The Refrigerator

Aside from the groceries you just purchased, you’ll want to keep certain items on hand for general use. You’ll have your favorite condiments, cheeses and other items that you use frequently. Here are the critical items in my refrigerator, not including my collection of Asian staples, but that’s another story.

 Milk

 Buttermilk

 Butter, margarine

 Cheese: Cheddar, feta, goat, mozzarella, Parmesan, Stilton, Swiss

 Eggs

 Sour cream

 Yogurt

 Cabbage – keeps well, and once you cut into it you can cover it with plastic wrap

 Carrots – keep very well

 Celery – doesn’t keep terribly well, but if you like to use it a lot it’s worth having on hand

 Parsley – I keep a washed bunch of Italian flat leaf parsley in a glass of water

 Better Than Bouillon concentrated paste: beef and chicken

 Jams

 Ketchup

 Mayonnaise

 Mustard - there are so many varieties to choose from. Dijon mustard is a wonderful addition to many recipes

 Anchovy paste – worth having on hand even if just for Pasta Puttanesca

 Capers

 Olives

 Fresh pie crust – it comes in a box with two rolled circles of crust that are ready to bake