Hello, reader. How are you doing? I’m writing to you about how to improve foods.
I notice many people have an all-or-nothing attitude about foods. But we can often improve them by customizing them. We don’t need to accept foods as is.
condiments
Ketchup is a thing. If your food is boring, you can add sauces.
- ketchup
- spicy ketchup
- sriracha
- cholula
- ranch
- mayo
- mustard: yellow, brown, hot
- wasabi
- BBQ sauce
- tabasco
- red salsa
- green salsa
- soy sauce
- hoisin sauce
- plum sauce
- black bean sauce
- green goddess dressing
- vinagrette
- tahini sauce
- chili sauce
- peanut sauce
- cocktail sauce
Also Indian pickle, sweet pickle, dill pickle, relish, chowchow, muffuletta, olive tapenade, basil pesto, sundried tomato pesto.
spices
If you like spicy foods, you can add chili flakes, cayenne, berbere. Spices like garlic and onion powder can be good. Salt is great, black pepper, white pepper.
Some spices you might want to toast and add toward the beginning of making a dish. But adding spices at the end works too.
Green spices like oregano, basil, tarragon, rosemary, and thyme can add a note and add complexity. A tiny bit of sage can complexify also.
Cumin, coriander, and chili powders can add depth. Some smoked paprika can elevate baba ganoush, rice dishes, chili.
water
Sometimes it can help to add water. If your noodles are clumping or your sauce is too thick. If your soup seems too solid, don’t be afraid to dilute it.
Water is so humble but might be perfect.
powerful
Adding some minced raw garlic at the end can improve many savory foods.
Adding some miso or garlic better than bouillon can transform a bland food to something more savory-tasty. Nutritional yeast aka hippie dust has a yeasty flavor.
Pine nuts, sesame seeds, chopped nuts, or sliced nuts like sliced almonds can add flavor, texture, fats. They can change a salad or pasta to something more exciting and add a dimension. Some people are allergic, but if not, have at it.
Peanut butter or tahini added to a sauce can make a lovely creaminess. Soaking cashews and blending them up can add creaminess also. Or adding some soy milk or oat milk.
Never underestimate the power of some fresh chopped parsley sprinkled on top. My good friend taught me we eat with our eyes. A trick to increase the visual appeal might increase the deliciousness.
Sprinkling paprika can do similar, some fresh cilantro, minced green onion, or chives. They can add flavor but also make the food look more exciting.
sweets and cheeses
If you’re not vegan and can eat dairy, of course cheese can solve almost any savory culinary issue.
- more cheese
- cheese melted on top
- a cheese sauce to dip into
- grating a hard potent cheese over everything
Cheese can solve other issues too, like emotional and spiritual issues.
I once loved a woman who told me that if she ever lost the will to live, we were to take her to a certain taco truck for the el pastor. Likewise, if I ever lose the will to live and the usual tricks don’t work, please feed me some queso fresco, right into my mouth, with your bare hands. It will make me a bit sick afterward, but I will survive.
Butter? Sugar? Yes, those are go to solutions for sweets. Brown sugar, a touch of molasses, more vanilla, more cinnamon, or nutmeg.
transformation
Life hands us so many things that have issues, and problem solving is a key skill.
If someone serves you rice and lentils that you find boring, or oatmeal with just raisins, you could lament and dream of restaurant foods. Or you could think of how to improve foods based on this post or your own experience.
A squeeze of lemon or lime, coconut milk, and some fresh spinach can improve rice and lentils dramatically. Good luck enjoying life.
You deserve pleasure. Our bodies can have so many issues! We might as well enjoy the good parts of having a body, like delicious foods.
o yeah
Free food is often the most delicious food, for me. So dumpstered food, gift foods, foods from the food bank, foods you grew.
Also, you know how Ben Franklin said hunger is the best relish? Eating foods with people you love might help too.
Outdoors, alfresco, and if you really don’t have hunger you could try weed or CBD to improve your appetite. Or you could lay off the stimulants.
