What mustn't you run out of?

[Cinnamon]

For me, it's limes. I love Southeast Asian cuisine and caipirinhas.

[Emme]

tomatoes -- preferably sugar plums or grape
white balsamic vinegar - etiher tesoro di balsamico brand from WF's or TJ's
bragg's amino acids
lettuce/salad
cauliflower/broccoli
lemon juice
salt

[Kinnexa]

BEER! (Of course.)
Cheese, pasta, skim milk, seltzer, some type of fresh veggie, black peppercorns,wine, decent bread. And beer.

[cb1]

Old Bay
Lemons
Garlic
Butter
Bacon
Franks Hot Sauce
Beer (right now it's Sam Adams Summer Ale)

[ChrisOC]

Gin for my Martini

[Ravac]

Coffee & half-n-half
Diet cola
hot dogs

[berbadeerface]

Sriracha - I put it on everything.

[mtngirlnv]

I have to have different kinds of meats to suit the mood for dinner withouth having to stop at the store on the way home from the gym.
After that,
Canned tomatoes of all kinds
Wine
Cheese
Bread
Coffee

[vballgal]

fun topic! for me its:

cottage cheese
wine
espresso
olive oil
diet coke
crystal light lemonade

[MattInNJ]

PBR
Sriracha and various hot sauces
Bread
Fluff

[CoryKatherine]

lol i love this reply. i'm a PBR girl myself.

[Passadumkeg]

My favorite country 'n western song: "Red Neck, White Sox & Blue Ribbon Beer", hee haw! My grandpap's favorite and one of the first I used to sneak out of the fridge.

[TLC1971]

Oh, I forgot...Franzia Sunset Blush in a box. Yes, boxed wine out of a spout :)

[auburnselkie]

I can't list them in order of importance because it depends on my mood, but...
flour
yeast
sugar
butter
olive oil
soy sauce
limes
lemons
fresh thyme
canned tomatoes (except I just looked this morning and we're down to one can - I was horrified!)
black peppercorns
crushed red pepper
grits
chicken stock (homemade)
pasta
garlic
onions
carrots
celery

This is getting embarrassing!

[Boccone Dolce]

celery? you can't possibly run out?!?! I can hardly use it up before it dies!! Come on over, I'll share my stalks!

[auburnselkie]

I make stock on a weekly basis and there's always peanut-butter stuffed celery for the kids - weird, I know, but I never ever run out. But I've got about 12 gallons of persimmon puree I'd be happy to trade you!

[MGZ]

Dry vermouth! My nightmare - I come home from a long day, chill a glass, cut a twist, fill a shaker with gin and ice, and grab an empty vermouth bottle from the fridge.

[free sample addict aka Tracy L]

In order of priority:
Pet food
Coffee
Crackers
Cheese
Tuna
Smoked oysters
olives
leftovers
Good and Plenty candy
Vodka

[onrushpam]

Wine
Dog Food (this includes chicken or beef liver, fish, pasta... we have an OLD dog!)
Beyond that, we can make do, but most important are:
Onions
Olive Oil
Butter
Potatoes
Some sort of protein (chicken/beef/lamb/fish)
Some sort of green veg (salad/spinach/collards/asparagus)
Cheese
Kosher salt
Pepper
A couple of good vinegars

[schrutefarms]

Besides the obvious (coffee, water, EVOO, etc.), I am a FANATIC about always having a container of Cederlane stuffed grape leaves in my fridge. Also cornichons (although I can breathe easy as long as there is some kind of pickle around), hummus (plain or roasted red pepper) and pita chips. I also keep a fully stocked candy cupboard, so I know I can breeze by any time and grab a handful of chocolates. And I try to keep bottles of wine stocked in the house, but they always seem to disapear rather quickly. And lately, I've been obsessed with those little oranges (Cuties), so they are always around. I like things that I can grab in small bites when needed. Oh, and also Cederlane frozen burritos (especially the cous cous and veggie).

[schrutefarms]

Totally forgot-Greek Vinagrette and yellow Mustard.

[Popkin]

flour
sugar
butter
chocolate
apples
(so I can always make a dessert)
pasta
potatoes
rice
garlic
pesto
some form of tomato product
eggs
(so there is always dinner)

[lusfolgena]

Fettuccine is first and foremost for me. I always keep pastas (usually fettuccine), pasta sauce, shredded parmesan and some herbs in the fridge so no matter what I can feed an unexpected group a delicious meal with minimal cost. Other must haves are good artisan bread, butter.coffee. Ritz crackers, fruit and Jif honey roasted peanut butter (my big weakness)

[danhole]

peanut butter
butter
hellman's mayo
cheese - any kind, as long as it is cheese
seasonings (spices, soy sauce, herbs, salts, peppers)
ice for my water
vodka
special crackers (triscuits, wheat thins, nut thins, toasteds, etc.)
fesh garlic
cat food

[Boccone Dolce]

ice!! I once moved into a duplex and had to get my own fridge. I didn't spring for the ice maker and it was HORRIBLE. Lesson learned!!

