Kitchen answer
What can I cook with what I already have?
Start with your protein and starch, add any vegetable, then choose a cooking format: stir-fry, soup, pasta, bake, or bowl.
Step by step
- List what is in the fridge, freezer, and cupboard.
- Pick the item closest to expiring and make it the star.
- Match it to a format: quick sear for tender proteins, simmer for tough cuts, roast for vegetables.
- Fill gaps with pantry staples — canned tomatoes, stock, rice, pasta, spices.
What else to know
- Most dinners are one protein, one starch, one vegetable, one sauce.
- Scanning your fridge and cupboard first prevents buying what you already own.