Autumn has well and truly arrived and the long, lazy, carefree summer days are over. For me, it is a time to reorganize and declutter my home and especially my kitchen. I love clearing my cupboards and pantry and restocking them with all that I will need for the cooler days ahead. Reorganizing my cupboards and desk and making space for new things is comforting and invigorating at the same time.
My Pantry
Olive oil — everyday cooking olive oil and for salads
Rice
for paella—short grain rice. There is one called
‘bomba’ which is great but you can use short grain
rice if that is all you have
risotto rice, I like to use Carnaroli
medium grain rice for sweets and stuffings
basmati rice or long grain for pilaf
Pasta
fresh and dry (fresh only keeps for a few days in
the refrigerator) spaghetti, penne, angel hair and
any other variety that you love
Bread
Grains
semolina, couscous, bulgar
Tomato passata, tomato paste and cans of diced
Tomatoes
Flour – self raising, plain and OO
Greek yoghurt
Pulses – lentils, cannellini beans (both dried and in
cans), chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
Vanilla extract
Vinegar – red wine, white wine and balsamic
Sea salt
Black peppercorns and a grinder
Sugar – organic, caster (superfine) and icing
(confectioners’)
Filo pastry
Olives
Cheese – feta, mozzarella, fresh ricotta, parmigiano
Honey
Eggs (organic)
Garlic, onions, lemons, potatoes
Dried herbs and spices – fennel seeds, saffron,
basil, bay leaves, cinnamon (ground and sticks),
cloves (ground and whole), nutmeg, oregano, sweet
paprika, rosemary, tarragon, sesame seeds