While some people know about these little tricks, the majority do not. These are small tips to help you improve the foods we commonly eat – most are recommended by top chefs and others by very experienced home cooks.
10. Carrots and Sugar
While it may seem strange to add sugar to vegetables, it is a very common method of preparing carrots in France. The technical term for this dish is Vichy Carrots, in which you combine Carrots, Salt, Pepper, sugar, and Vichy water (a sparkling water from the Vichy region) and cook them down until the carrots are glazed. The sugar heightens the flavor of the carrots and the end result is a stunning dish of brilliantly orange vegetables.
9. Coffee and Salt
Add a touch of salt to coffee to heighten the flavor – this is a very common use of salt as it is used in virtually all dishes (including sweet dishes served for pudding). Just a pinch is enough to make a brilliant espresso. [Photo by Tom Moertel]
8. Tomatoes and Sugar
Use sugar, not salt. Tomatoes are already acidic and the addition of salt just increases that acidic flavor. Sugar sweetens and increases the tomato flavor. Tomatoes are fruits after all.
7. Chocolate and Coffee
When baking with chocolate, add a little coffee – it strengthens the chocolate flavor without adding a strong coffee flavor.
6. Meat and Aniseed
When stewing meat, throw in a star anise – you can’t taste the aniseed but the flavor adds a deep richness to the meat. This is a trick used in all meat dishes by Heston Blumenthal the owner of the Fat Duck (3 Michelin stars) – voted the world’s best restaurant for three years in a row.
5. Cooking tomatoes and Foliage
Throw in a tomato branch – the branch contains all of the flavor that we love in tomatoes – pick a leaf and smell it and you will see what I mean. Simply throw in a small stick of the tomato plant and it will give your cooked tomatoes a much stronger tomato flavor.
4. Potatoes and Nutmeg
Add nutmeg – just a little – it adds a depth to the potatoes that people won’t recognize, but will definitely like. This is true of virtually every potato dish.
3. Chili and Chocolate
Add chocolate to chili. It deepens the meaty flavor of the chili while giving a strong base note to the peppers. This is a trick well known in the South where Chili bake-offs are common.
2. Apples and Vanilla
Apples are very acidic and normally require some sugar in their cooking. Most people add nutmeg or cinnamon to their apple dishes, but vanilla extract adds a deep layer of flavor that most people won’t recognize but will certainly appreciate.
1. Strawberries and Pepper
Strawberries (fresh) are usually served with a sprinkling of confectioners sugar, but the addition of very finely ground pepper (from fresh corns) heightens the flavor.
chershey: wow – that really is a weird combination – do you use smooth or crunchy peanut butter? I am definitely going to give that a try as I love both peanut butter sandwiches and lettuce sandwiches!
dangorironhide: They are really big here in Canada too!
Watermelon with balsamic vinegar is really delicious. it was served as an apetizer at a wedding I went to last year. Very good!
Oh, I add nutmeg to my mashed potatoes all the time. Fantabulous!
It may just be because I’m hungry, but iceberg lettuce & peanut butter sounds an awesome combination!
dangor: that is what I was thinking! And I am hungry too – maybe it has something to do with it. I also started back at the gym today so I am extra hungry.
I see a lot of the old farts around here buying a can of coke then dumping peanuts in it, then eating the peanuts when they drink.
I get a lot of strange looks when i go to a chinese place and just get rice, pineapple and soy sauce. they all look at me like im nuts. its really good though. I also eat tabasco or ranch on almost everything. barbecue sauce and ranch is a really good combo as well.
Mike: I have ranch dressing with my perogies. It just doesn’t taste the same.
You want to be careful with the “foliage in tomatoes” trick. Tomato plants are a member of the nightshade family and too much of the green parts can make you sick or even kill you!
I’ve learned that an interesting variation to the usual lime and salt after a tequila shot is to follow it with sugar and an orange wedge.
jfrater: i don’t know about elvis, but i used strawberry jam. also, i have no idea why it’s called the elvis special. :O
When we were little, my sister made ramen with orange juice one time and made me try some. I can honestly say it wasn’t very good!!
SpookyMulder: a much nicer combination!
romerozombie: I think it is called that because it was Mr Presley’s favorite snack – that lead to his obesity! I don’t know what jam/jelly he used but for some reason grape jelly springs to mind – not available in NZ
CK: I can very easily imagine that that would be rather revolting!
Daniel: Well – potatoes are part of the Deadly Nightshade family and we eat them en masse! Heston Blumenthal – owner of the restaurant voted the best in the world for three years running never cooks tomatoes without the stalks thrown in for flavor so I have to presume that it is safe when used like a herb. I would also like to point out this extract from Wikipedia:
That would make me think that certain members of the nightshade family are not poisonous.
In fact, Wikipedia states:
I love sugar and butter in scrambled eggs!! YUM! I discovered it because japanese make omellettes for sushi with sugar and a little bit of soy sauce. Also love..
