I’ve been working on a suggested list of pantry staples for you. Everything you need to have on hand so you don’t have to run to the store every time you want to cook something. It’s challenging. Because I cook a lot of ethnic foods, what I consider to be a staple can run to things like coconut milk and Mexican oregano. Stocking your pantry is really about knowing how you like to eat. In fact, it’s a great way to control your diet. If what you have on hand is boxed macaroni and cheese and canned soup, most likely that’s what you’ll be eating. If you're tired and the cupboard is bare, that leads to take-out. No judgment here. I get it. But let me help you figure out how to eat just a little better, how to tempt yourself with healthy treats that can sing the siren song from your fridge. Something like garlic confit is great to have around. It’s simple to prepare—just slow-cook cloves of garlic in fat—and lasts quite a while. Its mild and sweet garlic flavor is perfect on toast or whisked into sauce, salad dressing and pasta. And it's très sophisticated.

"Confit" means "conserve" in French, and it generally refers to anything submerged in fat and cooked slowly, like duck legs. Thomas Keller considers garlic confit a "pantry staple," and who am I to argue? Most people recommend using a mild oil like canola or grapeseed, but since you are cooking the garlic over such low heat, olive oil is fine or better. I actually prefer to use duck fat; then I strain out the garlic and store it covered in olive oil. The garlic-flavored duck fat left over is wonderful for roasting potatoes. Especially if you like your potatoes browned and crunchy.

My garlic confit, pictured up top, is actually a little too browned. You really only want the barest hint of color, or none at all. To achieve this, use something between your pan and your burner to help diffuse the heat. If you don't have a diffuser (and I don't), try a griddle or even a skillet. That way, if you forget to monitor it (as I did), there is little danger of browning. This is to insure the sweetest, most mild flavor. An optional step is to add salt and/or herbs or other spices to the oil in which you store your garlic confit. Some options include a few of sprigs of fresh thyme, a bay leaf, a couple of chiles de árbol and/or a couple of generous pinches of sea salt. When the garlic is gone, use the leftover oil to dress steamed vegetables, as a dip for artichokes, whisked into salad dressing or to make mayonnaise.