Pantry Essentials

I have a list as long as my arm of the ingredients that I like to keep a stock of in my pantry and obviously the more you have the greater the choice when it comes to rustling up something after a long day at work, however I am aware of how lucky I am in not only having a pantry but having one the size I do.

So thinking of space allowances I have tried to think of the absolute essentials to a very basic pantry of very limited space.

Salt, pepper, mixed dried herbs, curry powder, chili powder, smoked paprika, bay leaves, tomato puree, cornflour, tinned tomatoes, tinned beans, pasta, rice, tinned pineapple, sultanas, mixed spice flour, sugar, cocoa powder,eggs

It is essential to have some vegetables in your pantry the ones I couldn't be without are, onions, carrots, swede, mushrooms, peppers (bell), celery, potatoes.

In the fridge you should have butter, cheese and milk.

With these things you can rustle up a variety of main course meals from a range of cultures and a host of sweet puddings, cakes, biscuits.

Obviously these are just the very basics, it would be better to have fresh herbs, individual spices that you can mix yourself and a greater range of vegetables etc but with limited space or a tight budget these few things are a great start.

Caroline