Soy sauce and french fries
Grilled cheese, ketchup & sour cream on toast
Brown sugar sandwhiches
Peanut butter cups are WAY too flavoursome for me, I can only eat about half at a time. I like reece’s pieces though, i melt them in my hand before eating them!!
Also… MARMITE is the best!
Ahsley: yay for marmite! I have not tried sugar in my eggs – I normally put salt and pepper in before scrambling but nothing else – I will try sugar – I am always on the lookout for new tastes! Interesting your say about brown sugar sandwiches – my sister learnt a recipe at school which involved putting brown sugar mixed with butter and coconut on bread which was toasted until crispy – it was astonishingly wonderful! I can still taste it now after 10 years! YUM! Those nuns sure had some useful tips to share!
ohh chocolate and chilli is amazing together…
i remember when there was limited edition tim tams in australia (they’re a chocolate biscuit… uhh cookie type thing, and they’re amazing) which were chocolate and chilli… they were so good.
i really want tim tams now… haha
sarahenity: stuck in London I wouldn’t mind a packet of timtams right now either! Alas I have no alternatives here – English biscuits are junk
jfrater; smooth peanut butter, regular iceberg lettuce, white bread,,my mom’s fave…
Kind of funny you mention TimTams. A teacher I work for is engaged to an Aussie and he is here in the states. His mum sent him a care package. It had vegemite and TimTams. The teacher brought it in for the kids to try. They did not like the vegemite, but said the Timtams were good.
Oh and I like to make scrambled eggs with Worcestershire in them. I also like burgers grilled with Worcestershire.
I like scrambled eggs with salsa. I put Worcestershire sauce on a roast before I cook it.
Brown sugar and cinnamin on toast is a treat. Corn syrup on ice cream.
On Christmas morning (and no other time) my father makes scrambled eggs with a touch of vanilla, cinnamon rolls, and sausage for breakfast.
OH YEAH!!! Almost forgot the best reese’s are the specialty shaped ones at holiday times…….they are thicker than regular reeses and so sinfully delicious they should be outlawed. *sigh* Valentines day is coming up and they will have the heart ones out then. YUM!!
Reese’s used to be my fave. Now I seem to now be able to eat them. They are really sweet. I do try all the new flavors when they come out though. They had a white chocolate one, and I think one that had caramel. I can’t remember all the new ones.
I still love to dip a hershey bar in peanut butter. MMMMMMM.
whatever are you talking about? i am in love,
Your dad and my dad sound very similar. In fact I think you posted something about your dad’s looks on another list. I think or dads even look very similar. I was going to tell you about a group my dad belongs regarding his looks. Can I Yahoo you?
sure my yahoo is t_storm617. That was the comment about my dad looking like Santa Claus right?
Another really good breakfast treat is homemade waffles with loads of butter and powdered sugar on them, with a huge glass of milk of course.
Diogenes: Yea lots of good food ideas to fall in love with on here I agree!!
Seriously, this list is whack! All of these are perfectly normal combinations. At least in Europe.
One taste which I love is toast with orange marmalade and then a glass of full fat milk. The after taste after drinking the Milk is amazing. Haven’t tried putting marmalade in Milk yet, don’t think the taste combo will be the same but one day I will give it a try.
Anyone been to ‘the fat duck’ owned by that chef Heston Blumenthal, he prides himself on wierd taste combinations. Not sure I agree with all his ‘new ideas’ the beetroot and orange jelly combination was a particularly strange dish.
Worsestershire sauce is brilliant! It’s not very original but I love it on cheese on toast!
Guy: I love having a buttery (local thing – I think it’s on wiki under that or ‘rowie’) with strawberry jam & a glass of milk. You wouldn’t expect milk to go so well with the jam!
jfrater: Smooth peanut butter. The sticky creaminess of the peanut butter mixed with the crisp crunchy of the lettuce makes a really great combination. Make sure the lettuce is dry though or else you’ll get some real soggy bread!
Also, a bit of Tabasco sauce in mashed potatoes gives it a nice kick.
Cantaloupe and pepper – one of my favorites.
Speaking of marmite, Ilove marmite with old cheddar on white bread.
My mom and I used to eat a date sandwich with lots of butter and pitted dates, best served cold.
I’ll go out on a limb and say that adding honey to ANYTHING makes it better. When I was little, I found that double dipping McNuggets in honey and ketchup was awesome! The best ratio is 1 part ketchup, 2 parts honey. Also, ketchup mixed into honey mustard is good stuff. Weirdest thing I like with honey (I’ll admit, it’s pretty weird) is a beef taco. Just ground beef and cheese (no sauce) on a hard taco shell, dipped in honey. Even though I can’t convince anyone to try it, it’s fantastic!
I have a particular fondness for soft-batch chocolate chip cookies and Sunny Delight. The OJ must be Sunny D for it to taste sooooo goooood!
Green Apples ( Granny Smith ) and Vinegar, Cucumber and Vinegar-My husband and daughter both love these combos.
Megan: apples and vinegar is a new one for me – but I do love cucumber and vinegar!
