A Litttle Advice From Ina

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To be a better cook, start with the right ingredients. Ina Garten recommends a list of 11 must-haves for the pantry or fridge that can help improve a whole range of dishes.

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1. Puff pastry. “It’s an incredible time saver.”

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2. Instant coffee. Add it to chocolate for a deeper, richer flavor.

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3. A good, syrupy, aged balsamic vinegar.

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4. California olive oil. She prefers the Olio Santo brand.

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5. Homemade chicken stock (Ina's homemade chicken stock recipe). It’s one thing she insists on making herself, but it can be done in a big batch, then frozen in smaller containers.

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6. Parmesan cheese. Her favorite: Reggiano. “Anything that doesn’t have a great flavor can be made better with Parmesan cheese.”

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7. Sautéed garlic and onions.

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8. Good vanilla. She suggests Nielsen-Massey vanilla extract, but she always has on hand her own homemade vanilla extract. She orders the vanilla beans in bulk from Regional Access in Trumansburg, N.Y. (607-387-6959). Pack a big jar with vanilla beans, then fill it with vodka. Each time you use the beans or the extract, add more of each. “I’ve had this jar for 25 years,” she said, opening an aromatic container.

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9. Grand Marnier. “It’s great with chocolate, with vanilla, with anything orange. I recently made a raspberry sauce with Grand Marnier.”

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10. Kosher salt. Diamond Crystal is her brand of choice.

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11. Fleur de sel, “when you need a little salt at the end. It has a brininess that’s not salty.”

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P.S.

I survived a week filled with too much work - and a neck injury that came at a very inconvenient time - but was also filled with lots of wonderful fun!!! Thanks for all the well wishes!!

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