The Store Cupboard

A well-stocked store cupboard should give you a satisfying sense of security; you will always be able to produce a last minute meal, impromptu guests will be impressed at your ingenuity, and you will be able to find something to vary or revive an ordinary dish. If you keep bottles of fruits in alcohol on your shelves, you can even be sure that you can produce a real treat as well, when the occasion demands.

A store cupboard can be anything from a standard, small cupboard in your kitchen to a cold, north-facing, walk-in larder. If you are lucky enough to have a really cold larder, you can keep boxes of fruit such as apples and citrus fruits when in season, strings of fresh garlic and bunches of drying herbs – which look so attractive if you can hang them up on hooks. But most people have to make do with less space and warmer conditions, so we must rely on non-perishable items: cans, bottles, jars, vacuum-sealed packages and a variety of dried ingredients.