I was lucky to grow up in a home with a great food culture. My mom is from the west coast of Florida and my dad is from the east coast of Maryland. They are both great cooks. From Shad roe to swamp cabbage, from oysters in the winter to steamed crabs in the summer, from fresh vegetables to homemade sausage, from simple food to gourmet, we ate well. Having been lucky enough to know my grandparents, I know my parents cooking knowledge was handed down from their parents and then to me.
What does this have to do with “ingredients”? If you want to cook good food and eat good food, i believe the first thing you must do is acquire the absolute best ingredients and don’t substitute inferior or fake products for the real thing (margarine is not butter). This is how my family has always cooked. And the best ingredients don’t have to be expensive. Green beans from the farmers market cooked with fatback is far superior to supermarket canned green beans warmed in the microwave. So go cook something good and enjoy eating it with friends and family.
I almost forgot. The picture is the vodka sauce I made today.
Ingredients- organic yellow onion, garlic cloves, extra virgin olive oil, red pepper flakes, dried oregano, San Marzano Italian tomatoes, grey goose vodka, organic heavy cream, kosher salt, fresh cracked pepper. A little time consuming, but delicious. Enjoyed it over pasta. Enjoyed the company of my wife and my son Sean.
Carry on, Kirk