HERBS

Parsley – curly leaf, flat leaf
Basil - fresh or dried
Thyme – fresh or dried
Sage - fresh or dried
Bay leaves – fresh or dried
Rosemary – fresh (available all year round) or dried.
Ginger – fresh (can be frozen) or ground (dried and powdered)
Coriander – fresh (available all year round)
Mint - fresh (available all year round) or dried.
Lemon Grass – fresh or bottled in oil

SPICES

Black pepper – preferably whole peppercorns
Salt – crystal rock salt, Anglesey sea salt
Cinnamon – sold as dried rolls of bark or in powdered form
Whole cloves
Garam masala – essential for Indian dishes
Paprika - powder
Cumin seeds
Turmeric - powder
Vanilla pods
Mixed spice - powder

BOTTLES AND JARS

Honey – Welsh. Blended honey is best for most cooking purposes.
Mustard – English, French, wholegrain.
Oil – vegetable sunflower, olive, extra-virgin olive.
Speciality oils – sesame, walnut, hazelnut, chilli, garlic
Tomato puree
Vinegar – white wine, red wine, balsamic, raspberry.
Sauces - Soy sauce (light & dark), Thai fish sauce (Nam Pla), oyster sauce, Worcestershire sauce, tomato ketchup, Tabasco.
Capers - salted (small ones are best).
Treacle – golden and molasses.

ALCHOHOL

Wine – red, white
Brandy
Whiskey
Rum
Sherry
Beer - stout

PACKETS

Stock cubes and powders – chicken, beef, vegetable.
Sugar – white, brown, caster, icing, palm.
Nuts – almonds, walnuts, peanuts, pine nuts.
Dried Fruit – sultanas, currants, raisins, apricots, dates.
Pulses (dried or tinned) - borlotti, cannellini, kidney beans and butter beans, lentils, chickpeas.
Couscous
Grains - barley, oats.
Flour – plain, self-raising, strong white, corn.
Noodles - fresh or dried
Dried pasta – macaroni, spaghetti, vermicelli, lasagne.
Rice – white long grain, Arborio risotto, basmati
Chocolate - cocoa powder: good-quality 70% cocoa solids
Sponge Fingers

TINS

Tuna
Tinned tomatoes (whole or chopped)
Anchovies in olive oil or salt
Coconut Milk

FRESH STUFF

The items below are obviously perishable but are good to have at hand.
Lemons
Limes
Garlic
Ginger (can be frozen and grated)
Onions and shallots
Chillies
Potatoes
Milk
Eggs
Cheese - small block of Parmesan cheese, strong cheddar, cream cheese
Butter
Cream – double, whipping
Mushrooms

IN THE FREEZER

Pastry – puff, short crust
Ice Cream – vanilla
Bread crumbs