A Southern Cook’s Top Pantry Staples

by Allyson Mattingly

BBQ Sauce

If there's one thing Kentuckians know, it's barbeque. A perfectly tangy BBQ sauce helps take your 'cue to the next level and leaves your guests with a fi nger-lickin' experience. You can purchase delicious BBQ sauces at local businesses around Lexington, like Red State BBQ, The Mousetrap, and J Render's Southern Table & Bar. If you would rather make your own BBQ sauce like a true southern belle, try making a traditional Western Kentucky mutton barbeque sauce. Being from Western Kentucky, mutton is a staple of barbeque. If you haven't tried it, I promise you're missing out.

Spices

Though you don't need to stock your spice cabinet with every seasoning known to man, you do need a few basics to spice things up. We recommend going with what you like fi rst and foremost - don't like cumin? Don't use it! Starting with the basics – garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper fl akes, dried herbs, chili powder – allows you to fi gure out what you like and how to use spices in different recipes. You can even make your own specialty mixture once you fi gure out what you like to use on poultry, seafood, or red meat.

Pecans

Because you never know when you're going to have to whip up a pecan pie for unexpected guests! My family has a pecan pie (actually a few) at every holiday, as I'm sure most families in the south do.

Pecans are sweet and buttery, making them a perfect option for desserts - yes, desserts is plural! From turtles to shortbread, brownies to Puppy Chow, pecans belong on your table all year long.

Buttermilk

To call buttermilk an essential for southern cooking is an understatement. Use the carton that's been sitting in your fridge to make buttermilk waffl es for the family, fried okra,

ranch dressing, or chicken and dumplings. Of course, we couldn't forget about every southerner's favorites. Mix your buttermilk with your cornmeal, plus a few extra ingredients, and get some lip-smacking fried chicken or dangerously good cornbread. And the best, of course, dangerously good cornbread. And the best, of course, would be buttermilk biscuits! would be buttermilk biscuits!

Tony Chachere's

Southerners fear no seasoning. The more fl avor, the better! Tony Chachere's Original Creole Seasoning better! Tony Chachere's Original Creole Seasoning will leave you wanting to add a dash to any and will leave you wanting to add a dash to any and everything. Trust me; my dad uses it on almost every everything. Trust me; my dad uses it on almost every dish. This classic seasoning enhances the fl avor of dish. This classic seasoning enhances the fl avor of meats, seafood, poultry, vegetables, eggs, barbeque, meats, seafood, poultry, vegetables, eggs, barbeque, french fries, and more. You'll feel like an authentic french fries, and more. You'll feel like an authentic

Louisianian when you're using this stuff. For people Louisianian when you're using this stuff. For people who enjoy a little more spice, there is also Tony who enjoy a little more spice, there is also Tony

Chachere's BOLD Creole Seasoning, which is sure Chachere's BOLD Creole Seasoning, which is sure to light your taste buds up. to light your taste buds up.

Tea Bags

Tea bags are an absolute must in a southern pantry. A glass of ice-cold sweet tea on a warm day always hits the spot - if it doesn't, you're clearly not a true southerner! A good southern sweet tea is similar to classic iced tea, with just a little bit more sugar. (Okay, a lot more sugar, but we don't judge.) All you have to do to make this classic is steep the tea bags for a couple of minutes and add sugar – though simple syrup and a pinch of baking soda is a magic touch. If that's not sweet enough for you, add lemonade to make a refreshing Arnold Palmer.

Bourbon

If you live in Kentucky, you know you have to have at least one bottle of bourbon in your home at all times! Place a bottle of Kentucky's native spirit on your shelf for a nightcap, or use it in your favorite recipes. Add it to your mamaw's pecan pie recipe for an extra bit of kick, or make a Kentucky classic like bourbon balls! If you prefer to sip your bourbon, a hot toddy is the way to go: bourbon, water, lemon juice, and honey are all you need.

Olive Oil

A good olive oil allows you to make even the most uninteresting foods sing. The various health benefi ts associated with olive oil, including healthy monounsaturated fats, antioxidants, and anti-infl ammatory properties, make it a great option to use in almost all of your dishes. It's basically liquid gold, so go in with a healthy drizzle! From simple sauces to desserts, you can use olive oil to make a classic vinaigrette, basil pesto, marinated manchego, roasted cherry tomato Caprese, or even the best olive oil cake ever. Of course, you can also use it to make an easy, delicious bread dipping oil that will be your go-to with your freshly made focaccia bread.

