Finding the right balance of ingredients is vital in creating vibrant good food and a healthy lifestyle. Although there are essential ingredients that every Italian kitchen should have, the most important ingredient is creativity.

Italian cookery is exceptionally varied, nutritious and healthy; traditions have been handed down from one generation to the next over the centuries, and are associated mainly with wholesome cooking whose goodness depends on all-natural ingredients.

Olive Oil
Cooking with olive oil is like cooking with wine. Never use a wine or olive oil that does not taste good to you. An inferior one will leave an aftertaste. If you do the taste test and compare the "pure" to the "extra-virgin" and then you'll understand the difference.

Olives
There are many types of olives, including variations within black and green olives. Kalamata olives are the large, smooth olives and actually a deep purple. They are used in different recipes, and green ones are almost always the ones used in martinis.

Cheese
Used in the imperative (get away, or stop it); "Cheese it!" a solid food prepared from the pressed curd of milk.

Italian Herbs
Certain herbs are used time and again in Italian cooking. They give dishes their distinctive flavour and aroma. So it’s worthwhile making sure that you’ve got a ready supply of these Italian culinary essentials. Herbs are ideally used fresh. If you don’t have the space (or the sun), then try growing herbs indoors on a sunny windowsill. Some of the essential herbs are basil - and pesto, oregano, bay leaves, flat-leaved parsley, rosemary, sauteed sage leaves.