Spice Up Your Life

While visiting with a friend I was trying to show her that eating at home is better for you if not only for the real purpose of being in control of what goes in your food. She said, "...but food at the restaurant just tastes so much better than mine..."

Why is that? Because restaurants...the good ones...use fresh ingredients and lots of seasonings, spices and marinades. Most people at home have the same dried seasonings in the round turn table with the white caps that they got as a wedding gift 10 years ago! Even dried seasonings need to be traded out every 6 months for new ones. They lose their flavor daily!

What to spice up your life? Here's what a few friends said their favorite ingredients are to make their home cooked meals taste like the big boys!

Michelle Spelman says, "Good Seasons Italian Dressing packets are a pretty versatile seasoning. I use it to season soups, sauces, marinades, salads, meats."

Susan Hawkins, "I adore dill! I put it in soups, dips, salads and on fish marinades (for salmon, in particular.)"

Creator of The Zen Kitchen, Dani Nordin went all out!

"In fall/winter, I'm all about smoked paprika and Indian/Morrocan spice blends (think nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, black pepper). In spring and summer, it's more Asian flavors (soy, sesame, chili-garlic paste, rice vinegar), or lemon, dijon and herbes de provence. Fresh herbs are a must in summer."

I couldn't agree more! This summer we made a fun Chicken Bruschetta dish on the grill. It calls for Italian dressing, mozzarella and basil. It didn't specify dry or fresh...I got fresh and it made all the difference. Everyone at our dinner party thought it was better than you get at a restaurant.

Lesson learned: Branch out. Use fresh ingredients. Get the full flavor out of your food. Get the best meal possible...right at home.

Email if you would like the recipe. Share your favorite fresh summer foods here also!