[danhole]

I have a fridge with an icemaker and it also crushes ice, so I am spoiled. I used to babysit for my granddaughter and my daughter uses ice trays and isn't too good at keeping them filled. Drove me crazy to go over there and find that there was no ice, so I would take gallon bags of ice with me! I drink water all day and I HAVE to have ice!

[Boccone Dolce]

We currently have a fantastic ice maker- but it does not crush. When we upgrade, that is a *want* but I do have it at work, where I am more then home so it works out. My gfriend from Ukraine doesn't believe in ice, I guess. I was floored when we visited and she didn't have a single cube in the house! S'ok, I still love her but it just seemed...weird.

[CoryKatherine]

TJs raw almond butter and fresh fruit (apples, bananas, etc)

[Paulustrious]

My stock answer

Stock

[Peg]

Coffee essential.
Milk almost essential - but I can always drink the coffee black..

[TLC1971]

Olive oil, eggs, garlic, milk, butter.

Oh, more importantly...wine & dog food!

[kchurchill5]

Endless, however
veggies, lettuce
pasta
canned tomatoes
cheese
bread
rice
chicken breasts
cream and broth. I could make a lot out of those things.

Could live along time on just that.

There would never be just one item. But when I traveled a few years back and was on a boat for 6 weeks, Me and my crew lost wallets, credit cards and cash during a bad storm, and I did report everything missing, and I could of gone to port and waited for a wire transfer. Well call me crazy, but me and my crew decided to live off the land. We traveled way south through Central and South America and stopped at some local ports. Some local produce we picked, some staples on the boat we had, fresh fish almost daily, some canned food and tomatoes and pastas and it was interesting to see how easy it is and how unique it is to live simple. No truffle oil, sesame oil, fancy ingredients, vinegars, special spices, this and that. But just necessity. We caught fish and sold them in exchange for fresh vegetables at some ports. Vinegar, plain cider if any. When it comes down do it, you can really cook great food without all these special fancy ingredients.

A favorite still is grouper in a banana leaf with a mango, avacado and papaya salsa with just a little oil, lime juice and mint. A local pepper and some plantains and dinner. People forget what true cooking and cooking from the land is all about. I learned a lot of 6 weeks and loved every minute. To make a mango sauce with chili shrimp with fresh spinach and plantains and coconut and many other fruits, some long grain rice. Salt and pepper maybe, spices, limited if none but not required. We get way too spoiled and depend on fancy over priced ingredients to make us sound great when the basics can be made with few ingredients.

I am a firm believer and I am sure I will have those that disagree but I believe it. I'm home and I do like my canned tomatoes, cream or milk, broth but it is amazing what you can make with very little. I love shortcuts because life now is not what is was on the water. Two different scenarios. We sold fish to buy chicken at one of the stops and who knows what shape the chicken was in. And others worry about only buying the perfect organic chicken vs a chicken from a regular grocery store. We would of been thrilled to see a grocery store that had chicken period or having the money to buy it. Yes we made this decision but it was like a test. It was fun, adventurous and educational and taught me a lot.

I dare anyone to do that just a week and see how different you may feel without all the comforts of cooking. And appliances. A fire pit and small 1 burner stove. 1 large pan 2 pots and a few tupperware.

It really teaches you the true art of cooking not what cooking has become. But as I said, I'm home and today it is much different, different style and different life. So I cook as life dictates but I still appreciate the experience I had as well as the education I had.

[jfood]

in order of importance

peanut butter (current phase is skippy)
skim milk
hellman's mayo
coffee

[Passadumkeg]

Salt cod, pickled periwinkles, alewives, soft shell clams, Finn Haddie, scallop roe, and smoked mackeral. Oh yes, crab and lobster tomale to spread on bread. Imagine.

[corneygirl]

I didn't know people ate alewives. I just remember the smell in the spring on the coast of lake MI. There was even a local comedy troupe called the "Dead Alewives." In high school we would use there dried carcasses along w/ driftwood for mini bonfires.

[lulubelle]

The smell was um,... amazing for lack of a better word. Where did you live?

[corneygirl]

Milwaukee, WI

[Passadumkeg]

Smelt are running now too. A gallon per person per night limit.

[Gio]

Oh Smelts!! My second favorite fish. Pan fried with a squish of lemon.... Yum!

[Passadumkeg]

In Finland, fried smelt are often served after a hot (I mean over 300 degrees, hot!) sauna w/ a cold beer. Sausages too.

