What are the foods that everyone here eats day to day?
I’m looking for more to add to my arsenal.
In my head there’s a big difference between staple foods and the kind of food that you make when guests come over.
I suppose it’s an increased emphasis on being easy/practical to make, or make in bulk as well as as nutrition. I guess it’s the staples that largely decide how the kitchen is stocked too.
Pressure cooker stuff (Instant Pot here, but anything works)!
Beans are dirt cheap and homemade refried-style beans are fantastic. Don’t be shy with the oil (neutral/canola, avocado, refined coconut all great). MSG also helps. Play around with pinto and black ratios (or go more exotic!).
Add to that some Mexican style rice — toast in a pan (before putting in rice cooker) with tomato paste, veggie bouillon, salsa, whatever, and then cook in rice cooker as usual. I like jasmine the best for this.
Can’t go wrong with Mexican style beans and rice IMHO. (And in addition, you can feed them to dinner guests if you like — who doesn’t like to build their own burritos?).