Your Reserve Food Shelf

by Kat Kinsman, Posted Dec 19th 2008 @ 10:00AM

Scanned from Time to Entertain by Charlotte Turgeon (1954)

Fifty-four years after this printing, I'm hard-pressed to argue with Ms Turgeon on the import of having a few staple schmancy things tucked around the house, should mid-week meal boredom encroach or a party break out. Can't say I'm especially aligned with her specifics, but that could easily be a function of the 5+ decade divide.

I pride myself on being able to entertain at a moment's notice, due to the presence of these just-slightly-left of my central (olive oil, stock, Parmesan, fish sauce, double-black soy, tomato paste, rice/red wine/balsamic vinegars, fresh herbs) everyday ingredients.

My Party Pantry List

Pomegranate molasses
Pickled watermelon rind
Pickled corn
Dried cherries
Smoked salt
Smoked paprika
Mustard powder
Maple sugar
Brandy-soaked cherries
Smoked cherries
Caperberries
Frozen Swedish meatballs
Strange potato chips
Vosges exotic chocolate bars
Dried sausage
Orgeat
Blood orange bitters
Maraschino liqueur
Chipotle vodka
Jamaican rum
Angelica
Simple syrup
Bitter lemon
Slab bacon
Sharp cheese
Supermarket buttermilk biscuits in a can
Bottled BBQ sauce
Fresh citrus

I can MacGuyver a party for 12+ people in ten minutes flat if I have that on hand, so I tend to replenish my stock any time it's low. Floor's open, folks -- what's in your stash?

Filed under: Retro cookery, Festive Family Feasts, Ingredients
Tags: appetizers, condiments, entertaining, hors doeuvres, kat kinsman, KatKinsman, pantry, pantryessentials, retro, retro cookbook, retro cookery, retro food, RetroCookbook, RetroCookery, vintage cookbook, vintage recipes, VintageCookbook, VintageRecipes

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