A little help from Mark Bittman’s How to Cook Everything and Bardi, Carbone, and Lanza’s Antipasti: Appetizers the Italian Way. I could feed myself completely from just these two books.
The day is nearly upon us – the day when you will be able to fill that empty space in your pantry and fridge with food that can feed a multitude. Specifically, that day is tomorrow. Hopefully this week has given you some ideas for meal staples if you didn’t have them already. Remember: a meal staple is one used to make a meal that you eat at least twice a month. Keep the recipes in an easily accessible place, even if you could make them in your sleep, because we’re going to be using them again soon.
Today, you will make your second grocery list. To compile this list, you will need the staples lists that you have compiled – basics, meal staples, and saving graces. Until you get used to your particular staples list, it might be helpful to type up a checklist to help you keep track of when you are running low. Although most of my meal planning is handwritten, my staples checklist is a typed document, because then I can check things off as I run low, use that list for shopping, and print a new one after I get back from the store.
The process for this step is pretty straightforward:
- Type (or write – you do you) your checklist.
- Go through your kitchen and put a check mark next to the items you need.
Voila! You have your second grocery list. This will stock your kitchen and get you ready to build a meal planning system that works specifically for you.
I’m sharing my Epic Meal Planning strategies for Write 31 Days – click to see the master list.
M. Suzanne Terry 
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