Must Have: Saucepan
Cost: $30 - $50

When it comes to kitchen basics, everyone needs to have at least one saucepan in their arsenal. What makes a saucepan so essential is that it is versatile and has a multitude of uses including making soups, boiling vegetables and small amounts of pasta or rice, and braising. The sides can be straight or flared and deep (the standard shape) or as shallow as 3 inches. It usually has a long handle and a tight fitting lid.

I always keep a 2-quart saucepan and a 1-quart saucepan in my kitchen. Especially when you are cooking for just one or two people, the smaller of the two is quite handy to quickly heat up some soup or a very small amount of sauce. For those of you who prefer to have something more handy, choose a 2-quart as your first purchase.

Now, the reason I want you to buy a saucepan is because I want you to make something fabulous in it. Sauce. The French have dedicated chefs called 'sauciers' who specialize in the delicate art of sauce making. BBQ chefs around the country guard their special secret sauce with their lives and compete in county fairs to prove that their concoction reign supreme.

When shopping for a saucepan, you may want to try something non-stick if you are lazy about doing your dishes. Sauces have a way of sticking to your pots and pans like epoxy. I suggest something like this Calphalon saucepan available online at Bed Bath and Beyond for $39.99.

You do not mess with a man’s sauce. You can try something hearty like a BBQ sauce, or something more delicate and refined like a hollandaise or béarnaise. But for now, let’s get you started with your basic red sauce with or without meat. Keep in mind that when it comes to sauces, start with a basic recipe that you like and then tweak the measurements and ingredients until you come up with something that is appealing and distinctly yours. The next time you have a date, you can impress her by proudly make for her your very own homemade sauce made from your own special recipe. For now, let’s get you started with something very simple and basic such as Meat Spaghetti Sauce ala Courtney. All it takes is one saucepan and you just throw everything in. Add various ingredients to make it sweeter or spicier, make it customized to your own particular tastes. Don’t be afraid to experiment as you go along. Just keep in mind that the better your ingredients, the better your sauce will turn out.

Courtney’s Easy Meat Spaghetti Sauce

Serves 4 people, or 2 people on a date with plenty left over.

Ingredients:
28 oz. Can of crushed tomatoes
1 lb. Fresh Italian sausages (mild or hot)
1 small can of tomato paste
1 bottle of good red wine (such as a merlot, cabernet, or chianti)
1 tsp. each (or more) Italian seasonings of your choice (oregano, thyme, etc)
2 Bay Leaves
8 cloves of garlic chopped
1/4 cup olive oil (and 2 T. For later)
1 cup sliced onions
1 cup sliced mushrooms (white button or portabello)
Salt and pepper

Optional: red pepper flakes, cayenne, or chili powder for heat Carrots or celery for sweetness, fresh herbs, chopped bell peppers, and anything else you can think of!