Store cupboard basics

Apart from the obvious – salt, pepper, sugar, olive oil, pasta and rice – any kitchen cupboard can benefit from the following: tomato paste (a cheap substitute for tinned tomatoes), curry powder, curry paste, soy sauce, honey (which can be used in savoury and sweet dishes), dijon mustard and wine vinegar for salad dressings, Marmite (a good base for gravy as well as a spread), vegetable bouillon powder for stocks and soups, canned chickpeas, lentils, kidney beans, garlic and onions (in the veg rack). Keep the fridge stocked up with eggs, parmesan cheese, plain yoghurt (which again can be used in savoury dishes such as curries as well as sweet) and a lemon or a bottle of lemon juice. It's also worth stocking your freezer with frozen veg such as peas. Oh, and it goes without saying that ketchup and baked beans are staples.