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Five basic pantry staples
by Jane Rodmell
The magic number is five.
honey
balsamic vinegar
extra virgin olive oil
chicken broth
garlic
Five staples in your cottage cupboard and, for each of these amazing dishes, a shopping list of five or fewer extras.
At the beginning of the cottage season, one of the cook’s tasks is to restock the cupboard with staples, those long-lasting ingredients that will become the foundation of many meals. How streamlined can you keep your pantry? I’ve chosen five items I couldn’t do without on a hypothetical desert island: honey, balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, chicken broth (canned or in a Tetra Pak), and garlic. They may not be the first things you think of as staples, but each is versatile, combines well with the others, and can be stored in a cool, dark place without refrigeration. Pick up a few fresh items on the drive north and you’re set.
When I’m opening the cottage, I want uncomplicated recipes—there are too many other things to do. These dishes keep the shopping list short—each uses no more than five fresh ingredients in addition to the pantry items. With five on hand, plus five store-bought extras, meals at the desert-island cottage are easy and delicious.
I’ll admit to using salt, pepper, and water without counting them among my five staples. My rationale: On a desert island, I’ll simply evaporate my own sea salt and harvest fresh pepper from the jungle. Or I’ll sneak them from the salt shaker and pepper mill on the table.
The recipes
Balsamic Glaze
Potato, Leek, and Celery Root Soup
Roasted Tomatoes on Goat Cheese
Warm Mushroom Salad
Roast Chicken with Onions
Panna Cotta with Apricot Compote
Online bonus recipes
Honey Mustard Grilled Salmon
Pork Tenderloin with Balsamic Glaze
Published in the April 2009 issue of Cottage Life magazine.
