Spices and more spices

We’ve talked about spices before, but I want to talk about some different spices.  We all know that spices can add a different flavor to a recipe, but do you know which spice does what?  Today, I want to discuss some very popular spices and what they can bring to the table for your recipes.

• Salt – The dreaded salt.  We are told we eat too much of it and should cut back and in some cases this is true.  But salt can add flavor to the blandest of foods and believe it or not, it even brings out the sweetness in food.  Add a little when you are cooking vegetables.
• Pepper – pepper can add a touch of ‘wow’ to a recipe.  There are many varieties of pepper, from cayenne pepper to chili powder to red pepper.  Just be careful with the amount you add to your recipes or you might get more ‘WOW’ than you want.  Put a little, allow to simmer a few minutes and then add more after tasting if needed.
• Sugar – Sugar helps take away bitterness from certain foods.  Just a pinch will do.  We love adding sugar to our spaghetti sauce and chili.  It adds a little something sweet to what is usually known as a spicy sauce.
• Nutmeg – This spice can add so much to your recipes.  A lot of people think of it as only a pumpkin type of spice, but are they wrong.  Add nutmeg to some flour in a Ziploc bag, add raw chicken pieces and bake/fry.  Nothing plain about Nutmeg.

And her are some other ‘add ins’ for your recipes that will give them a different flavor…

• Vanilla – this is what adds a lot of the flavor to your baked recipes, but did you know you can add a little to soups, coffee, teas, etc.?
• Vinegar – don’t just use it in your salads and deviled eggs, put a little in your pot when you are cooking beans to help neutralize the gases…vinegars come in so many new and different flavors, try them on fruits and vegetables for a different taste.
• Apple Juice/sauce – You know you can use beef/chicken stock to add flavors to your meals, so why not add a little flavor with apple juice.  When a recipe calls for water, use apple juice instead.  This is great in baking.  It will add a little sweet flavor to the baked good.  And when your baked goods call for oil, use the applesauce…it will be healthier for you and your baked goods will be so moist.  You won’t miss the oil, trust me…
• Mayonnaise – instead of rubbing butter on your whole chicken before cooking, why not use mayonnaise?  It won’t burn like butter and will keep things moist.

So the next time you want to give your cooked/baked goods a new twist, think about some of these seasonings and flavors and let your taste buds go wild…