Supper With Sam

Archive for the ‘My Shopping Basket’ Category

Certain things are basics in my cupboard. They are almost like a security blanket to me. If I know I don't have something or my supplies are down to the last one, I feel panic setting in. I don't think I would be able to even start supper if I knew I didn't have these basic ingredients.

My first, and most important ingredient is onions. My friend Esme insists that she can't even think of cooking if she can't start with chopping and frying onions - I feel much the same!

Next on the must-haves is garlic. I put garlic in a lot of my food, simply because I love the taste and I think it's good for you. Don't be scared to try it - most people don't even notice a garlic breath - especially not if you're sharing your food with them!

Tinned tomatoes and tomato puree are essential to a lot of dishes. The tomato puree adds a depth and richness to a dish that a tin of tomatoes doesn't do on it's own. I will quite often add both to a dish.

Chicken and beef stock cubes are the quick, convenient backbone to cooking. They add a better flavour than salt, making a dish more interesting. If you prefer a less meaty flavour try vegetable stock cubes, they work just as well.

My cupboard would be considered completely empty if there weren't at least three packs of different pastas in it. I always have spaghetti and then at least two other shapes. My children love pasta. In fact, my husband went away on business and we had a different pasta on each of the four nights he was away. To me,it's a great way to make a quick meal with many variations.

Tinned beans are great. Obviously baked beans are a must, as beans on toast can be classed as a definite emergency meal. I like to keep a variety of tinned beans such as red kidney, borlotti, butter beans and chick peas.They add substance and colour to lots of meals,  they are a great source of fibre and heart-healthy too.

Of course, there's lots of other things, such as soy sauce, worcestershire sauce, whole grain mustard, olives, olive oil and balsamic vinegar that can make a difference to the dishes you are cooking. A well stocked cupboard with a variety of ingredients means that you will be able to put a differnt twist on a meal by just changing a few things