[Gio]

Can't do sauna - drains me of too much energy. I'll take the beer and smelts, tho.

[Passadumkeg]

Smoked alewives are a downeast favorite.

[Sam Fujisaka]

Rices, chiles, limes, lettuces, masa harina, soy sauce, fish sauce, wine, rum, onions, green onions, ginger, garlic, dried beans, fish, spices.

[Cinnamon]

Dang, I forgot to mention rum. (These days, more cachaca.)

[Maximilien]

Pasta, rice and olive oil, salt, black pepper,

if I have those, I can live happy.

and most important, inspiration, if I run out of it, I'm done!

[liveloveat34]

milk
eggs
onions
cottage cheese
bananas
oatmeal
kimchi
rice
red wine
glad we live across the street from a grocery store!

[mpjmph]

Peanut butter (preferably TJ's salted creamy) and Diet Coke. I eat lots of good food, but those are the only things I consume every day.

[six dower]

Me, too!! Diet Coke and Better than PButter from TJ's.
Apples

[PattiCakes]

onions
garlic
EVOO
tomato paste
canned tomatoes
a container of chicken stock
flour
S & P
milk
yeast

[Bob W]

I'd say coffee, except that we have a Sheetz down the block and their coffee is good and replenished frequently so I never have a coffee "situation" at my house.

So my answer is hot sauce, which I will never run out of since I have around 20 different bottles. (Thanks Peppers, of Rehoboth Beach, DE!)

[jmckee]

Milk
peanut butter
butter
wine
coffee
sugar
olive oil
salt

[NYCkaren]

Wine, milk, butter, coffee, garlic and olive oil are staples. Several kinds of flour. Bananas, apples and avocados.

[tatamagouche]

Malidjano. I'll put it on just about anything.

[mordacity]

Butter eggs flour sugar chocolate. I just don't feel safe in the world if I can't bake a chocolate cake at the drop of a hat. You know, in case of emergencies.

[Non Cognomina]

That's my list, too!

If I had to pick just one thing, it would be butter. Two pounds is par in my house.

[bayoucook]

Wine
Garlic, several kinds of onions, peppers, celery, jalapenos
Real french bread
European butter
Fresh fruit
Hellman's mayo
Muir Glen canned tomatoes
Coffee
Popcorn

[danna]

My husband is horrified if we run out of bananas, apples, or milk. Appalled that such conditions could exist in our home ;-)

I prefer not to run out of chevre or dark chocolate. Our priorities are a bit different.

[Boccone Dolce]

I hear you Danna-my husband FREAKS out when we get down to the last banana. I don't eat them- they are all his but he will text me when I'm at work and he runs home for lunch: "More Bananas please, baby. Please. Seriously. We are almost out." HA!!

I feel lost if I ever run out of: garlic, olive oil, coffee, bacon, butter and cookies. It rarely happens, actually.

[lulubelle]

gin
coffee
tuna
butter
eggs
onions
everything else can be worked around.

[Melanie]

It changes week to week for me, depending on my mood (and craving). This week, it's eggs, limeade, and Red Vines. Yes, I said Red Vines.

[Kelli2006]

olive oil,
mirepoix
garlic
coffee
tabasco
dark mustard
rye bread
lemons
bacon
chocolate eggs

[Cinnamon]

is that:
chocolate
eggs

or is it:
chocolate eggs

[mcsheridan]

Onions
Bacon
Eggs
Butter
Bread
Kosher Salt
Peppercorns
Bottled Water
Tea
Honey
Milk

So I guess I really can just live on breakfast alone. :)

Well...not really. One more critical item: CHOCOLATE!

[Vetter]

Coffee, half & half to put in it, and at least the bare minimum ingredients to make some kind of cookie.

[lynnlato]

Rye Bread
whole wheat bread
bacon
butter
milk
Coke Zero
mayo
peanut butter
eggs
hard cheeses
yogurt
red wine
Swedish Fish
tea
Did I mention wine?

[Blush]

Milk
Cottage Cheese
Kellogg's All-Bran Flakes
Chocolate
Lettuce/spinach
Mushrooms
Peppers
Zucchini

I never let the stocks run low on this stuff.

[Soup]

Rice.

[laliz]

Diet Coke and/or Crystal Lite drink mix

Like others, I can live w/out food in the house but MUST have either Diet Coke or Crystal Lite 24/7. Only exception is that one vital cuppa in the a.m. (and Diet Coke icy cold and slammed hard can substitute)

[tatamagouche]

Yeah, sadly, diet coke for me too. Been an addict for 26 years and counting.

I should add it doesn't have to be diet coke. Diet soda of any kind. I'm actually partial to wild cherry diet pepsi.

