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07.03.2000

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the Lazy Shopper's kitchen essentials |  1 2 3 4
continued from page 1

The lazy shopper’s cupboard
Yes, yes, we all know that canned foods aren’t "real" foods. Or so the fancy-schmancy chefs out there would have us believe. But while it’s true that some foods just weren’t meant to come from a can – canned peas or mushrooms? ewww – other tinned foods can yield perfectly good results. Plus, they’re huge time-savers … and we lazy shoppers certainly appreciate anything that makes life easier for us, don’t we?
Canned essentials: diced tomatoes, tomato paste, black olives, beans (pinto, garbanzo, kidney and black beans are all good choices), tuna, chicken/veggie stock

Besides the canned goods, you’ll also want a large and varied arsenal of spices, dried herbs, oils and condiments. The addition of a single herb or spice can make the difference between merely edible food, and something approaching divine. The spices you keep on hand will depend largely upon what types of foods most appeal to you, of course, but there are a few basics that’ll allow you to evoke a wide variety of ethnic cuisines – and variety is decidedly a good thing, as it’ll keep you from getting bored with your cooking and rushing over to that telephone to dial your favorite Indian place for take-out.
Flavoring essentials: salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder, cinnamon, hot curry powder, cayenne pepper, crushed red chili pepper flakes, thyme, basil, canola oil, olive oil, sesame oil, soy sauce, vinegar (balsamic and rice)

Of course, you’ll need some sort of base of grain or pasta to go along with your meals. Forget about bread – any bread worth eating only tastes good on the day that it’s bought. Instead stick with dried goods, which will keep indefinitely. Stock up whenever you see these items on sale on the supermarket, and maintain a watch on your supply to make sure that you replenish whenever it appears you’re running low.
Grain/pasta essentials: long pasta (spaghetti, linguini), short pasta (penne, ziti), rice (short-grained and/or long-grained)

that's right, there's more this way

 

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