Showing posts with label cooking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cooking. Show all posts

If you're ever getting tired of a certain kind of dish: don't be shy about shaking things up!  Although you could reinvent your entire plate, there are things you can do to increase the intrigue of nearly any meal that you love.


These are four of the most creative ways to add some heat and flavor to your food while still getting to enjoy the familiar flavors that you love.

Unique Spices

We all know about cayenne and chile powder, but why not take it further?  In southwestern American states, there's a popular spice called chiltepin.


Made from powdered chiltepin peppers, this fine red grain is incredibly spicy and quickly adds heat to any dish without adding much flavor outside of it.  This ingredient is the best way to heat up familiar dishes without changing their flavor too much.  


There's a lot of hot flavor in this, so a little chiltepin goes a long way!  If you're interested in trying this, ensure you buy the full powder instead of trying to make it from dried peppers yourself since it can be hazardous to breathe in while blending.

Fun Dipping Sauces

Dipping sauces can change the flavor of any dish without having to change the steps of making it!  This could mean serving a dish with fun pepper jelly, or making your own unique sauce.


If there's any fast-food chain you love that has a tasty spicy or tangy sauce, consider looking up homemade duplicates that you can try in your kitchen!  This is a fun way to try out making your own sauces while getting to make it as spicy or mild as you'd like.

Creative Combinations

If you're used to the classics and want something fresh, consider replacing parts of the recipe to boost the flavor some.  This could mean replacing the cheese in chicken cordon bleu with pepper jack or adding buffalo sauce to your favorite hollandaise when you make eggs benedict.  Combining spicy and creamy together ensures that it doesn't devour the original flavor of the dish but amplifies it and makes it something more playful.


Almost any dish can have items shipped out or added to make it spicier, like replacing celery in your mirepoix with jalapenos to keep the same bright green texture while adding spice. So don't be afraid to get creative.

Sometimes Spice Isn't Capsaicin.

Although most people think of hot peppers when they think of heat: capsaicin isn’t the only way to make a dish burn in a good way!  Instead, consider spicing it up in other ways. For example, for desserts, cinnamon can add a lot of unexpected heat.


Although it's usually used in smaller amounts, cinnamon, when enough is used, can quickly build into a pleasant warmth and is the reason why Altoids and Big Red gum are known for a nice burn. 


In savory dishes, consider including horseradish!  This root can pack a major punch and is the main ingredient in American wasabi: so you know it’s hot.  It’s a delicious and healthy ingredient you can add to almost any savory dish to create a complex flavor.

 I have been wanting a deep fried Oreo for years! Every time I would go to an amusement park or fair the stand for deep fried Oreos wasn't open. I was so intrigued about these deep fried Oreos I said "I'm going to make them myself from home" I was surprised at how little bit of ingredients to make them. Here is everything you need:

This is it! (Plus the milk I forgot to put in the photo) 
-Pack of Oreos
- 1 Cup Pancake Mix
-2/3 Cup of milk (pictured below)
-1 egg
-1 1/2 Teaspoon vegetable oil
-Confectioner Sugar (To sprinkle on top when the Oreos are finished)
This is all you need to make deep fried Oreos at home. Place all of the ingredients into a bowl and make a nice batter to dip the Oreos. 
My batter was a little thin so I added some more pancake mix to make it just a tad more thick but not too thick. Add the milk a little at a time so you can get the batter exactly how you would like it. Here is the fun part...Dip your Oreos with a slotted spoon and put them in the hot oil.
I used the deepest pan I have to fry in. Make sure you have enough oil in the pan to almost immerse the Oreo. They cook extremely quick so make sure to turn them quickly after about a minute or two. It's very similar to how funnel cakes cook and taste.
Take them out put them on a plate with paper towels. Sprinkle the confectioner sugar on top and enjoy!
They turned out amazing! I ate all 12 (That's not good) but that is how good they were. I can't wait to do these with family because it reminds me of carnival/fair/amusement park food and I think it makes for a good time with a group of people. Make sure to give these a try for your next game night or gathering. Thank you for stopping by and have a great one!











 This is one of my favorite quick bean salads I make when I need to prep some food to last a couple days. Dairy-free garbanzo bean aka chickpea salad is my favorite because there is REALLY no cook time. Unless you would like to make your garbanzo beans fresh. Mines are out of the can but you can make this with homecooked garbanzo beans and it will be even tastier! Here is everything you need to make this delicious dish!

I'm just one person so I used one can of garbanzo beans (chickpeas) but feel free to add more if you are making this dish for more people. Black olives, Sweet relish, Plant based Mayo, Yellow Mustard, and red onion (its not pictured here but I added some sliced green olives also.
Chop everything up into a bowl of your choice (everything except the garbanzo beans) get ready to add some seasoning and our wet ingredients.
I go a little crazy with the seasonings and I added sunflower kernels. The sunflower kernels give the salad a crunch and a nutty flavor which is a great compliment to the taste in this garbanzo bean (chickpea) salad. Seasoning is optional you can use any type of seasoning that works for you here is what I put in this garbanzo bean salad: garlic powder, chopped chives, fine pink Himalayan sea salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, ground paprika. Only use the seasonings you like in your dish.
Came out excellent! Added some crackers and topped it with some shredded dairy-free cheddar cheese. This is definitely one of my top quick recipes! Garbanzo bean salad can be a side dish for a dinner a quick snack with some crackers or just lunch by itself. You can find garbanzo beans (chickpeas) in a can for under $1.00 each or you can make them from scratch a bag might cost 1.49 but they are worth it. It's a staple in my pantry to have canned garbanzo beans and bags of dry garbanzo beans. Add them to your grocery list and start feasting!