What's your quirky pantry staple?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Buttermilk powder. You just mix it with water and get liquid buttermilk. I know you can substitute buttermilk for milk and yogurt/ vinegar but it’s not the same as using the original ingredient .

Ooh, I need to get some of that.

[Anonymous]

Valentina Hot Sauce, I stock up at the Mexican market once a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A big jar each of 3 varieties of homemade avakkai, a South Indian hot mango pickle. My parents’ neighbors family in India has been making them for over 50 years and I always make sure to put in my order well in advance. My mom ships them to me in summer.

OMG I love these pickles. I got into the habit of eating them at breakfast when I was in India with a group of mostly Indian people and we were served family style meals. The pickles were always on the table. I could not get enough.

interesting. my husband is SA and i have been there many times and no one eats pickles when i am there. we stay for at least a month. i love the dried mangos his mom sends sooooooooooooo good

Where are y'all? Probably a regional thing. I was in a small village a couple of hours southwest of Mumbai. Pickle, pickle, pickle all day. Wish I were there eating it right now.

Bengal side. They also don't drink tea! They never mare chai when I was there.

[Anonymous]

Sesame oil, soy sauce, ginger, dashi, mirin, sake. Do yourself a favor and make this dish. https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020901-gyudon

[Anonymous]

Liverwurst. I ate it growing up and still like it often for sandwiches. I’ve been anemic since my last pregnancy and all the iron in it helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Liverwurst. I ate it growing up and still like it often for sandwiches. I’ve been anemic since my last pregnancy and all the iron in it helps.

I loved it as a kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Valentina Hot Sauce, I stock up at the Mexican market once a year.

+100

Love Valentina hot sauce! We “discovered” it when we lived in Houston, TX after having gotten into the habit of spending $$$ on Cholula. Valentina is cheaper and just as good/tastier!

[Anonymous]

I know for a fact the Maharastrian and Gujurati families always have it on the table- like having salt and pepper.
Also, almost every restaurant all over India that I have eaten at, have regional pickles on the table or served with most dishes.



quote=Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A big jar each of 3 varieties of homemade avakkai, a South Indian hot mango pickle. My parents’ neighbors family in India has been making them for over 50 years and I always make sure to put in my order well in advance. My mom ships them to me in summer.

OMG I love these pickles. I got into the habit of eating them at breakfast when I was in India with a group of mostly Indian people and we were served family style meals. The pickles were always on the table. I could not get enough.

interesting. my husband is SA and i have been there many times and no one eats pickles when i am there. we stay for at least a month. i love the dried mangos his mom sends sooooooooooooo good

Where are y'all? Probably a regional thing. I was in a small village a couple of hours southwest of Mumbai. Pickle, pickle, pickle all day. Wish I were there eating it right now.

[Anonymous]

Jessica’s vanilla granola. I got tired of going across town to buy it at Whole Foods when I run out and now buy it online in bulk. Best granola ever! Also siggi’s 4% plain yogurt, since that’s my preferred delivery mechanism for said granola.

[Anonymous]

I need Trader Joe’s balsamic vinegar of Modena- it is cheap, but I like its acidity. It’s perfect with red onion, olive oil and Lawry’s seasoning salt as a dressing for all of my bowls involving kale, avocado, beans/protein and roasted vegetables. I don’t like the viscous, richer flavored and more expensive Balsamic vinegars. Sometimes I will add a splash of orange juice, a little dijon and some honey to same dressing- very fresh and tasty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A big jar each of 3 varieties of homemade avakkai, a South Indian hot mango pickle. My parents’ neighbors family in India has been making them for over 50 years and I always make sure to put in my order well in advance. My mom ships them to me in summer.

OMG I love these pickles. I got into the habit of eating them at breakfast when I was in India with a group of mostly Indian people and we were served family style meals. The pickles were always on the table. I could not get enough.

interesting. my husband is SA and i have been there many times and no one eats pickles when i am there. we stay for at least a month. i love the dried mangos his mom sends sooooooooooooo good

Where are y'all? Probably a regional thing. I was in a small village a couple of hours southwest of Mumbai. Pickle, pickle, pickle all day. Wish I were there eating it right now.

Bengal side. They also don't drink tea! They never mare chai when I was there.

That’s strange. It must be just your family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A big jar each of 3 varieties of homemade avakkai, a South Indian hot mango pickle. My parents’ neighbors family in India has been making them for over 50 years and I always make sure to put in my order well in advance. My mom ships them to me in summer.

OMG I love these pickles. I got into the habit of eating them at breakfast when I was in India with a group of mostly Indian people and we were served family style meals. The pickles were always on the table. I could not get enough.

interesting. my husband is SA and i have been there many times and no one eats pickles when i am there. we stay for at least a month. i love the dried mangos his mom sends sooooooooooooo good

Where are y'all? Probably a regional thing. I was in a small village a couple of hours southwest of Mumbai. Pickle, pickle, pickle all day. Wish I were there eating it right now.

I once had a North Indian roommate who got me hooked on eating pickles spread on mathri, a savory biscuit. Now I’m jonesing for some.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My quirk isn’t a staple; it’s that I keep things for sentimental reasons. My grandma always supplied us with homemade jellies. When I was little, I saw a commercial for Smuckers and it was a revelation to me that people buy jelly. She passed away on Christmas day 17 years ago, but everywhere I’ve lived, I’ve had a jar of Grandma’s jelly sitting on the shelf in my pantry (unopened) with her handwriting on the label. I just can’t throw it out.

I kept an unopened can of peaches from my grandmother’s fridge in my own for a long time. Through a few house moves. It was not homemade, an actual metal can from the grocery store. I have other things with her writing and many of her kitchen utensils. She passed 20+ years ago.

Hid a jar of home-canned peaches after the friend who canned them died. I just couldn’t let them go. Spouse would have torn it right open, so… 🤫

This is in the DMV, so I was sure I was alone on this.

I had some weird food items from deceased people for a while-a beef roast from a friend's cow and I still have applesauce from a coworker.

[Anonymous]

Farting is fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Valentina Hot Sauce, I stock up at the Mexican market once a year.

+100

Love Valentina hot sauce! We “discovered” it when we lived in Houston, TX after having gotten into the habit of spending $$$ on Cholula. Valentina is cheaper and just as good/tastier!

Those of us who have lived in New Orleans do Crystal -- the cheapest and the best. Shhhh, don't let everyone know!