>Most of the recipes I have seen call for a lot of stuff I simply did not
>want to go the store for, fish sauce, fresh ginger, star anise.
We always have fish sauce on hand because we use it in a lot of dishes and it lasts forever. But ginger is perishable so here's a good way to always have some on hand:
First, when you buy it, make sure it is fresh and not starting to dry out - it will become stringy when that happens. Peel it with a spoon, you don't have to get all the bark off. Then slice against the grain and puree it in a blender/food processor with a little water. Pour it into a ziplock bag(s) and lay it flat in the freezer. Then just break off a piece when you need it. Really about as good as fresh as far as I can tell.