 28/07/2016 - 20:21

  +1

  Pasta is my go-to meal, feeds many, easy to cook, tastes great even after eating it 3 times a week. Not to mention there's all different varieties you can make just by switching out the sauce/mix/veggies.

  Buy the mixes on special ($2.50 a jar is a decent price, one jar per night) and just add your own veggies, (tomatoes, capsicum, zucchini) and spices and you're ready to rock.

  kg of meat is as expensive as you want to go.

  Usually you spend as much as you want on meat and the veggies, mix, spices, etc. all add up to be that price as well. Feeds 4-8 depending how many servings you want.