Ingredients - must haves

These are things that you need to have to hand for almost everything you are going to cook. Every kitchen needs them. Over time you build up your own ideas about essentials (for your dad we have to have salad cream and uncle Paul's pepper in addition to my own regulars - ketchup, balsamic vinegar, range of herbs and spices, black pepper, salt, mustards of a variety of types, garlic, red peppers, lemon).

• Butter - unsalted (butter comes in unsalted and salted versions)
• Black pepper - in a grinder - fresh ground is best - grinders can be filled up - pepper corns are in the herbs and spices section of the supermarket
• Salt - table salt or sea salt
• Garlic (fresh, in cloves, you will need a garlic crusher)
• Red onions (it's my personal preference for red, other people like white or yellow)
• White balsamic vinegar (personal preference)
• Balsamic vinegar - dark
• Grainy mustard (the type with mustard seen kernels in it)
• Ginger root - has to be peeled 
• Flour - plain flour 
• Soy sauce (I prefer light)
• Thyme (dried)
• Oregano (dried)
• Basil (dried)
• Mixed herbs (dried)