Love your larder

Judith Wills shares her list of ingredients that really work for their place in the larder, and will help every busy mum feed her family quickly, easily and healthily - and at low cost.

The larder used to be the backbone of every family kitchen - a treasure trove of items to make a meal even if fresh foods weren't around. Judith Wills shares her list of ingredients that really work for their place in the larder, and will help every busy mum feed her family quickly, easily and healthily - and at low cost.

Light olive oil

The light types are ideal both for cooking and in salad dressings so you needn't buy separate bottles for different purposes.

Olive oil is also one of the healthiest oils as it is is less likely to oxidise at high temperature - that means you can re-use it, too.
Wholewheat egg thread noodles

These cook in just three minutes and are perfect with any Eastern-style dish.

They can also be used instead of spaghetti and can be chopped after cooking, cooled and made into a salad with chopped veggies and cooked chicken, pork or eggs and some tasty sesame oil and soya dressing.
Canned cannellini beans

Quick, inexpensive and an easy protein source - ideal tipped into vegetable soups, meat stews (to eke out the costly meat) and good for three-bean salad - or puree with lemon juice and seasoning for a quick dip that's just as nice as hummus.
Ready-to-eat apricots

Poach in water for breakfast (puree leftovers for a great sauce for ice-cream, eat as they are for a snack (much healthier than chocolate or biscuits!), chop and add to couscous or rice salads, cakes or home-made bread.
Dried lentils

Make a delicious soup from scratch in 30 minutes with brown, green or Puy lentils, chopped carrot, onion and celery, vegetable stock and seasoning - simmer then blend.

Also great cooked and stirred into rice salad, or used as a side dish instead of potatoes.
Sun-dried tomato paste

Gives a more intense hit to all kinds of stews, casseroles, soups and sauces than ordinary tomato puree or canned tomatoes.

Stir some into mayonnaise for a tasty dip or baked potato topping or add to natural yogurt and coat chicken for a marinade before baking or grilling.
Microwave rice

A pouch of brown or white basmati rice that will cook in just two minutes in the microwave is the ideal storecupboard standby.

Use not only for an instant curry accompaniment but also cooled to make a great salad with chopped cucumber, onions, peppers, dried fruit or nuts.
Canned tuna in water

More versatile and less fatty than tuna in oil and healthier than high-salt tuna in brine - makes a great lunch salad with sliced tomatoes, red onion and cannellini or butter beans, all dressed in vinaigrette - or with leftover green beans, new potatoes and hard-boiled egg for Salad Nicoise.
Rice cakes

Ideal for when you've run out of bread and nobody noticed - they are crunchy, satisfying and make a great base for peanut butter, Marmite, jam, cheese - whatever you fancy.

They are also low in calories and fat so ideal for anyone watching their weight.
Balsamic vinegar

Ideal all-round vinegar, great for salad dressings (even on its own - wonderful for slimmers), add a dash to onions, tomatoes or mushrooms while they are sauteeing to bring out the flavour.

Use with olive oil or on its own as a dip for bread - or reduce down in the pan after you've fried steaks or chops for a delicious sauce.
Buy the book

These ideas are all from Judith Wills new book, The New Home Larder.

Buy the book from Amazon