Must Haves

The fashion world often recommends a list of “must haves” for every woman of style. The list usually includes items such as a basic black dress, a pencil skirt, a crisp white shirt and a jacket with a pop of color. I’m going to go on record by saying that my social calendar never demands a black dress, my hips will never jimmy into a pencil skirt, crisp and white lasts only until the first washing and the only pops of color on my jackets are a few coffee stains. A woman of style I am not.

I do, however, have a few other must haves. Since my time in the grocery store outnumbers my time in a clothing store at a ratio of 1,000:1, I’ll focus on the kitchen.

1) Mustard—I have at least 4 kinds. Dijon is the standard pick when I want to add just a little kick to my food. Whole grain mustard is my choice when I want a texture boost. Honey mustard is a nice addition to turkey or ham sandwiches. And last, but not least, is the big squirt bottle of the neon yellow stuff that is perfect for a color and taste boost to just about anything.

2) Cream—yes, I said cream. A little goes a long way when it comes to a finishing touch on, well, just about anything. I grew up on the stuff and I can’t seem to let it go. That blue milk will never do the trick in my book.

3) Onions, carrots and celery—the trinity of taste. There is something calming about chopping up a pile of vegetables and dropping them into whatever is on the menu for the day. Beats swallowing a multi-vitamin.

4) Cheerios—little O’s of go power. I eat them by the handfuls. I should probably have one of those cute little Cheerio snack containers that all the kids have, but I prefer to just shove them in my mouth, leaving a trail of oaties in my wake.

5) Saltines—plain, no sea salt or whole grain fanciness. There isn’t anything that doesn’t go with a saltine. It’s a platter for sweet or savory and is just the right size, even though one is never enough.

6) Chocolate Chips—by the handful or by the bag, good either way. Nothing says love like a batch of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and I like to be prepared for a bake-a-thon when the mood hits.

7) Kitchen scissors—take these away and I’ve lost my right hand. Bags never seem to open along the “tear here” mark so I need back up.

8) Coffee—at the ready at all times. I’m not above reheating a leftover cup from the day before (addictions aren’t always pretty) but I prefer a freshly brewed pot.

9) Cheese—the eighth wonder of the world. Cheddar and parmesan are the base of all goodness. Feta, havarti, gouda and goat cheese fill in the gaps. There’s a reason we are told to say “cheese” when we have our picture taken. Who can be sad when cheese is on the mind?

I may not have a closet full of pencil skirts and crisp white shirts, but my coffee pot is always bubbling away. And if you are craving a ham sandwich, I’m sure I can rustle that up for you, too. Your choice of mustard.

Here’s a yummy mustard dip that would taste good on a napkin.  I prefer it with pretzels or veggies.

1 1/2 c. mayo

3/4 c. sugar (yes, that is the right amount)

6 Tbs. yellow mustard (from the big squeeze bottle)

1 Tbs. vegetable oil

Garlic powder and dill weed, to taste