[laliz]

That's where we differ. I don't touch Pepsi products.
I will drink a diet RC or Shasta cola, but NOT Pepsi.
Has a very unpleasant aftertaste for me.

[tatamagouche]

Actually, it's the wild cherry alone that I *adore.* I don't like regular diet pepsi at all—but believe me, I'll drink it if it's the only diet soda available!

[steakman55]

Yes, by all means......Diet Coke, in a can. Even the friends of my children know that one does NOT take the last Diet Coke out of the refrigerator.

[Cinnamon]

I always hide the last one for me.

[gfr1111]

Garlic. There is always something around to cook which will taste good with garlic. A lot of things need garlic to be at their best.

[CoryKatherine]

I second garlic, I can't run out of it.

[babybat]

Coffee and fresh milk. I can cope with no food in the house, but no coffee's a disaster! Ideally, also cheese, yeast, bread flour, and butter or oil.

[ScubaSteve]

Bourbon

[Gio]

What? No lobsters?

[ScubaSteve]

truthfully, and i never thought i'd say this, but i'm pretty all set with lobster in the amounts i had them in previous years.
i'm going to be doing a lot more U/W photography this year. but there will still be room for a few (dozen) mega lobster rolls.

[Gio]

So... will we see a coffee table book in the near future? Or perhaps an exhibit somewhere.....

[ScubaSteve]

you flatter me.
thanks.
maybe, in a few years.

[catrn]

Coffee!!!!!!!! No food, no problem. Just make sure I get my cup of java.

[Glencora]

I'd say coffee, absolutely, also milk, butter, good bread, red wine and oranges. I could last quite awhile with those.

[pinkprimp]

Water (I drink A LOT) and butter.

I'm a simple gal ;-)

[Gio]

Oh good grief... the list is endless.

I must not run out of:
EVOO
Tellecherry peppercorns
Kosher & sea salt
Dried and fresh chilies of every description & heat level
Smoked Spanish Paprika
Home made Creole seasoning
Home dried thyme, oregano, basil, sage, tarragon, mint
Red wine vinegar
Sherry vinegar
Rice vinegar
Toasted sesame oil
Peanut oil
Fresh ginger
Tinned anchovies
Tinned Albacore tuna
Tinned Spanish sardines
Garlic
Onions: red, white, sweet
Carrots, bell peppers, celery
Dried pasta: Linguine, spaghetti, angel hair, fettucine, Big Rigatoni
Tinned Kitchen Ready Pastene tomatoes.... Ever... thank goodness for carton sales
Oat meal
Coarse corn meal
Tabasco
Worcestershire
TJ's organic ketsup
TJ's Mayo
Lo Sodium Tamari

Oh gosh, there's more, but I'm too embarrassed to list it all.....

[lynnlato]

What's so special about TJ's mayo? I am asking honestly (not being snarky). Just curious because I can't live w/o my Hellmann's.

[Gio]

TJ's mayo tastes exactly like Hellman's, which we were slaves to, but it's less expensive. Plus... it's organic!

Lynnlato: I would never suspect you of being snarky.

[laliz]

I'm not being snarky either, but I find that TJ's mayo is absolutely nothing compared to Best Foods (Hellmans') . Just another opinion.

I tried it once, because I am a TJ shopper and usually like their products. The mayo was not as terrible as Kraft's, but it did not in any way compare to Best Foods (IMO)

[lynnlato]

Ha! Well, thanks Gio, I'll have to give TJ's a try. I love a good bargain. :)

[CoryKatherine]

I also approve of TJs mayo

[Cinnamon]

OK, since almost everyone went to town with a list instead of one ingredient, I have to add some from your list to mine:

toasted sesame oil
rice vinegar

... but practically speaking, Diet Coke, Lavazza gold espresso and whole goat milk are my real mustn't run out ofs.

[Passadumkeg]

Gio, what no Grappa on the list?

[Gio]

There's a bottle in the pantry as I type, Passa. It's not something I can't live without, tho.

[nvcook]

I absolutely hate to run out of anything. I start to panic when I only have 1 jar of mayo in the pantry. Fortunately, I have a large pantry. I cleaned out my cupboard with baking supplies and found 17 bags of nuts. It really is a sickness.

[c oliver]

Olive oil. We're leaving for our primary home in about ten days and I'm trying to make the last bit last so I won't have to buy more. But I doubt I'll make it. And, yes, cheeses.

[markabauman]

Ideas of what to cook.

[Mothership]

Good crusty bread, a hunk of some flavorful cheese, Spanish or Portuguese dry sausage, cornichons, olives. As long as I have these, I am always good to go.

[jo_jo_ba]

Mustard, lettuce and canned tuna. Wasabi's always a plus.

[jacobp]

chilies. I grow them year round, and I'd go crazy if I ran out. I use them in pretty much every dish I make