A Kitchen Can't Live Without It (part 1)

I've come to realize that my kitchen is unlike the average kitchen. I have accumulated quite the collection of random spices over the past year to year and a half. Ask yourself how many times you've used cumin, ginger, nutmeg, tarragon or Hungarian paprika. Probably not that often. You probably also never wanted to buy them because you knew that you would use it once and that would be it. But who knows, maybe you'll find "that" dish and realize that ginger should be in everything.

Therefore I've decided to throw a list together of things I think a kitchen can't function without. I feel that, regardless of your mood or situation, you can make a great meal as long you have these.

Spices

They are the socks and underwear of every meal. Sure, you could go and live happily without them, but deep down you know that something is just not right. And just like an old pair of t-shirts or boxers, spices have a tendency of accumulating over the years and also lose their purpose the longer you keep them. DRIED SPICES DO GO BAD. It won't make you sick, but it will drop the ball in terms of flavor. Check the expiration date at the spice company's website.

Buy small amounts if you won't use the spice regularly, but just keep in mind that they can get pricey.

So here is the list of can't live without spices:

• Salt and Pepper: a given here, give a pepper mill a shot (you might enjoy pepper when it's freshly cracked) plus we all have that friend that S&Ps her food even before she tastes it
  
• Garlic Powder: garlic is great on almost anything, garlic bread is easy, goes great on pizza, steak gets a boost too
• Onion Powder: you'll realize that garlic and onion powder are like salt and pepper on many recipes
• Italian Seasoning: from pizza to sauce, to meat marinades, it's the one you can count on for a much needed boost
• Red Pepper Flakes: you like spicy food, you just haven't realized how to do it right, boring to new in two shakes
• Lawry's Salt: because salt needs to stay hip and steak and potatoes love it
• Dried Oregano: italian needs more oregano, and so does the water you boil for pasta
• Dried Basil: try to find basil that can be used year round and lasts longer than 3 days
• Cinnamon: it's about time you make your own french toast, just don't try the cinnamon dare
• Hot sauce: if you find a quality sauce, it will go on just about anything especially your soups

If you need more detailed info on spices, check out this spice advice.

Fridge Door Things

You have shelves inside the door for a reason. If you're lucky they can carry a variety of bottle sizes from chubby Keg cans, to wide pinot noir bottles to tall german white wine. I of course have an idea of necessities for this special holding area.

• Ketchup: given
  
• Mustard: if you hate it, you've never tried spicy brown or dijon. It's the other half to ketchup
• BBQ Sauce: choose your variety, I'm a traditionalist, but your kitchen is a dark, dreary place without it
• Minced Garlic in a Jar: you deserve to be ready for anything, and garlic is easy to forget off your list
• Prepared Horseradish: Give me cocktail sauce and I will make it better, give me bloody mary and the celery will dance, look forward to colds because I will help you breathe
• Grated Parmesan: yes, the block of parm is amazing, but this is ready to go and you can be liberal on the use
• Picante Sauce: eggs love it, perfect snack with chips, not made in New York City
• Soy Sauce: an onion, a green bell and some chicken would love to be stir fry
  

If you have never thought of having these in your kitchen, well, catch up. You're missing out. You've punished yourself long enough.

What you will also realize is that your favorite style of food dictates all your other random spices. Love chinese or thai, get ready for some ginger, sesame seeds and hoisin sauce. Love southwestern/mexican, get ready for cayenne, cumin, and coriander.

With the right collection, you can experiment and realize why your mom told you not to play with your food. She knew you would give her a run for her money when it came to dinner.