We'll Show You Our Pantry If You Show Us Yours

Tonight Meatless Fleet attended its first small business mixer! 

Here's what we learned; pasting your paper business cards onto a clear plastic backing with rubber cement is not a good idea, people in Lancaster really like blogs and they're interested in learning more about vegan/vegetarian cuisine!

What better way to get the (meatless) ball of your new found cooking knowledge rolling than by starting to stock your pantry?

Here's a list of some Meatless Fleet spice essentials:

Chile Powder

Coriander

Cumin

Marjoram Leaves

Paprika

Peppercorns (grind your own fresh!)

Rosemary

Sea Salt

Thyme

You can purchase most of these spices for less than you think! Shop for the BADIA brand and pay less than $1 per spice! We also like to keep it local here at Meatless Fleet so when we purchase Thyme, Paprika, or Peppercorns we only go to the Spice Guy at Lancaster Central Market. If you love fresh ground pepper like we do and cannot afford the beautiful pepper grinders at William Sonoma, save yourself some dollars by buying the cheapest pepper grinder there is, the McCormick Black Peppercorn Grinder. It's an affordable way to grind your own pepper that also eliminates waste. Simply remove the cap after use and add in new peppercorns anytime you run out.

We would also die without the following in our kitchen:

Saracha Sauce-hot and spicy

Nutritional Yeast- flaky and cheesy

Olive Oil!

Minced Garlic/and or Garlic Cloves

Apple Cider Vinegar- binding agent in egg free baking

Red Wine Vinegar- great for sauces and salad dressings

Sesame Oil- use when making Meatless Fleet style hummus

Chile Oil- spicy

Lemons/Limes for Juicing

BEANS! (chick peas, black beans, and navy beans are in our cupboards at all times)

You can find the saracha, chile and sesame oils at our favorite Asian Market in Lancaster! (Located on Franklin Street, across from McCaskey School)

For the cheapest and freshest lemons/limes head to Market Street Produce at downtown Lanc's Central Market.

I said it before and I'll say it again, buy beans cheap! Everybody carries Goya these days so you won't ever have to pay more than $1 for any of your favorite beanies.

Find affordable Apple Cider Vinegar and Red Wine Vinegar by purchasing the store brands.

Nutritional yeast is hard to find in general in the 717- and when you do find it the prices can be outlandish. Ignore all of this and simply remember to pick some up during your travels. Every time the Meatless Fleet team goes to Philly or Baltimore you can bet your bonnet that we always stop to stock up on Nutritional Yeast at a Whole Foods (two words-bulk bins.)

Familiarity with these items are a great way to ease into the world of vegan/vegetarian cooking and baking. Don't be scared to ask for help when you shop after all you are on your way to becoming a vegan culinary master!

Here's to staying "Meat Free" in the City- The Meatless Fleet Team