In a few days, I'll be depositing an unexpected windfall in my bank account. After I pay bills and buy a couple of shiny new toys (did someone say "macro lens for taking gorgeous food photos"?), I'm planning to hit Costco and Trader Joe's. My thinking: I should stock my pantry with all those items that are just expensive enough to break the bank on ordinary shopping trips, but aren't exactly luxuries. I know myself: I won't be flush for long. Four months from now, I want to be able to use (for example) my vanilla extract with abandon.
So far, my shopping list consists of (in huge quantities):
- extra-virgin olive oil
- Kalamata olives
- vanilla extract
- grade "B" maple syrup
- good organic chicken broth
- organic garbanzo beans
- roasted red peppers
- best-quality chocolate chips
- butter
- walnut meal
- canned anchovies














