How to Boil Water
By CarlKnittel
@CarlKnittel (692)
United States
October 7, 2008 12:28am CST
I mentioned elsewhere that I like to add secret or special flavors to my food. A little flavoring, extract or even hidden food (like crushed bananas in my pancake batter). Even a visual trick (red food coloring in devils food cake).
What secrets or tips do you have in the kitchen?
3 people like this
6 responses
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
8 Oct 08
I like to add a few drops of Texas Pete or Tabasco to my rice while it's cooking. It does NOT make it hot but does awaken the flavor. I learned this from a chicken recipe I was using & continued using it in any rice dish. I think 10 dashes were the most I ever used (& it still wasn't hot)
2 people like this
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
20 Oct 08
Yes, it sounds hot...BUT IT'S NOTTT!!! The recipe said 3 to 4 drops. I did that & couldn't even tell it was there but the rice did taste better!!! So I added a few more drops every time I made it until I was up to 10. The rice just got better & better!!! I promise you, you will NOT taste it & say Hmmmm, Texas Pete. It's kinda like the rice explodes with every bite. Another one I use for flavor is crushed red peppers in my potatoes especially on baked & in mashed. I don't use a lot. It's like the taste bud opens just before the potato hits it & I get MORE potato flavor!!!
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@CarlKnittel (692)
• United States
14 Oct 08
I use something similar when I make rice with chicken. I throw in a little cumin to spice up the flavor a bit.
1 person likes this
@commanderxo (1494)
• Canada
7 Oct 08
Along with all my other (secret)ingredients, I like to add one teaspoon of ginger powder, plus one teaspoon of mustard powder, and a couple of dashes of Worchestershire sauce, to my home made Mexican chili. It seems to give it that little extra "kick".
Mmmm-mmm-good!
cdrxo
@CarlKnittel (692)
• United States
8 Oct 08
ginger would certainly bring the heat but I have to try it to see if the flavor blends well. Lots of folks like chocolate in their chili too but I still can't picture it. Mustard sauce sounds like a neat idea. I have a hard time finding it most of the time but nest time I do I'll have to get some to try it.
1 person likes this
@commanderxo (1494)
• Canada
8 Oct 08
That's DRY mustard powder my friend, not a sauce.
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@CarlKnittel (692)
• United States
14 Oct 08
Actually, I was calling the chili "sauce" but wasn't very clear and most folks wouldn't see it that way. I tend to class it with spagghetti sauce, mainly because the biggest difference is trading a little garlic for some chili poder and or peppers, and adding beans. On the other hand chili is pretty good over noodles especially with lots of chedder.
1 person likes this
@vanities (11395)
• Davao, Philippines
7 Oct 08
i dont have any secret ingredients or additional flavors on any food that i cook..but whatever i do i dont put immediately water on it..i just let it simmer and let its juice to come out first ....
@CarlKnittel (692)
• United States
8 Oct 08
slow and low seems to wring all the best flavor from food. I prefer to prepare my special dishes when I have time to let it cook a long time.
1 person likes this
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
12 Nov 08
I also like adding banana to my pancake mix and have also added apple chunks, cinnamon and pineapple. I also add sour cream and parmasan cheese to my mashed potatoes.
[b]~~MY OWN PEACE WITHIN~~
**STAND STRONG AND BELIEVE IN YOURSELF**[/b]
2 people like this
@CarlKnittel (692)
• United States
12 Nov 08
Apple chunks sounds like a good idea but I would probably boil them with cinnamon and a little sugar first to soften them up. Pancakes only cook a couple minutes so that wouldn't be enough for me. I get in trouble for my mashed potatoes. I put boiled potatoes in a bowl and mash them. Nothing added. I figure that's what the gravy is for. Everyone I know thinks I'm nuts on that.
@doubleloveyou (2466)
• United States
7 Oct 08
My wife will make sloppy joes. The kids are ok with it. I make sloppy Joes and they just won't stop eating. What is the difference? We both use ground beef. We both use Manwich original. They difference is a special ingrediant that I add as I am cooking the beef. Not even sure if you can still buy it, I have not looked for it in a long while. It is....A Secret 
I just told you that. If I were to give out my secret then it would no longer be a secret. LOL....LOL And you thought I was going to give you that one. :-)
I just told you that. If I were to give out my secret then it would no longer be a secret. LOL....LOL And you thought I was going to give you that one. :-)2 people like this
@CarlKnittel (692)
• United States
8 Oct 08
It sounds like your secret may be at an end. On the other hand, kids find some things better just 'cause dad (or grandpa) made them.
1 person likes this
@LouiseKnittel (4764)
• United States
7 Oct 08
If I told you all my secrets, then How would it still be my secret!?
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@doubleloveyou (2466)
• United States
7 Oct 08
LOL... You said about the same thing I did. LOL
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@LouiseKnittel (4764)
• United States
14 Oct 08
I will never tell my secrets!! LOL
Shoot I may have even forgot some.. they were such s secret!
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