Summer Cooking Checklist

It is summer  and surprisingly we should be stocking up on certain staples for the season ahead Usually this is done for fall and winter but there are also certain foods and ingredients that are vital for warm weather cooking. It makes for easy,breezy summer cooking.

One of the musts of any summer kitchen is olive oil. This can be used for salads , marinades and fries.it's perfect for making that French summer classic -bagnat-an olive oil drenched veggie and tuna sandwich. Mix it wit some hot pepper flakes , rosemary or even dried lavender for a dip  for French or Italian bread. Lemon is another summer must have. Again it is great as a vinegar alternative or in a marinade. Also have plenty of it around for home made lemonade and iced tea.(it can also be used for beauty too, in lightening hair for natural highlights and as a facial astringent). Tomatoes are another summer kitchen must. Luckily some of the first harvests are coming in. It can be chopped up for bruschetta or salsa or coarsely chopped for a fresh tomato sauce. Tomatoes Provencale are an excellent side , perfect with grilled steak. The grape and cherry ones make healthy and tasty snacks for the kids too. Strawberries and bananas should also be on hand. These are great in salads, smoothies and parfaits.

Always have rice on hand.It's an easy cook up in hot weather and it's versatile with almost everything. It can be added to bolster up soup or made into an interesting salad with peas and parsley. Rice can be used to make an easy pudding too.Any macaroni is another summer basic.  It can be the base  of so  many different salads as well as being turned into a hot ,tasty meal in one pot pasta. Combine it and broth for a quick soup on a rare chilly day. Bouillon cubes are another must They are great in making quick broths or instant homemade soups like minestrone. Every home chef should also have a box of crackers handy. These can be just plain Saltines or the more buttery Ritz. Apart from being a good snack for the beach or picnic, they can be ground into crumbs for coating  veggies and fried chicken. Cracker crumbs are also good for  breading shrimp and fresh caught crabs. I like to have flour too, It's great for making batters for squash flowers and crepes. Also have seltzer on hand too. Yes it's refreshing as a drink but it's superb to add to batters and dough for lightness and fluffiness.

It may be summer but you still need to stock up. Keep these basics on hand  to create tasty dishes and desserts. It'll make for easy cooking, grilling and baking