Kitchen Essentials

Aside from your kitchen appliances,

water, salt and pepper,
if you were limited to TEN THINGS to keep in the kitchen
at all times, what would they be?

AND

What meals can you make
with ONLY these things?

Here is my list:

1. Onion & Garlic - I have to pair these, because I never buy one without the other, or cook one without the other.
   
   
2. Olive Oil
   
   
3. Pasta - any shape or size
   
   
4. Canned Whole, Peeled Tomatoes - these can be used in variety dishes: soup, pasta sauces, even in salsa in a pinch
   
   
5. Vinegar – red wine or balsamic
   
   
6. Escarole or Spinach - these greens are versatile enough to be used for a salad or a cooked vegetable
   
   
7. Frozen Broccoli - because I love broccoli
   
   
8. Eggs
   
   
9. Parmesan Cheese – preferably a wedge, but if economy is an issue the green can will work
   
   
10. Chicken - okay, if I'm forced to choose only one final thing for my list, poultry works more for my lifestyle
    

From this list, I can make:

• Scrambled Eggs
  
  
• Garlic and Olive Oil over Pasta with Parmesan Cheese
  
  
• Pasta and Red Sauce
  
  
• Sauteed Escarole Sauteed with Onions, Garlic and Parmesan Cheese
  
  
• Salad of Escarole (or Spinach), Broccoli, Hard Boiled Eggs and Poached Chicken with Vinaigrette
  
  
• Poached Eggs over Sauteed Escarole
  
  
• Chicken-Escarole Soup
  
  
• Broccoli-Parmesan Omelette
  
  
• Spinach Sauteed with Onions and Garlic Tossed with Pasta
  
  
• Chicken Cacciatore over Pasta
  
  
  

What's your list?


(Adapted from a question I saw posted on the MarthaStewart.com Cooking Message Boards.)