Stocking Your Kitchen

So I am all about eating out...
but considering how expensive that gets, you'd be surprised how far your buck can take you in the kitch.

and i believe in minimalism when it comes to cooking.
But you really can't even start until you stock a couple items.

[sidenote: whenever I watch Rachel Ray amble on over to her pantry and pick out some random, obscure ingredient.. like... i dont know, cinnamon oil or avocado leaves, i want to go into her kitchen and roll my eyes at her. and maybe grab her by the shoulders and shake her a little. I will be listing things that you'll ACTUALLY use. no BS.]

so lets start with the very basics.
These are the things that I like to always have on hand... and not only are they cheap and easy to grab, but they will last you a very long time.

In Your Spice Cabinet (loosely in order of importance):
salt
pepper
thyme
parsley
basil
chili powder
garlic powder
bay leaves
tarragon
dill
rosemary
cumin


In Your Pantry
balsamic vinegar
olive oil (both standard and extra virgin)
soy sauce
arborio rice
dried pasta (prefer barilla)
white/wheat flour
fish sauce
dried mushrooms
walnuts
chicken stock
canned tomatoes

In Your Fridge
tubes of tomato paste (this is great bc you can squeeze and re-cap instead of wasting a can)
butter
proscuitto (or bacon which is easier to find and cheaper) - this comes in unbelievably useful, i promise.
frozen shrimp (ok, your freezer, not fridge)
capers
olives