Hey I have a fact for you! If you refuse to man up and spend 200 bucks on bulking up your pantry you are gonna have a bummed out life.
Just saying.
But hey, once you get your shit together you essentially join a secret club of badasses and also get the ability to fly and become a culinary genius overnight.
So let's get started:
SPICES YOU'RE GONNA WANT ALWAYS:
-oregano
-cumin
-tarragon
-dill
-rosemary
-thyme
-paprika
-celery salt
-Like 12 kinds of salt if you want to be fully legit. (Maldon must be present)
-a pepermill with peppercorns
(no, no, absolutely no pre-ground pepper what are you DOING?!)
-cayenne pepper
-garlic powder
-onion powder
-ground ginger
-chili powder
-bay leaves
-a bomb ass dank ass steak rub
-cinnamon
-nutmeg
-cloves
-wasabi powder
-colemans mustard powder
-vanilla beans.
--->BEANS<---
(make yer own extract)
-saffron
Where is the curry powder? Don't be a dingus. Go buy the super duper fresh curry paste from Nikka market in their refrigerator section and don't look back or you'll turn into a pile.
A pile of what?
Exactly.
Also, you should start an herb garden if you don' t have one already so you can have most of these herbs on hand; and opt for fresh garlic, onion and ginger always. However all of these dried ingredients have their time and place.
Always have a supply of root vegetables ('taters, onions, garlic, ginger, carrots, beets whatever) laying around because they last for fucking ever.
Always have citrus on hand. Ideally all of them....but at least lemons and limes.
Citrus makes everything better.
If avocados are in season, keep them in stock as well.
Other stuff you're gonna want:
-ANCHOVIES
(they are the best when salt packed, but they are impossible to find)
-FLOUR
-SUGAR (unbleached)
-an assortment of dried/canned beans (pinto, black, garbanzo whatever)
-an assortment of rice (short grain, long grain, white, brown, arborio, wild)
-quinoa
-oats
-barley
-lentils
-split peas
-popcorn!!! (not microwaveable)
-baking powder
-baking soda
-expensive cocoa powder
-nutritional yeast
-bread yeast
-local honey
-expensive maple syrup
-rapadura (sooooo good on oatmeal)
-Pasta...I guess. I boycott it.
If you're super into baking cookies and cakes and pies and shit (which I am not, you're gonna want to supplement this list from a way more comprehensive baking blog)
Just to reiterate: ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS have an excess of garlic. It goes in everything, even my tea when I feel sick. Ginger is usually on hand, and an assortment of chilies. Today I am lucky to have fresh bay leaves from my moms tree, huzzah!
Superboss bonus supplies for the lazy/realistic:
-assorted broths
-canned diced tomatoes
-tomato paste
-pizza sauce for those nights when you are so, so, so lazy
-whole grain mustard
-mayonaise
ALWAYS HAVE MAYO
-polenta
-a million different kinds of olives/pickled vegetables
-walnuts
-dates
-dried cherries
-dried apricots
(these last four are specifically for the inevitable cheese night.)
You can't ever have enough oils.
In fact, you gotta catch em all.
SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON YOUR OILS.
Seriously guys.
If you're going to get anything organic on this list, get organic oil
You should at least buy these:
-coconut oil (virgin)
-safflower oil (for frying)
-TWO KINDS OF OLIVE OIL:
-one for cooking that is lower quality and slightly cheaper
-one cloudy-as-fuck unfiltered, cold pressed delicious one for raw applications only (salads and stuff)
-walnut oil (if you like dank ass shit, get it, refrigerate)
-Sesame oil
also:
-mirin (sweet rice wine for cooking)
-balsamic vinegar (don't buy a huge jug for 3 dollars, buy a small, small bottle for way more)
-red wine vinegar
-apple cider vinegar
-ume plum vinegar
-soy sauce
-tamari
-worcestershire
FOODT.W.A.T. GUARANTEE: This incredible investment will get you through all the broke times when you use your last $5.00 in quarters to buy a turnip, a savoy cabbage and a bottle of beer.
job well done. reminded me of things that I forgot to purchase!
ReplyDeletemmmmmm good stuff
ReplyDeleteYay!
ReplyDelete