Today, please all add what you would call staple ingredients or seasonings you think everyone should have or keep.

I'll start with:

Garlic- both powder, and minced. I'm not uppity enough for it to always have to be freshly chopped. The minced in a jar for like $2 at Aldi is fine for me.

Onion powder

Paprika- I think of this as being one of the "big three," b/c they are the base for virtually every seasoning salt on the planet.

Cumin- I think it's a cornerstone to anything you could put on a taco or in a tortilla

Generic dried herbs blends- yes fresh is fancy, but dried is user friendly, can be kept in a pantry. I keep at least an Italian seasoning one, for spaghetti and marinara "on the fly." from canned tomatoe sauce/paste.

Whoever wants to add more, please do.

Also "On the fly" (made at that moment) barbecue sauce:

Pile ketchup for base. Add just enough soy sauce, and/or Worcestershire sauce to make the color look right. Hint of mustard(optional) and you need a sugar. Maple syrup is my fav, but honey, pancake, or just plain ol' sugar(heat mix to dissolve) will do it.

Taste it. It should be a bland BBQ flavor at this point. Sprinkle on garlic powder, onion powder(just a light layer across the top, and taste) paprika, and just a dribble of liquid smoke(also optional).

Of course the proverbial sky is the limit of what you want to add, from red or black peppers, to dried herbs like cilantro. The idea of this one is to keep it fast and simple though, b/c if we're going to actually COOK something, and mess up a pot, we might as well make the ketchup from scratch and on the fly with tomato paste. But that's another post:)