Armed and Ready

My philosophy is that no recipe should require more time spent shopping than cooking. Fortunately, today’s supermarkets offer a plethora of excellent ingredients and, if you keep the basics on hand, most recipes require no shopping or, at worst, a quick trip along the produce aisle.

In addition to the usual flour, sugar, vanilla, baking soda and baking powder many people keep on hand, these items are always in my house, ready for desserts on demand.

PANTRY

Canned almond paste

Chocolate wafer cookies

Gingersnaps

Peanut butter

Chocolate hazelnut spread (found near the peanut butter)

Citrus curd (found near the jams and jellies)

Chocolate chips of various sizes and flavors

Unsweetened cocoa powder

Honey

Molasses

Fruit preserves, jams and marmalades

Dried fruits (raisins, currants, cranberries, figs, cherries, apricots)

REFRIGERATOR

Butter

Citrus fruit (at least one lemon, lime and orange)

Eggs

Milk, preferably whole

Whipping cream (it lasts at least two weeks unopened)

Sour cream (regular or reduced fat but never nonfat)

Pie crusts (refrigerated, folded; found in the biscuit and cookie-dough section)

FREEZER

Filo dough

Ice cream (vanilla, chocolate, coffee)

Puff pastry sheets

Pound cake