“Cooking is about passion, so it may look slightly temperamental in a way that it's too assertive to the naked eye.” - Gordon Ramsay
Cooking is one of my passions, and I love sharing my recipes and experiences in the kitchen. Learning new recipes and making some of our traditional family meals are so much fun. I enjoy making dishes that my friends and family will love. Today I’m finally answering a question I get quite often, “What are the essential food items you keep in your kitchen?”
I’m sharing a few of my favorite items that I always keep on hand to make a lot of my home cooked meals.
Olive Oil: I use olive oil almost daily. It’s great to pair as a dressing with lemon for a light arugula salad. Also, I use it in my marinades for cooking meats, like chicken or steak. I always stock up on this item, and keep it near by when I’m cooking.
Fresh Produce: I prefer eating and using fresh produce in dishes. We stock up on apples, grapefruit, lemons, limes, tomatoes, and avocados each week. It’s great because a lot of the fruit we purchase are great for snacks or when we’re on-the-go in the morning.
Spices & Herbs: I cook with a lot of spices and having an amazing collection of this item will be a lifesaver. Lemon Pepper, Black Peppercorn, Sea Salt, Cayenne Pepper, Red Pepper Flakes, Cinnamon, Seasoned Salt, and Paprika, are just of the few spices that I use on a daily basis. Also, having fresh herbs like cilantro and basil is super important too!
Flour: I love to bake, and during the holiday season, I’m making a lot of desserts for our families. Also, whenever we are in the mood for some amazing comfort food, like my Mom’s delicious Fried Chicken recipe, flour is an absolute must.
Rice: This is always great to have! You can pair it was a protein like steak, chicken, or shrimp. A favorite of mine is adding a variety of veggies to it as well. Also, if you have soy sauce on hand, you can make a yummy fried rice dish too!
Eggs: They are perfect when baking or even preparing for brunch on the weekends! Also, I love hard boiling them for a quick snack, especially during the weekdays. This item is packed with a lot of protein, and always great to keep in the fridge.
Fresh Vegetables: Cucumbers, carrots, arugula, onion, cabbage, mushrooms, jalapenos, and baby broccoli are among the many items we like to keep in the kitchen. They are perfect to add in salads, or a garnish to any dish. I always feel like veggies add a great balance to any meal.
Bread: We love a great loaf of fresh ciabatta bread! This is something I don’t always have in the kitchen, but when we do, it doesn’t last long. It’s perfect for BLT sandwiches or dipping in balsamic vinegar and olive oil.
Cheese: Good cheese is hard to come by, and this is definitely a treat we keep on hand. It is great to add into many dishes, or just by itself, with some amazing bread and wine …
Wine: Speaking of wine! Well, of course I would add this item to the list! I love pairing a glass of wine with a delicious meal, and we are always stocked with some great bottles from our fave wineries or local wine shop!
What are some of the items you keep stocked in your kitchen? Share below!
XO, Analise