Sicilian Culture: Neccessary Kitchen Items

If you are Italian, Sicilian, or just want to cook like one, these are items you must have at all times, because you will be using them often.  Don't think that these are expensive items you will buy and that will sit on the shelve that you will never use, I promise you, you will need them often and they are all fairly inexpensive except for the olive oil:

Foods, Herbs & Spices

Basil - Like any herb, fresh is best, but dry is fine if its the winter and the market only has poor, expensive basil.
Oregano - Dried oregano is fine and is the basic seasoning for pizza and sauces, even garlic bread.
Canned Tomatoes - This is the basic base for so many dishes, keep a few cans on hand.
Tomato Paste - This is also used for a lot of dishes.
Grated Cheese - Come on... if you need to ask...
Salt - Salt can be harvested from a mine or from the sea, there is Sea Salt and Rock Salt, be sure to grind up either one you use. 
Fresh Black Pepper - Even if you avoid salt, you should add a little bit to boiling water for your pasta so the pasta is not flat.  Fresh cracked pepper is best.
Garlic - Please do not use garlic powder for anything, ever, not even if you are starving to death, fresh garlic is best, you can store it in the refrigerator in a brown paper bag and is also the key to so many Italian dishes.
Onions - Yellow or white onions will do, red onion for some more modern dishes and salads.
Olive Oil - Oil & Virgin Olive for cooking, extra virgin for salads and vegetables is key.
Bread Crumbs - Use only Italian bread for bread crumbs, stale ones are best, if you bake them, then they also serve as croutons for salads.
Pasta - At any given time, you will find at least 3 different pastas in my pantry:  Spaghetti for meat and marinara sauce, Linguine for Alfredo (I dont care for fettucine) and seafood dishes, and Penne for vegetable, vodka and other dishes.  You can use fresh pasta, but that does not have a long shelf life like dry pasta.  
Parsley - Another primary herb for Italian cooking, fresh is best, I would most often use nothing before I used dry parsley, I feel that parsley does not have much flavor to begin with, so how much can dry parsley have?
Hot Pepper Flakes - Even if you don't like your food hot, chances are, your guests will.  Also, be careful when cooking with it, some can make the food really hot.

Beverages & Bar

White & Red Wine - White you can cook and drink, same as red, but red is more often going to be drank with the meal, tip: the wine you use with cooking, you should also serve with the meal to compliment it.
Cognac - This item is actually optional, but it is most often used in the Lobster sauce recipe, but if not for that, you have to entertain your guests.
Water - Sparkling, spring, you will see it on almost every Italian table, and its a great nuetral drink that everyone can tolerate.
Sambuca or Anisette - This licorice is great for certain dessert recipes but also makes a great after dinner cordial or espresso sweetener.

© Copyright 1999-2002 (MCMXCIX) Cristaldi Communications Web Design, Hosting & Promotion - - February 25, 2002