Store Cupboard Essentials

For the Solo superstar cook!

If you want to be a good cook and be able to produce yummy, tasty meals for yourself, it is important to have a good store cupboard of basic ingredients. These will form the basis of many recipes and add the finishing touch to others. As always, buy the best that you can afford, good olive oil and organic where possible. It’s always good to pick up spices as you go along; I know they are pricey, but once you have them they last years and this will give you a good stock cupboard for Asian dishes. The fact is that even the most exhausted-looking piece of chorizo can be brought back to life with a little gusto and imagination. Parmesan is a great cheese as it can liven up many a dish and has a long life so it keeps for ages in the fridge.

The Shortlist

Olive oil

Soy sauce

Garlic

Balsamic Vinegar

Dried pasta

Basmati rice

Coconut milk

Parmesan

Curry powder

Cumin

Smoked paprika

Chorizo

Free-range eggs

Tins of chopped tomatoes

Chilli

Breadcrumbs (keep in the freezer)

Fantastic for the freezer

Just a few suggestions to keep in the freezer for those last-minute meals or unexpected guests!

Chicken – breasts, thighs and other parts

Mince – lamb, beef and pork

Bread

Breadcrumbs

Stocks

Soups

Raw Prawns

Small bags of leftover wine to use in Bolognese and other dishes where a small amount of wine is required

Pastry

Homemade pasta dough

Cakes

Ice cream

Tiramisu

Sauces

Peas

The Tools

I am not a huge fan of having multiple gadgets in the kitchen; they are not necessary and are very costly. What you need are a few essential tools which will cover most needs in the kitchen. It goes without saying that a good set of knives is indispensable and is a must for any decent cook. These vary hugely in terms of price and quality so do your research and shop around to get the best ones; really good ones should last a lifetime. The other vital gadget that I find indispensable is a hand blender; they are very cheap to buy and can be used for multiple tasks, blending soups, making pesto, smoothing sauces etc. The other very handy gadget, although not essential, is a food processor for making cakes, biscuits, fresh pasta and chopping onions and garlic when you are feeling really lazy. In terms of pots and pans, a large saucepan for boiling pasta is essential; pasta doesn’t like to be squashed and of course a non-stick frying pan and a wok for all those essential stir-fries.