Every kitchen must have...

There are a few things every kitchen must have. Here is my must haves, (well a few of them anyway)

Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce, this sauce is used in lots of my recipes for a reason. They know what they're doing and have been around since 1835 !
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Tabasco brand hot sauces. the quality here is second to none. The McIlhenny family has alot of pride in what they make and they should. Edmund McIlenny created the famous Tabasco Hot Pepper sauce in 1868 in Louisiana where they are serious about what they cook with. There are now several different flavors to choose from and I have them all in my cabinet.
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Fresh Garlic. Nuff said

Canned chicken and beef stock. In case you don't have time to make the stuff from scratch. These bring nice flavors to many a dish and not just soups.. use a can of lower sodium Swanson chicken broth in place of water next time you make rice.
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Granulated garlic

a pepper grinder (McCormick's sell an inexpensive one already filled) or coarse ground black
pepper

Morton Kosher salt

and yes I am partial to some brands, over the years you learn that you cant substitute quality and the more you pay for something doesn't always mean its better. It was trial and error for me for a while.. I would think that $15.00 Balsamic vinegar must be better than the $6.00-8.00 brands.. no so. Use your taste buds.

heavy cream for some sauces, don't use 1% or skim... its just water.. and even whole milk sometimes wont give you the texture you want in a sauce.. it has to be creamy.

more later