I don’t think there’s anything weird about chocolate and coffee together.
A few combos that I’ve never heard of but most are pretty common. Here are a couple of ones that I didn’t see that might interest someone.
Use Coke in your marinade as a tenderizer, my friend makes some awesome teriyaki steak.
Crushed saltine crackers over vanilla ice cream, delicious! I thank my Dad for that one.
A pinch of salt brings out flavor in beer.
SpookyMulder: I’ve had an orange wedge with cinnamon for a tequila chaser at a bar I went to once. That was a good combo.
for a late night snack a peanut butter and mayonaise sandwich hits the spot with me. A layer of sliced dill pickles make it even better.
My boyfriend made chocolate chili, damn it was good
Digital Amish: Wow you are my hero, everyone makes fun of me for peanut butter and mayonnaise sandwiches but noone understands just how good they are!! and yes the dill pickes add the wonderful crunch and just a bit of zest
Woo hoo!
I was watching the Food Network while I was making supper and the Chef At Home made a beef stew that he put cocoa and dark chocolate in. And not just a little bit. He had like maybe 4 litres of stew that he must have put in a least half a cup of cocoa and then he put in one of those 100 gram chocolate bars.
oh my god
tomatoes and sugar isn’t weird!!!
it’s good!!!!!!!!!
ur weird!!!
A coworker brings in cucumbers in vinegar, but it has onion and sugar also. They are soooo good.
We have cucumbers in vinegar but also put sour cream in it or for a more low fat variety use plain yogurt!
I thought onions and cucumber in vinegar was normal. Either one goes great in a cheddar cheese sandwich, with salt and pepper, of course.
merllin: Hobbee’s has a fantastic cinnamon orange tea; it smells like their coffee cake!
..Wish I could edit comments…I meant Hobee’s…
Uhm. Okay. Balogna dipped in maple syrup. I’m… I’m so ashamed…
Someone earlier mentioned Jelly omelettes, those are SO YUMMY! my dad used to make them when I was a kid, and it sounds wierd but they are great. I also used to do Peanut Butter & Butter sandwiches, and I used to roll deli-meat (salami, bologna, whatever) with either cream cheese, or peanut butter or both. Also, along the lines of the PB & lettuce, I’ve always done PB & celery (add some raisins and it’s called “ants on a log” but I hate raisins).
Fried chicken & honey is always good, a guy I used to work with at a restaurant made this yummy raspberry/honey sauce we dipped fried turkey strips in that was awesome.
and fries & a chocolate shake was THE THING to get in highschool at the diner after a football game!
next time you eat scrambled eggs take a scoop and get some applesauce on there. It’s delicious.
I found out today that apples crisp and mandarin chicken salad with sesame ginger dressing are actually a good combo. I was eating the apple crisp (Yes I ate my dessert before finishing my meal), when the container dropped out of my hand and some spilled in my salad and some salad got in the container. It was quite yummy actually. It made me think o fthis thread when it happened too. I thought, “Hmm, I have to try this combo just to tell other listversers if it was good or bad.” Dear lord help me. I have been sucked in to the addiction.
JwJwBean: That is supposedly how they discovered resses PB cups. Remember the old commercials?? Hey you got chocolate in my peanut butter, NO you got peanut butter on my chocolate. And then they saw that it was good!!!! LOL
I used to love those commercials.
Peanuts in orange soda is really good! I haven’t had it in so long, but I want it now! I grind a little nutmeg into almost everything. My porcini and riccota rissoto has a ton of nutmeg in it, and it’s my families favorite dish! The nutmeg is so good with the mushrooms!
I didn’t read everything in the lists above (not enough time now, but will later) so I hope this isn’t already listed: People usually are incredulous when I recommend peanut butter and tomato sandwiches. Slice a big ol’ red beefsteak tomato into 3/8″ slices, spread a piece of your favorite bread generously with creamy peanut butter, slap one of those slices of tomato on and add the other piece of bread–ain’t no better eating! Especially on toast! It’s addictive.
My daughter has been eating fries dipped in frostys forever,i tried it and its good.
I love peanut butter,cheese and potatoe chip sandwiches.
P.B.&Jelly sandwich with Doritoes are awesome!!!!!!
Remember Laverne & Shirley, well Milk and Pepsi is GREAT.
I always put grape jelly in meatballs.
I will try chili and chocolate, sounds good.
willieeman: I remember dipping my fries in my frostie years ago… It was the big thing back then (course back then was when I was in jr high and the cool thing was to do to Wendy’s after sporting events and dances just to eat frostys and fries)
My boys were taught Frosty and fires and chicken nuggets dunked in the frosty by their Aunt. Her whole soccor team did it.
I tried the carrots and sugar tonight, but it had an added ingredient…hickory smoked bacon. MMMM it was nummy.
i think i looked all of the above… but here goes – bacon on fresh maple glazed donuts! awesome!
I don’t remember if this was mentioned already. It has been a while since I read all the comments. A friend mentioned this weekend that they like jalapeno and peanut butter.