If someone broke into my house and stole everything, this is what I would buy to start cooking again. If you're setting up your own kitchen for the first time, or new to cooking, this is the basic list. You can do just about anything with these items. Durable and non-porous, it distributes heat evenly and is easy to clean.
Stainless steel is non-reactive, unlike aluminum which can discolor foods cooked in it.
Teflon wears out quickly, and like aluminum, has questionable effects on health. A good set of stainless steel sauce pans is fairly inexpensive and will last forever.