The Pantry Staples That Carry Holiday Cooking.

Before the holiday chaos starts, here are the staples that show up in everything, from someone who hosts more than is reasonable.

Spice Witch Black Garlic Chili Crisp jar on a gold holiday gift box by the Christmas tree

November is the month the cooking gets real. So before the chaos starts, let me tell you which pantry staples actually carry you through the holidays, from someone who makes condiments for a living and hosts more than is reasonable.

These are the things I make sure I have before the first big meal, because they show up in everything.

Good Salt

Flaky finishing salt changes every dish you put it on. Keep a bowl of it on the counter all month. This is the cheapest upgrade to your cooking there is.

One Great Acid

A lemon, a good vinegar, something bright. Holiday food is rich and heavy. A squeeze of acid at the end keeps everything from feeling like a nap.

A Finishing Oil or Drizzle

This is where Spice Witch lives in my kitchen. Chili Oil to cook with, Chili Crisp and Hot Honey to finish. When a dish tastes almost done but a little flat, a drizzle is the move, whether that is sweet heat on the sweet potatoes, Chili Crisp on the green beans, or a swirl of oil in the soup.

Something Sweet-Spicy for the Table

A bottle of Hot Honey on the table during a holiday meal earns its keep. It goes on the biscuits, the cheese, the ham, the roasted vegetables, and the leftovers the next day.

The Real Point

Holiday cooking is not about more ingredients. It is about a few good ones you reach for again and again. Stock the staples now, while it is calm, and the actual cooking gets easier.

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