Store cupboard basics for spring and summer

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Store cupboard basics for spring and summer
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sally_in_wales
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Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Thu May 08, 08 6:53 pm Post subject: Store cupboard basics for spring and summer

Now the weather is warming up, what essential storecupboard standbys are essential for being able to make the most of seasonally available food and forage? The time for solid suet puds, filling bean based bakes and slow cooked rich stews is just about past for the moment, so what takes over for you at this time of year and what essential ingredients do you always keep in?

I'm likely to eat a lot more noodle or rice based stir frys now, spuds and root veg are less important, and I find I want a lemon or vinegar far more often in the spring and early summer.

Last edited by sally_in_wales on Thu May 08, 08 7:00 pm; edited 1 time in total

gil
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Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18410

Posted: Thu May 08, 08 6:59 pm Post subject:
Spuds : for mash to mix in with sweated nettles / ground elder / ramsons; also as a basis for making soups with foraged spring greens, and the new season's herbs. Brown rice; couscous. Similarly.

Mrs Fiddlesticks

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 10460

Posted: Thu May 08, 08 8:46 pm Post subject:
salad leaves - seems a nicer accompaniment than veggies lemons even more- the kids like a glass of water with ice and lemon at the moment ice-cubes

jamanda
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Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35056
Location: Devon

Posted: Thu May 08, 08 8:52 pm Post subject:
Pasta. And you need olive oil to go on those salads.

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Thu May 08, 08 10:24 pm Post subject:
oils, salad dressing, dried beans, tinned anchovies, tinned black olives, sun dried tomatoes, pasta flour. Chickens are laying well so fresh pasta is a regular favourite in summer, often with a simple tomato sauce + intersting extras

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Thu May 08, 08 10:25 pm Post subject:
Oh, and a jar of that cheaty garlic and cheaty chilli is handy. As is marigold boullion for making a quick soup with garden veg.

Helen_A

Joined: 26 Jan 2005
Posts: 1548
Location: MK, Bucks.

Posted: Thu May 08, 08 10:30 pm Post subject:
Pasta, noodles, miso, tomato paste or sundried toms, oils, vinegars, dried chickpeas, lentils. Selection of spices. I've got various seaweeds in there as well atm. Helen_A

jamanda
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Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35056
Location: Devon

Posted: Thu May 08, 08 10:32 pm Post subject:
I'm not good with seaweeds. I can recognise most of them, but I don't like lava much and am not sure what else to do with it. What do you have? and what do you do with it?

sean
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42208
Location: North Devon

Posted: Thu May 08, 08 10:33 pm Post subject:

Jonnyboy wrote:

Oh, and a jar of that cheaty garlic and cheaty chilli is handy.

As is marigold boullion for making a quick soup with garden veg.

You are Delia Smith and I claim my five pounds. You can make potato salad with tinned spuds too.

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Thu May 08, 08 10:36 pm Post subject:
Don't forget the frozen iceland pickled cabbage

gil
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Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18410

Posted: Thu May 08, 08 11:24 pm Post subject:
Chick peas in the storecupboard all year round. In winter for stews etc; in summer for hummus.

sean
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42208
Location: North Devon

Posted: Thu May 08, 08 11:29 pm Post subject:

Jonnyboy wrote:

As is marigold boullion for making a quick soup with garden veg.

I'm inclined to the Elizabeth David view that the majority of vegetable soups are better made with water rather than stock.

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Thu May 08, 08 11:36 pm Post subject:
I'm not.

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42208
Location: North Devon

Posted: Thu May 08, 08 11:40 pm Post subject:
Dissing Saint Elizabeth now? Duels have been fought over less.

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Fri May 09, 08 12:14 am Post subject:

sean wrote:

Dissing Saint Elizabeth now? Duels have been fought over less.

Hey ho, if I have to make great soup and kick your soft devon ass so be it.

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