Herbs Add Flavor In The Kitchen
We all have those jars and tins of herbs and spices. You know, the ones that sit up in the cupboard and only make the occasional appearance when you roast a chicken or bake a pumpkin pie. Did you know these herbs can lend a lot of flavor to lots of dishes you make? It is true. Therefore, dust off those tins and bottles and put those herbs to good use.
Lots of herbs go well with meat dishes. Poultry is a great base for thyme, rosemary, tarragon, and sage. What would the Thanksgiving turkey be without sage dressing? That is right. Lots of flavor in these green allies from the garden. Beef can stand up to some robust flavors. For beef, consider anise, with its licorice-like flavor, dill, fennel, marjoram, mint, and oregano.
Herbs can even help eggs. Nutmeg is a wonderful complement to eggs. Cinnamon works well in egg custards. Allspice is another one that works well with eggs. For those who like some spice with their eggs, think about adding cayenne, curry powder, or chili powder.
Do you like to cook Asian food? Stock up on cinnamon, curry, cardamom and ginger. These spices add a little heat and a lot of exotic flavor. Your meals will taste better than ever! Saffron is another spice used a lot in Asia. It is expensive, but is often used to turn the food a bright yellow as well as adding flavor.
What about dessert? Herbs and spices can do a lot for your dessert recipes. You can use saffron, mace, mint, coriander, allspice, nutmeg, or cinnamon in your baking and other sweet cooking. Your desserts offer a little more pizzazz and flavor.
When you are working with a cold appetizer recipe, do not forget the herbs! Add a touch of turmeric to your dips and relishes or a little cardamom to your dressings and fruit cups. Just because you are making simple cold dishes, do not leave out the seasoning. It makes all the difference between a great tasting appetizer and one that merely sits on the plate.
Have you ever wondered what is the deal with that bottle of celery seed you see at the market? Celery seed really does add a lot of flavor to a dish. Sprinkle it on your roasts, in your sauces and in your stews. Let it add some zing to your salads, vegetable dishes, breads, and eggs.
There are a few other herbs you may not know what to do with. Bay leaves look like long, flat leaves stuck in a jar. These are excellent to add to soups and stews. You can also use them with potatoes, fish, gravies, and marinades. You do want to remove the bay leaf before you serve the food. This is one herb that gives of its flavor and then is discarded.
Another one you may not know much about is cloves. Sure, they were stuck in the holiday ham every year, or maybe you stuck them in an orange and hung it up for the holidays. Cloves are also excellent in pastries, cookies, and pork and lamb dishes. Try adding some to vegetables and dressings. You do not have to get whole cloves; look for ground cloves instead. It is much easier to use.
Making uncomplicated Superbowl party recipes means that you can prepare all your snacks well in advance and relax with your guests when the game starts. There are lots of Superbowl recipes to choose from and meat snacks, like chicken wings, ribs and hot dogs, are always incredibly popular. You will find hundreds of quick uncomplicated appetizers at our website to give you some more ideas.
Tags: appetizer recipes, appetizers, cooking, diet, eating, family, food, food and drink, Gardening, home, home and garden, lifestyles, partyOctober 24 2010 | Gardening | No Comments »