Full pantry speeds the meal

Deadline cooking is all about the ingredients. Select the right high-flavor, low-prep ingredients, and great meals practically assemble themselves.

Success depends on rethinking your shopping and pantry stocking habits.

Here are some high-flavor pantry staples for the deadline cook:

m Capers. Add them to salads, pasta, chicken stir-fries, or even blend a few into salad dressings. Go easy on them; they can be quite salty. Rinse if you want to tone them down.

m Sun-dried tomatoes. Stick with those packed in olive oil, as they are easiest to work with.

m Olives. Try some of the stuffed green varieties, such as those with feta, almonds or jalapeno peppers in them.

m Smoked salmon. Sure, it goes great on bagels with cream cheese. It’s also wonderful tossed with hot pasta or cut into slivers and sprinkled into a salad with goat cheese, as in the recipe that follows.

Smoked salmon salad

3 cups mixed salad greens

1 earn of fresh corn (raw)

4 ounces thinly sliced smoked salmon

3 tablespoons toasted pine nuts

1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese

1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh dill

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

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