A Perfect 10 Ingredients

Here's how to really make the most of your shopping - with storage tips, these 10 ingredients will go all the way

Red Onions Choose those that are firm with no signs of dampness. Store in cool, dry, dark place for up to 1 month.
	Instant Polenta Originating from northern Italy, polenta is made from ground cornmeal. Once opened, store in an airtight container and use by the expiry date.
Baby Spinach Keep, unwashed, in a sealed plastic bag in the fridge. Baby spinach is best used within 2 days.
	Veal Leg Steaks Veal is extremely lean and very tender with a mild flavour. Veal leg steaks are thin boneless slices that are sometimes pounded to make them even thinner. Transfer the steaks to a ceramic dish, cover with foil and keep in the fridge for up 2 days.
Small Salted Capers Small capers are milder than large capers. Rinse before using to remove excess salt. Once opened, keep in the fridge and use by the expire date.
	Parmesan Parmesan is a hard, dry cheese with a rich and sharp flavour. Parmigiano Reggiano is the original and best-quality type of parmesan. Freshly grated parmesan tastes better thant he pre-grated parmesan. It is available from supermarkets. Wrap in foil or baking paper and keep in the fridge for up to 4 months.
Lemons Choose those that are bright yellow and feel heavy. Green lemons will not continue to ripen once picked. Store in a cool place out of direct sunlight for up to 1 week or in the crisper section of the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
	Fennel Choose bulbs with fresh green tops - avoid leaves that are brown or limp. Keep, unwashed, in a sealed plastic bag in the crisper section of your fridge for up to 1 week.
Canned Diced Tomatoes This versatile pantry staple can be used in sauces, soups, casseroles, pasta sauces and many more dishes. If you're not using the whole can, leftover tomaties can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
	Sage Look for young, small, green leaves, which have a milder flavour than older, large, grey leaves. Store in a sealed plastic bag in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Speed Cleaning: Five Steps to a Tidy Kitchen

One peril of Turkey Day togetherness: Friends or Family will be all over your kitchen eyeballing the cook space. To make sure they have nothing to tsk-tsk about, follow this fast routine.

1. Clear the Counter
Cooking is your kitchen’s top priority right now. SO stash mail, school schedules, and that rarely used juicer elsewhere. (Just don’t lose any bill in the process). Then pull out the trash can and toss bags or boxes of unwanted edibles sitting out. Squirt cleaner (Mr. Clean Multi-Surfaces has done well in GHRI tests) around what’s left on the counter – canisters, the toaster. Wipe and let dry.

2. Purge the Fridge
Pull the trash can over and dump lingering leftovers, spoiled food, and open bottles of condiments, like grill marinade from last summer. You could remove all the glass shelves and bins and wash them – or leave them put until January, when the feasting season is over, and give them a fast once-over with a wet cloth or sponge. Don’t forget fingerprints and splatters on the door front and handle. A fresh box of baking soda absorbs odors, too.

3. Skip the Oven
If it's Turkey Week already and you haven’t run the self-cleaning cycle, now is not the time to commit to this hours-long task. Spot-clean dead-giveaway grime-stovetop spills, grease on the door handle or inside the glass door–with your sponge and a dash of baking soda (it’ll rinse off easier than a sudsy cleaner).

4. Think Sink
Stop pretending you’re going to rinse those dishes piling up on the counter, and load them in the dishwasher (or if not, at least stack them neatly in the sink). Run some water over drippy detergent bottles, then stick those pot scrubbers, and rubber gloves under the sink. When all has been relocated, run a sponge around the bowl of the basin and over the faucet if you’ve splattered water in your speediness.

5. Mop Stop
Before collapsing onto the sofa, use a sweeper with disposable cloths, like Swiffer, to pick up crumbs, dust, and hair from the floor. Pro tip: Keep a damp paper towel in one hand to zap stains so you don’t have to stop as you go. Throw the used Swiffer sheet and towel in your trash bin. And look – there’s the company.

By Carolyn Forte