Kitchen Must-Haves!

Here is a list of some basic kitchen staples every cook should have on hand in their kitchen at any given time. With these basics, you can create fantastic dishes or dress up some boring every-day meals!

-Garlic powder
-Greek seasoning (great for italian, greek, chicken, beef, pork, omelettes... you get the idea!)
-Chili powder
-italian seasoning
-white and red cooking wine (the alcohol cooks out, don't worry!)
-chopped garlic (in refridgerator)
-fish sauce
-soy sauce
- pepper grinder
-real vanilla
-corn starch (for thickening sauces)
-dried Basil
-Olive oil
-canola oil

Keep this stuff on hand and you'll always be able to make something delicious!

A little info about Tomatoes

This isn't really a recipe, but some information I once learned about tomatoes that I think is very valuable.

Did you know that refridgerating tomatoes changes their molecular structure so they actually lose their flavor, and their texture becomes more mushy?

When you buy tomatoes at the store, they will ALWAYS taste better if you keep them out on the counter in a basket where the air can circulate around them. Of course, this means they don't last as long, but will taste much better. Of course, home grown tomatoes should NEVER be refridgerated- EVER! That is just... unthinkable! It makes me want to weep just thinking about those beautiful, red, juicy, sweet tomatoes being murdered in the fridge!

So, you'll all be sure to NOT refridgerate your tomatoes from now on, right?

Also, often when you purchase tomatoes from the store, they are not quite ripe enough. They will ripen over a few days' time on your counter, but if you happen to have greenish tomatoes you can still get them to ripen. Simply place them in a plastic bag with apples or a banana. The gasses from the fruit will encourage the tomato (also a fruit) to ripen more quickly!

So, there you go! Now you know more about tomatoes!