It’s already humpday!

Now most of the time I bake and do things from scratch, but sometimes-I need something fast and different.  With a few substitutions, I can have both covered.

I talked about how I jazzed up some fat-free brownies for our Sunday dinner.  There are a lot of ways to make a box of brownie or cake mix more homemade!  In fact the “Cake Doctor” has an entire website devoted to how to use mixes in anyway other than what they were originally intended.

The easiest way-change out exact measurements of whatever the liquid is for another liquid.  Instead of water try tea, coffee, a type of juice or wine.  Add a teaspoon or so of a complimentry herb or spice-don’t be afraid think out of the box.

With vegetables-try roasting them with theme spices or herbs.  Serving lamb?  Go Mediterranean and use oregano, olive oil and cumin.  Or go mint, rosemary and lemon!  Asian theme or cooking techniques?  Try soy sauce, fish sauce, ginger and green onions.  I think you‘re seeing the idea here!

Themes should flow through the entire meal with like spices, herbs or aromas.

An example of what not to do: do not serve BBQ ribs with asparagus and hollandaise with refried beans and petit fours.  Too many types of cuisines to be able to grasp and enjoy the flavors of any of them.

The same foods served similar would be terrific:  BBQ ribs, grilled asparagus, BBQ chipolte beans with spice cake-yum.

Give it a go! Remember, the cliche that “variety is the spice of life“, has more than a little bit of merit.

Mangia Bene!