Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food. 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 breakfast recipes Vanilla Allspice Cinnamon Pancakes! It taste so good you wouldn't realize how low cost it is. Take a box of any brand Pancake mix I chose Kroger buttermilk pancake mix. The whole box is under $2.00 which is a steal because as a single person I will have that box for a long time.

Here are the couple ingredients that are going to turn your basic morning pancake into a gourmet five star restaurant tasting pancake.
This is all we are adding to the pancake mix. Water, Cinnamon, Vanilla Extract and Allspice. My cinnamon and imitation vanilla extract are from the Dollar Tree. The Allspice was from a farmer's market a very long time ago and was under $2.00.
I combine all the ingredients into a mixing bowl. I don't measure out anything just put as much of everything as you would like. Some people don't like cinnamon or allspice you can omit both and just add vanilla if you chose.
My batter made about (3) fluffy small/medium pancakes. I like to mix the batter for at least (5) minutes. In my mind it makes the pancake cook more fluffy.
And there it is! A (3) stack of beautiful golden brown vanilla cinnamon and allspice pancakes topped with some plant based butter and syrup. You can definitely stay in budget and eat great tasting meals. 

Here is the video I made on these pancakes on Youtube.

Thank you for coming by to read the blog! Hope you make these for your next frugal breakfast!





 






 This waffle recipe is one of my favorites! The original recipe I found on Sweet Potatoe Soul's YouTube channel and adapted it to my liking. There are no eggs or dairy in these waffles and everything needed is shown below. 


Here are the ingredients for this recipe:

1 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour
1/3 cup of brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
1 tablespoon ground flax + (2) tablespoon of water (flax egg)
1 1/2 cups of almond milk (I used coconut milk)
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 stick of melted plant butter

(Optional: a few pinches of allspice for taste)
Mix all ingredients in a mixing bowl with a fork. Combine until batter is smooth.

Lightly grease your waffle maker with some butter and fill your waffle maker with the homemade batter. This is a $20 waffle maker I got from Ebay. It takes about 6-8 minutes to make (2) waffles in this waffle maker.
There you have it! Some beautiful homemade vegan waffles you can enjoy with plant butter and syrup without leaving the house! Plus there is plenty more batter for 2-3 more servings. This is what I call a happy meal :) Hope you try them at home!