what things do I need in a really good larder cupboard?

[virgiltracey]

What herbs and spices and other things are essential? Just watching a really good cookery programme and being inspired to cook more and so have resolved to gradually stock up so that I can recreate recipes whilst they are fresh in my mind!

Mustard powder comes to mind as something I keep needing and meaning to get in.
Plain flour.
Tinned tomatoes....

I always have the following in my cupboards

Dry stuff.... flour (different types), yeast, pulses (beans, lentils, chickpeas), rice, pasta, barley, cous cous, sugar, rolled oats, dry breadcrumbs, sunflower and pumpkin seeds
Condiments... vinegar, Lea & Perrins, soy sauce, mustard, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, groundnut oil, salt, peppercorns, tabasco, honey.
Herbs... this time of year I grow parsley, mint, thyme, chives in a tub in the garden and basil on the kitchen windowledge, but also have dried bayleaves and mixed french herbs. Fresh garlic, ginger and chilli peppers always around.
Spices.... chilli powder, curry powder, cajun seasoning, saffron... plus I do a bit of indian cookery so I have cumin seeds, mustard seeds, fenugreek, turmeric, coriander, garam masala etc.

and

Passata. LOTS of passata :)

Below are things I always have in our cupboards:

Flour- plain, SR and corn flour
Chopped tomatoes, passata and tomato puree
Garlic puree
Sundried tomatoes
Tinned Chickpeas, kidney beans, cannelini beans, baked beans
Red lentils
Rice, pasta (varities of), couscous
Chorizo (not quite store cupboard but it keeps for ages in fridge)
Stock cubes
Peanut butter
Condiments as per Cogito's list
Spices I use all the time: oregano, cumin (dried and seeds), coriander, fenugreek, turmeric, paprika, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, chilli powder, tikka masala powder, chinese 5 spice, ras el hanout.

I would suggest filling your larder by finding a couple of recipes you want to try first and buying everything you need for them and build it up that way. Otherwise you might end up with a load of out of date, unopened things at the back of the cupboard.