Pantry

A pot of salted water and a few shelf-stable staples can become a real dinner when the refrigerator has almost nothing left to offer.

Keep spices fragrant by storing them cool, dark, and dated, and by replacing ground jars before they turn dusty.

One pot of tomato sauce, seasoned well and kept plain enough to vary, can cover pasta, beans, eggs, and leftovers for several nights.

Dried beans reward a soak or a patient simmer, a pot that stays at a lazy bubble, and enough salt and fat to make the pot taste like dinner.