I first got my inspiration to cook at the tender age of 9 when I said to my mother, Dory, "Mommy, can I make soup?" She didn't hesitate and asked me what kind of soup did I want to make and I responded with "what do we have?" I had a small pot, chicken stock cubes, water and access to whatever was in the fridge. I CUT UP AND PUT EVERY VEGGIE I COULD FIND INTO MY SOUP plus pasta shells...From that moment on, in that Eichler kitchen, on my mother's stove in Foster City, CA I fell in love with cooking and what I could create just using my imagination and what was in the cupboards... I have learned over the years that if I don't have a few basic things on hand I couldn't come up with a new culinary creation when the inspiration struck me and it would drive me crazy. So as a prelogue I would like to outline the 'I gotta have it on hand at all times" pantry list so my creative cooking soul feels safe and content to cook or not to cook...