My Pantry Staples

Throughout this blog you'll notice there are a few key ingredients that make several appearances. Here is a list of everything I currently have in my cupboard, and what they're all about. I'll try to keep this updated as much as possible, so you can constantly peak into my pantry.

Rice Bran Oil

My oil of choice almost every time. It has no flavour and is one of the lowest calorie oils on the market. This versatile oil has a high smoke point, meaning it's great for frying, but is also light and airy and doesn't take flavour away from any dish.

Dried Herbs

We have a fabulous herb garden growing 365 days of the year, however not all herbs are in season year round. Dried herbs are a great way to add the flavour you want without buying the fresh stuff from the supermarket - which when out of season, is grown under hydroponics. My favourites: rosemary, oregano, and thyme.

Garlic

I realised I had a garlic problem when my nephew tasted my potato salad and said, "Great job Bub, not too much garlic this time!" I'm almost certain all savoury recipes on this blog have garlic in them. I'm not sure if it's the Italian coming out in me or if I'm petrified of vampires, but in my opinion garlic belongs in EVERYTHING.

If you find your tummy has trouble digesting garlic, peel some cloves and marinate them in white wine vinegar for a few days. This will keep the garlic flavour, but make is much more mild and easier to digest.

Chilli Flakes

My dad planted a birdseye chilli plant in our backyard a few years ago, and it produces more chillis than we could ever consume. Dad had the brilliant idea of roasting all the chillis in the oven on a low heat, then blitzing them in the food processor to make chilli flakes. We put these in almost eveything, and oh boy do they give a kick to a dish!

Vanilla Extract

Whether you're making a chocolate cake or an apple pie, you can take any dessert from a 9 to 10 with a splash of vanilla extract. I'm sure you've heard a hundred times, always use extract rather than essence, as this is synthetic and does not pack the same punch as the real deal.

Lemons

The most versatile fruit that I cannot live without. It works in savoury and sweet dishes (and keeps me drinking water throughout the day). The juice and rind have such different flavours and make this citrus even more necessary in so many recipes on this blog.