Pantry and ingredient essentials

Los Angeles Times Food Editor Russ Parsons (left), in his garden with Carter Calhoun (right) and his fiancee Meghan Garvey (middle) at Parsons' Long Beach home picking ingredients. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times / January 6, 2013)

Fennel seeds

Kosher salt

Almonds

Walnuts

Pantry staples

Olive oil

Vegetable oil

Soy sauce

Vinegars, at least red wine and sherry

Canned beans (white, pinto, garbanzo)

Dried beans (lentils, split peas)

Canned chicken stock

Cornstarch

Raisins

Dried pasta (spaghetti and penne, at least)

Long-grain rice

Canned tomatoes

Produce pantry

Garlic

Brown onions