HomeGirl Essentials: Spices, Condiments and Pantry Staples

Ok, I hope my husband doesn't read this post because I'm going to do something rare and give him credit for something. I have a nice kitchen, that he largely designed. We get beautiful, warm sunlight during the day, and it's spacious enough so that we can all be in it and not feel like we're on top of each other. One of my favorite things about my kitchen is the pantry. I keep all kinds of stuff in it--and a lot of stuff I rarely use, but it's an entire closet dedicated to my arsenal of food stuffs. And it's great. And, it was my husband's idea, so, take a bow, Boo.

Anyway, I often tell my girlfriends that they only need a couple spices to make some great meals.
But, no one believes me. Really, I'm serious. So, first things first: Mrs. McCormick's and Lawry's should be banned from HomeGirl kitchens. They make your food too salty and they usually sit on supermarket shelves forever and they're rarely fresh. Instead, invest in some Kosher salt, some good pepper and a couple of essential spices. My list is below.

Also, and don't roll your eyes, I grow herbs. Every summer I plant basil, cilantro (which always dies, oh well), parsley, thyme, and rosemary. Rosemary, if tended to, will not die. We bought a rosemary bush and I've been using it for three years all year round. The long and short of it is this: fresh herbs enhance the flavor and look of your meals. They're also relatively easy to grow--you don't need anything special, outside of a stoop, or windowsill, a pot and some water...and most of us have that in New York City.

Condiments oh condiments. I have to admit that I love buying them. I've bought some that I rarely use--like that lemongrass paste that I know I'm going to find a real use for one of these days. I do think that most condiments can be made at home, but I don't want to make real mayo. Hellman's is perfect. You really only need about five to do what you gotta do in the kitchen: ketchup, BBQ sauce, spicy mustard, mayo and SriRatcha.

HomeGirl Pantry Staples (More to come, I'm always discovering must-haves.)

Kosher salt
Sea Salt
Pepper
Curry powder (I use Caribbean style curry powder, so it's usually a deep gold color)
Garlic powder
Chili flakes
Adobo (don't gasp)
Ground sage
Ground cinnamon
Ground Nutmeg
Anise
Whole cloves
Ground cumin
Ground corriander
Dried Basil
Dried Oregano
Mustard powder
Ground Ginger
Tumeric

Condiments
Hellman's Mayonaise
Grey Poupon or some other kind of spicy mustard
SriRatcha
Balsamic Vinegar (not really a condiment, but still...)
Heinz Ketchup
BBQ sauce
Honey
Olive Oil
Vegetable Oil