I love food. I love to cook it, and I love to eat it (so I’m still wondering why I’m not also blogging for I Really Like Food?). I started cleaning out my pantry (since I’m in the process of moving to a new apartment this weekend) when I realized that there are certain things I never run out of. I can’t live without these things.

1. Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce (see photo above)

Blame it on my Cambodian mother for introducing me to Sriracha at a very young age. Whenever I’m eating Asian food, no matter if it’s Japanese, Korean, Khmer, or Thai, I always have to have Sriracha with it. Call me crazy, but I also have it with my pizza or fries. When I don’t have Sriracha sauce with what I’m eating, I feel like something is missing. Sometimes, Asian restaurants don’t have Sriracha sauce, so if Huy Fong Foods, Inc. could hear my plea and created a 4 or 8 ounce bottle version that I can carry around in my bag at all times, my life would be free of worries.

2. Ketchup

What is there not to say about this wonderful tomato in liquid formation creation? Put it on my burgers, steaks, fries, eggs, and mac ‘n cheese (seriously, y’all should try it) for a tangy punch, you can never go wrong with ketchup.

3. Hot Sauces

If you can’t already tell, I love spiciness. Having that burning sensation on my tongue and lips, I live for it. So when I’m not squirting Sriracha sauce on my plate, then I’m most likely putting hot sauce. Growing up in Texas where barbeque, cajun, and Tex-Mex are very prominent, I’ve tried hundreds of hot sauces, but there are 5 you’ll always find in my pantry: Valentina, Tapatio, Cholula, Tabasco (in either Chipotle or Jalapeno), and Louisiana-style hot sauce.


4. McCormick’s Mayonesa con Jugo de Limones (mayonnaise with lime juice)

If you have never had mayonesa con judo de limones, you’re missing out! I’m not a huge fan of mayonnaise, but when it comes to this specific product, I can’t live without it. I spread it on my burgers, sandwiches, and even drop a few spoonfuls on my Mexican rice. The hint of lime just makes everything so much better.


5. Tortillas

If I could eat everything with tortillas, my life would be complete, but that’s not possible since tortillas don’t pair well with Asian cuisine. Tortillas are like bread… but better.

6. Rice

I grew up eating rice, and while some of my friends who were also forced to eat it, grew out of it as they got older, I was lucky to eat a wide variety of different style of rice dishes, so I still love to eat it.

7. Cheese

I love cheese. Plain and simple. From gouda, gruyere, brie, camembert, queso fresco, pepper jack, and Spanish manchego… I can live my whole life eating this stuff.

8. Asian and Mexican Candy

I have a major sweet and sour tooth, and American candies usually don’t satisfy my needs like Asian and Mexican candies do. What I also love about them are the flavors. Would you ever find tamarind candy, or watermelon covered in chili, or lychee flavored gummies, or wasabi flavored Kit Kats in American products? I don’t think so.

9. Pickled Carrots and Daikon Radishes

I’m not a huge fan of pickled food, like… pickles, but I have no complaints for pickled carrots and radishes. It’s mainly eaten in Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese (just to make a few) cuisines, so I didn’t grow up eating it. But when I started to explore other cuisines, I now eat it with anything remotely Asian… except, maybe curry.

10. Homemade Salsa

Last but not least, freshly homemade salsa. It’s a must in every Mexican household. If we were out of it at my family house, even if it was for 1 day, my father would throw a fit. I’m the same way, so I’m not surprised that every week I find myself making a new batch. There are hundreds of salsa recipes, from mild to hot, chunky to fine. Not matter what type of salsa it is, I will always have it in my fridge.

So Lovelies, are any of these things you also can’t live without? What other things do you always have in your kitchen that is not on mine?