Perfect thread. Allow me to pay homage to my best friend in cooking at the very top:
1. Cabbage. Cold-weather vegetable, cheap as hell, stays good practically forever in a decent fridge sans peeling the outer leaves. Great for bulking soup and cramming fiber when your diet has been particularly shit this week. Goes in almost EVERYTHING or stands on its own as the main part of a dish.
2. Beans. I don't really have a strong preference but butterbeans (lima beans) are a great comfort food, and I have fond memories of it.
3. Jalapeno. I like spicy, this one still kicks my ass sometimes but I like the heat. I learned my first lesson in cooking to wear gloves chopping them fresh, because I had no idea they'll get adsorbed through your skin and I had to deal with spicy hands for the last half of the day. Very weird sensation.
4. Onions. First-class passenger for soups and stews, always pair it with garlic, very awesome.
5. Garlic. Essential just like onions. I put it in all my soups and stews. Apparently it can help keep you from getting sick so I suppose that's a bonus.
6. Romaine lettuce. I like salads sometimes but iceberg lettuce isn't worth buying. Green lettuce isn't that much better. Romaine lettuce has bulk, I like it.
7. Bell peppers. I just throw them in stuff, they don't have a strong taste (I don't care about color) but they're a nice ingredient to add texture/freshness.
8. Eggplant. I've had eggplant fried in a pan, salt and pepper style, and it was delicious, tasted unique. I should try making it again.
9. Green beans. Sauteed in butter with some light seasoning is a great side dish.
10. Asparagus. I usually make them the same as green beans and sometimes I wanna switch it up, but buttered asparagus is just plain delicious.
