I’m in a transition phase right now where I no longer desire to eat as much fast food as I usually have, and I’ve been cooking dinner more often. I’m not interested (yet) in doing anything culinarily significant – my best achievement to date has been cooking a pretty tasty top sirloin – but it would be nice to have a decently stocked kitchen to make simple, fast meals that consist of a bit more than a slab of steak.
As it stands, my kitchen is severely underequipped. I don’t have a lot on hand to throw stuff together, and what I do have isn’t necessarily nutritious. Being a neophyte cook, I know there are essentials one should always have on hand (tools, spices, ingredients) that are necessary to make a majority of simple meals, but I don’t really know where to start.
Toolswise, I have a rice cooker, two cutting boards (one for veggies/fruit, one for meat), a good non-stick skillet (though I’m considering looking for a cast-iron), and a few random pots and cookie sheets. Ingredients-wise, I’m clueless and usually don’t have much in stock.
I know there’s plenty of experienced cooks and chefs around here. What would you all suggest is necessary to always have on hand in the kitchen?