How do I stock a raw pantry?

[Bree-Nan]

I need some serious help since I am new to this. I know there are going to be a million foods I would never think of to buy. What would you suggest I buy for starting out? I am in New England and it's a lovely winter here so region fresh foods aren't here right now.
Also, what book would be suggested as a first purchse? My library has nothing and I know I should get some kind of reference. I am sorely lacking when it comes to meal planning!

[mbf]

I would first start with Alissas book and dvd if you don't have those already. Once you get a few staple meals down it will be easier to know what to stock. I stared off with the basic like good quality celtic sea salt, cold pressed olive oil, lot's of fruits and veggies for salads, juicing and smoothies.Nuts, I would stock your favorites. Things like dates, raw honey, nama shoyu, coconut oil, flax seeds and agave will be needed if and when you choose some recipes needing those items.

hope this helps !

MBF

[Bree-Nan]

Who is Alyssa?

Edited to add: I am obviously an idiot! I haven't had a chance to really look around here and was told about this forum by a member of a parenting board. Off to look around!

[Lauradee]

i bought a juicer when i frist went raw and enjoyed fresh juices.it's not necessary to spend alot of money on machines, but if you like to prepare rraw foods, it is important to have a blender and processor at least to start out with. i personally boutht the dheydrator fiset b ecaue i craved bread and crackers everyone is differnet you may n ot have any craving for htat.

make yourself a fresh fruit salad in the m orning. just grate up some apples and add banannas and dates if you want that is r eally good i add cinnamonalso.

take care
laura

[Bree-Nan]

Thank you! We have a blender and food processor already. Are there economical dehydrators? I don't mind spending a bit on a nice one since we have two little ones I can make snacks for as well.

[Lauradee]

there are but you get what you pay for i only can reccommend the Excalibur model and the nine tray is best for famileis i cannot see managin a small one as I am alwyas dehydrating because of ahungry family. they run about two hundred dollars i think i can't remember but it is worth it you wont have to replace it for a long time.don't forget the teflex sheets they are a m ust for making those yummime fruit leathers and stuff/

your welcome! :)

take care,
laua

[exurb]

I find raw buckwheat groats really useful. Also on occasion I like using whole rye to make sprouted crackers or other grains, oats, etc.

You can get some decent nuts at Costco if you don't mind that they're not organic. With nuts, I would say check their raw origin, especially with cashews which are mainly not raw even the commonly available ones labelled as raw, and almonds which are often pasteurized. If you can find a good source of raw olives, I like having those in the fridge as well.

Other than a few grains, sprouting seeds, nuts, dates, figs, quinoa and buckwheat, raw apple cider vinegar, I really don't have much in the pantry. I've evolved away from using oils and getting the oils more from the natural fats such as avocadoes even for salad dressings. On occasion I will have hemp oil, but lately I've just been getting fats from olives, avocadoes, nuts, etc. I dry my own tomatoes and herbs, but I do buy stuff like cinnamon sticks to grind into cinnamon. I also really like pink peppercorns sometimes as a flavoring instead of (or in addition to) black pepper.

In New England, you could get into sprouting especially to get you some nice living food in the winter. In my sprouting seeds I have some broccoli and other "brassicas" in a blend, fenugreek, clover, alfalfa, mung bean, adzuki bean, chia seeds, etc... you could start with just a few. I just use a mason jar with screen over the top instead of a commercial "sprouter".

[Bree-Nan]

Where do I get sprouting seeds? Can they be bought at the health food store (I've never looked)?
And, when you saw grains what are they and what do you do with them? I have quinoa but have only used it to cook. I won't have money for a book for another 2 weeks so right now I am trying to get my information online.

[sdefee]

The Sprout House is a good company that sells organic, pesticide and fertilizer free seeds for sprouting. They have a HUGE varietyand offer lots of info if you ask questions. Sprouting is very inexpensive, especially if you don't get carried away with purchasing a bunch of sprouting trays and other sprouting paraphanalia. With many types of seeds, a single teaspoonful of seeds yields LARGE quantities of sprouts! Keep asking questions, especially at this forum (the folks here are amazingly helpful and knowledgable), read Alissas' book, and good luck!

[Bree-Nan]

Thanks for all the help. I am shoping Wednesday so until then I'm eating what we have on hand. I'm going to start out with a small dehydrator I think and then move up to the larger one when we have a bit more money.
My husband and I talked last night and we are going to try and switch the girls over as well to raw.

[exurb]

sprouting seeds can often be had from the health food store. I like to get mine in larger less expensive quantities from other sources, but the health food store is probably the easiest place if they have them, and you may want to start with small packages anyway until you see if you're gonna do it regularly.

the quinoa can be soaked and sprouted really easily, then you can use it in different recipes, I sometimes make quinoa taboulleh. You have to really rinse it well first, I do a soak and rinse with lukewarm water, as quinoa has a protective coating that can taste quite nasty, I think it protects it from insects. Then once it's rinsed well so the coating's off, I put it in a mason jar with a screen over the top, and rinse it three or four times daily. When the "tails" are a desired length, you can put it in a recipe. It doesn't take that long, usually just a day or two, you can go by taste as to when you want to stop it sprouting.