Chicken Stock

Much like olive oil, chicken stock is basically liquid gold. The versatility of chicken stock makes it perfect to use in many recipes, like a base for chicken noodle soup, a fl avor intensifi er for rice, braising meat, and much more! If you're looking for a quick and easy option, store-bought is fi ne. But if you're ready to take on the task, homemade broth tastes even better, and you can control the salt and fl avoring. With some leftover chicken, a couple of vegetables, and tasty seasoning, you can whip up a delicious chicken broth in no time. Place some in the freezer for long-term storage and take it out in a couple of months when you're craving a hearty soup or stew.

Bread

We recommend always having some kind of artisan loaf on hand, whether it be brioche, ciabatta, focaccia, or a classic sourdough. This is the jumping-off point for delicious dinners, fancy appetizers and tasty sandwiches. If you want to take it one step further, bake your own loaf. Your guests will be happy you chose to go the extra mile for quality ingredients.

Canned Tomatoes

If you grew up canning tomatoes as a "fun bonding" activity with your family, you know that it's a long process, but the result is delicious tomatoes months down the road. Whether you like them whole, crushed, diced, or as a paste, tomatoes can be used in all kinds of recipes. Some of our favorites include a comforting tomato soup (with a grilled cheese, of course), a traditional Bolognese for your next pasta and wine night, hearty chili for those brisk winter months, or fresh huevos rancheros for your brunch get-togethers. fresh huevos rancheros for your brunch get-togethers.

Hawaiian Rolls

You always need a good roll at southern gatherings, and Hawaiian rolls are a fan favorite with their and Hawaiian rolls are a fan favorite with their fl uffy, melt-in-your-mouth fl avor. One of my fl uffy, melt-in-your-mouth fl avor. One of my favorite ways to indulge in this sweet bread favorite ways to indulge in this sweet bread is serving it stuffed with ham, melted is serving it stuffed with ham, melted cheese, and topped with poppy seeds. cheese, and topped with poppy seeds. They make great sliders. Smoke some They make great sliders. Smoke some pork, lather it with BBQ sauce, and you'll pork, lather it with BBQ sauce, and you'll have a delicious, easy pork mini sandwich. have a delicious, easy pork mini sandwich. No matter how you use them, just know you No matter how you use them, just know you better buy extra because it's hard not to eat better buy extra because it's hard not to eat these things right out of the package! these things right out of the package! Not into the sweet side of things? Sister Not into the sweet side of things? Sister Schubert rolls are the other secret of southern Schubert rolls are the other secret of southern cooks.

Cheese

If your guilty pleasure is eating cheese straight out of the packaging as a late-night snack, we're in the same boat. But it's a southern hospitality staple. When unexpected guests drop-in, you'll want to have something on hand to make a spontaneous snack spread. We recommend keeping the basics; a sharp cheddar, brie, feta, and mozzarella. This also ensures that you always have something perfect to pair with your nightly glass of wine!

Rice

Almost no meal is complete without a side of rice. Some people might think that a rice-based dish equates to heavy and dense, but that's far from the truth - you can make a beautiful, light and tasty dish with various kinds of rice. It's sometimes diffi cult to know what type to use. Long-grain rice ends up light and fl uffy, while short-grain rice is almost round and tends to stick together when cooked. Brown rice is tan, has a somewhat chewy texture and a nutlike fl avor. It also has more nutrients than white rice! White rice is still nutritious and goes well with many dishes, like a zucchini rice gratin, cheesy broccoli and rice casserole, or a creamy risotto.

Cast iron skillet

You're going to need a way to cook all of your favorite recipes, and a cast iron skillet is the perfect way to do so. They're inexpensive, virtually indestructible, versatile, and stay seasoned to give you even more fl avor when cooking. If you're lucky, someone in your family will have one to pass down to you so you can get to cooking delicious cornbread, steak, or bacon. We recommend checking out Lodge Cast Iron, where you can even take a short quiz to determine which cast iron cookware is right for you. •