|
. |
|
||||||||||||||
copyright
©1999-2000 |
So you’re no longer content to rely entirely on cheap, greasy take-out food for all your dietary needs? Finally, feeling bold, you can venture forth into that heretofore under-utilized section of your apartment, the kitchen. But alas, a quick inventory of the cupboard reveals little more than a handful of ramen packages and a 6-month-old box of Cheerios. Novice chef though you are, you still suspect that instant noodles and stale cereal don’t amount to a complete meal. Before you can whip up your first home-cooked meal, you’ll have to head to your local supermarket to stock up on a few basic ingredients. Below, you’ll find a list of the ingredients that I keep perpetually stocked in my kitchen, as well as a second list of less-basic ingredients that nevertheless add a nice variety to the cooking palette. All of the essentials and most of the useful goodies can be stored for at least a couple of weeks before they begin to go bad. Follow this list, and you’ll have what you need to cook a wide variety of simple dishes, evoking everything from Chinese to Italian to Mexican cuisines. essentials salt whole peppercorns: If you haven’t got a pepper mill, get one now! pepper tastes much better freshly ground. sugar crushed red pepper flakes: Spice up everything from tomato sauce to stir-fries. soy sauce: Don’t settle for anything but tamari, which has the best flavor. rice vinegar: A mild, slightly sweet vinegar that I find preferable to ordinary white vinegar. Great for Asian dishes. oils… canola/vegetable oil: good for stir-frying and any use where you don’t want a strong-flavored oil. sesame oil: aromatic oil that’s yummy sprinkled over most Asian dishes ---------------------------> lounge . nourish . host . laze . home. |