A piping hot bowl of split pea soup topped with herbed, sourdough croutons. A batch of roast squash and Brussels sprouts. A platter of sweet and spicy Asian chicken wings. A pumpkin spice latte with a cranberry biscotti. And not to be forgotten, a bevy of holiday-adjacent baking, from puffy Dutch pancakes slathered in syrup and jam, spicy cornbread, and apple pies. Now that temps have lowered and the cold weather cravings are upon us, it’s time to refresh our pantries with the oils, vinegars, jams, and spices to pull off all this roasting, sautéing, simmering and baking with panache.
Chef’s Life
The most basic of kitchen staples is cooking oil for the wide gamut of culinary preparation from marinades, various cooking methods, plating and finishing. Whatever the stage, given the high incidence of fraud in the olive oil market, expertly sourced, high-quality oils are must-haves for any home chef, from the basic betas to kitchen mavens. The entire collection of Chef’s Life oils are blended and packaged to yield professional culinary versatility and excellence.
The workhouse of the line, Chef’s Life Cooking Oil in a squeeze bottle, combines non-GMO Olive Oil, Non-GMO Sunflower Oil, Non-GMO Avocado Oil, Non-GMO, and Non-GMO Grapeseed Oil for the ultimate kitchen convenience. With a high burn point and neutral flavor, it’s the ideal blend for grilling, frying and roasting across a broad array of flavor profiles.
Recently launched in a Spray Bottle in the original neutral flavor, as well as in Brown Butter, this versatile cooking oil also maximizes Air Fryer cooking and baking. For the ultimate finishing oil in salad dressings, raw dishes, pasta, pizza and even baking, Extra Virgin is still the reigning kitchen necessity. Chef’s Life Organic 100% EVOO Finishing Oil Squeezable is sourced from the finest olives and nothing else.
Chef’s Life, recently founded by Food Network star Brian Huntington Malarkey, is offering 20% off site wide and free shipping for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Napa Valley Naturals & Stonewall Kitchen
Good oils call for not just good, but artisanal, vinegars. Napa Valley Naturals specializes in non-pasteurized vinegars aged the old country way in oak barrels. In addition to salad dressing staples Organic Red Wine Vinegar, and Organic Balsamic Vinegar, Napa Valley Naturals excels at zesty European vinegars that elevate basic vinaigrettes to wow status. Champagne Vinegar aged, from the Grand Cru grapes we love quaffing in mimosas, in oak barrels imparts an unparalleled, bright acidity to dressings and pan sauces.
For an intense, full-bodied zing to complement richer fare like pork chops and sun-dried tomato tapenade, Sherry Vinegar is aged from the sweet fortified wine made from Spanish Palomino grapes. A splash or two will soon become essential for deglazing pan juices from your favorite grilled or sautéed proteins.
Stonewall Kitchen, the sister company to Napa Valley Naturals, complements the selection of piquant vinegars with sweet and equally artisanal jams, jellies, caramels, and other condiments. Known for their best-selling Wild Maine Blueberry Jam, Stonewall Kitchen offers several culinary forward jams and jellies that kick up the sweetness of fruit with heat: Hot Pepper Cranberry Jelly, Red Pepper Jelly, and Spicy Chili Bacon Jam.
Cinnamon Pear Jam, Maple Apple Jam, Cinnamon Apple Jelly, and Orange Cranberry Marmalade harness fall favorite apples, pears, cinnamon, and cranberries. Boozy sweet treats are also available in Bourbon Bacon Jam for a surprise burger topping and Strawberry Champagne Jam for yogurt and chia seed pudding.
All jokes aside, pumpkin spice is still a signature autumnal treat whether in pie or lattes. It’s a nostalgic flavor profile StoneWall Kitchen exalts in Maple Pumpkin Butter and Pumpkin Caramel Sauce when added to ice cream, brownies, or cake one dollop at a time.
This Black Friday all Napa Valley Naturals and StoneWall Kitchen products are 25% off. Stock up on gift-worthy condiments for the holiday.
The Spice House
To spice up life even more, Chicago-based The Spice House specializes in a wide array of internationally-inspired artisanal salts, peppers, herbs, spices, and chef-designed blends to tempt the most kitchen-phobic into culinary fantasy. Elevate basic salt in ingredient lists and visual presentation with Hawaiian Red Alaea Sea Salt and Hawaiian Smoked Sea Salt.
Swap out every day pantry staples like onion garlic powder with Lakeshore Shallot & Herb, inspired by Lake Michigan’s glorious shoreline, in omelettes and fish dishes. Great North Maple Garlic transforms garlic salt with maple sugar and screams out for pairing with bacon and sweet potatoes for restaurant-quality palette satisfaction.
The Spice House’s impressive array of Asian and Middle Eastern spices span authentic flavors from Japan, Thailand, Korea, China, and the Middle East. For quick sweet, and spicy, umami Asian wings or noodle soup, a base of either, Black Garlic Ramen Pepper, Chinese Five Spice, Thai Red Curry, or Kimchi Seasoning, get the flavor profiles just right. A few dashes of Chinese Five Spice powder instantly transforms basic chicken or beef broth into a pho-adjacent soup.
If looking for a splash of vibrant color and flavor atop hummus bowls or to season the stews, grilled platters, and warm pitas for which Middle Eastern cuisine is renown, Shawarma Seasoning, Za’atar, Aleppo Peppers, and Baharat – the equivalent to Garam Masala in Indian cuisine – belong in your pantry. Whip up Sheet Pan Shawarma Chicken with Spiced Tahini Sauce in under an hour or make Za’atar Flatbread for an authentic Middle Eastern dinner.
What fall spice haul would be complete without baking spices and more ways to capture sweet autumnal comfort? In addition to Pumpkin Spice, Pumpkin Spice Sugar, Spiced Vanilla Sugar, and Lavender Vanilla Sugar are just the tip of the signature-baking-blends iceberg. A sprinkle of these cardamom or lavender-spiked sugars will elevate your Nonna’s fruit salad or apple crisp recipe to new heights.
Explore The Spice House’s huge selection this Black Friday through Cyber Monday with up to 20% off, free gifts, and free shipping with minimum purchase.
