The Cupboard
When was the last time you had an impulse to whip up a recipe only to discover that you had to run out to the market to pick up ingredients? This alone can take the steam out of your desire to get in the kitchen before you even get started.
One great way to take charge of what you eat is to always BE PREPARED. And that means having your cupboard stocked with all of the basics. For some this may seem like a complicated process, but I promise if you have a few basic items on hand, there are few dishes that you can’t make at a moment’s notice.
This new section of the magazine is devoted to helping you to stock your cabinet with “good” ingredients as well as helping you to enjoy your time in the kitchen. To get you started, I have prepared a very basic shopping list that you can use to stock and restock your cupboards. A good suggestion would be to keep this list on your refrigerator or clipboard to help replenish your cupboard as you run out of items. Please note, when possible, use fresh herbs for all of your recipes. Also the following list is what you will need in your cupboard only and does not include your meats, fresh vegetables, fish and other items that are customary for your family to eat. These areas will be covered in upcoming issues.
So let’s get ready to stock those cupboards.
Shopping List
Spices — ground cinnamon and allspice, basil, oregano, dill weed, rosemary, cumin, thyme, ground mustard, white pepper, fennel, cilantro leaves, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, granulated garlic, coarse ground black pepper, parsley leaves, paprika
Salt — Kosher, Sea
Raising Agents — active yeast (fresh and/or dried), baking powder, baking soda, cream of tartar
Flours & bread making — unbleached white, whole wheat, bread flour, graham flour, corn meal
Grains — brown rice, polenta, whole wheat couscous, old-fashioned grits, Cream of Wheat
Sugars & Sweeteners — honey, organic cane sugar, maple syrup, agave nectar, Stevia, organic brown sugar
Vinegars — balsamic, apple cider, white, rice wine, red wine
Beans & Peas — white/navy, black, red, lentils, black-eyed
Thickeners — cornstarch, arrowroot, coconut milk
Oils — extra-virgin olive oil, canola, sesame, safflower
Other seasonings — Worcestershire sauce, soy (low sodium), chili oil
Condiments — mayonnaise (reduced-fat), mustards (yellow, brown, Dijon), ketchup (non-fructose brand), sweet pickle relish (non-fructose brand)
Other — tomato paste, sun-dried tomatoes, tomatoes (use fresh if available)
Extracts — pure vanilla, lemon, almond and orange