It's no secret that every person has their own skeletons in the closet, gloomy or not, secrets that are better not known to others. Sometimes these are just some small facts that, according to people, can cast a shadow on them in the eyes of others.
On the other hand, we are all human and we all make mistakes. And just like that, we want to look better than we are. Especially in such an important and responsible business as cooking. Who among us hasn't done little dirty tricks in the kitchen while no one is watching? Who hasn't passed off store-bought sauces as an old family recipe?
Some time ago, the AskReddit community faced one simple question: "What's your dirty kitchen secret?" The Original Poster herself was the first to admit - once she dumped out a whole bottle of her husband's nice balsamic vinegar, deciding that it was old clutter, and then "honestly" joined her husband in looking for it all over the kitchen. The thread became very popular, with about 5.4K upvotes and nearly 2.7K comments.
Bored Panda collected for you a selection of the most original kitchen confessions from various people. Some of them are real masterpieces, and some can turn into very useful advice for any home cook. By the way, if you need any culinary ideas - here's another one of our posts about "secret" ingredients when cooking, but for now, feel free to write your comments and maybe show something dark that is hiding in the back corner of your soul... and your kitchen as well.
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When I cook for other people, I’ll sterilize everything and buy most ingredients day of.
When I cook for myself, I’ll pick things up off of the floor and use any ingredient that passes the smell test.
As my family grows up and their various tastes/trends change I find it virtually impossible to please everyone or really anyone so I've basically lost my entire passion for cooking which used to be huge and now it's a freaking chore and they've choked one of my remaining pleasures right out of my life. I resent every bite that I cook. I've lost my mojo
I feel this deep. Sick of family members roll their eyes or say "I'm not going to like that". Maybe cook yourself?
Right? I love cooking and having variety but my partner is reallt picky and unpredictable with what he will like. It really hurts when you out effort and they dont like it
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My husband gets annoyed I don't cook more for my kids. They are still really young but they don't eat it! He will have some, says it's good, they won't eat dinner. But if I grab some frozen fried rice and nuke it, best food in the world. I'm looking forward to the day I can tell them to cook dinner themselves
I make mine eat a vegetable and then let him fix his own entree or side if he has tried what we’re eating and doesn’t want it. He’s been “cooking” for himself periodically since he was 7, maybe a bit younger. “Cooking” consists of sandwiches and microwaveables, but I choose what we buy so it all works out ok. He can make a pot pie or a corn dog for instance, but he will be eating his green beans first. That’s our compromise. If he will not eat a vegetable, he can try again at the next meal and see if he’s hungrier then. If the next meal is breakfast, so be it.
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When my kids were small we were poor. I cooked a meal (nothing weird. Just, bangers and mash or chicken and chips etc). And if they didn’t eat it they had to go hungry because there was nowt else. I made sure I didn’t cook anything they genuinely didn’t like (one of them gagged on pork once so I didn’t cook it again) They are not fussy eaters now in adulthood.
TEACH THEM TO COOK! Let the spouse and kids know that *primary* cooking is now their responsibility. You will gladly help for "special" meals, and for extra special ones, you'll be happy to do it yourself, but day to day cooking (and wash-up) is now theirs. -- Alternatively, tell 'em, eat what is put in front of you with no complaints, or no more cooking.
And now we don’t eat til 9.30, the kitchen is a bomb site and the 3yo’s got bandaids all over her hand from an incident with the grater. Why do people say this as though it such an easy thing to do?
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This happened to me, too! If I spent 2-3 hours creating an old favorite or dragged some old leftovers from the back of the fridge and nuked it for 2 minutes, I got the same level of appreciation: none. When my kids hit high school I quit cooking. Am pleased to say that in their mid 20's they both still enjoy cooking and baking and eat homemade, balanced meals.
Cook for you and try something new. That's how to get the mojo back. People may not like it, but ask yourself if u like it. If you do, tell them to deal with it.
This feels illegal. I have a 15 year old that sucks because of this very reason.
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Yep. Just on Sunday, I cooked breakfast for 6 of us and it cuts deep when one of your own parents doesn't seem appreciative, even though they never lift a finger around the house. I see cooking for people as an expression of love and when someone important to you doesn't seem to care, it can be very disheartening.
My mother is not a great cook, overcooked (food safety?) and under-seasoned (dead taste buds?). My mother won't eat things we make unless they are exactly like hers (her Mac n cheese: mushy macaroni tossed with some shredded cheddar with a bit of milk poured in just before it goes into the oven. If you make one with a cheese sauce and add anything other than cheddar, she won't touch it). I just learned to ignore it, my dad was always happy to have me cook. It's definitely disheartening, but cook for those who love it and ignore the ones that don't.
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Just wait until they’re grow and moved out. Then every time they visit, they can’t get enough of your cooking!
Unfortunately the days of kids moving out when they're 18 are in the past. Having 2 young adults in the house that rather order McDonalds instead of home cooked delicious healthy meals is very disheartening.
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When the children were living at home, I cooked 3 nights and then the rest of the week was separated between our 3 children and my husband. One, they learn how to cook and two, they could make anything they wanted as long as it fed everyone.
Growing up, Mom cooked one dinner for everyone. If we didn't like it, we ate cereal. Or we are whatever. She wasn't about to make 3-4 separate meals for everyone- no sirrreeee! Lol. We survived.
right, they treat it like they eat at a restaurant where they can order different foods
This is why I find the idea of a family restaurant perfect. "What do you want from the menu kids? I'm cooking anyway
Honestly just cook whatever you like, they might end up liking the food. They're probably just being so picky because you catering to much to them
At one point we decided that the person who makes the meal chooses its flavour. If you don t like just do it yourself
Since my husband died I have no desire to cook anything and mostly have TV dinners or egg, and cheese. I rarely want meat because cooking.
Oh sad! Potential parents, take note! DO NOT give kids choices when they are very young, make the same dinner for everyone. When you go to a restaurant that is the time when they can have a choice. Save yourself some heartache and a LOT of work.
My mom had a strict “you’ll eat what I cook or you’ll go hungry” policy. Might be why I’m so fat today…
My youngest is the worst when it comes to eating. he could live off bbq chips & pirates booty all day. At least my husband & my oldest enjoy my cooking & I still actually enjoy it. Its the getting my youngest to eat any of it that's the issue! I guess that's a whole separate post though.
I just gave up cooking. I heat some frozen meal for me and everyone else can fend for themselves.
I cook for myself and my elderly parents. They don't like the same things so I often end up cooking separate meals. But whenever I ask They say they're fine with whatever, followed by "I'll just have a can of soup then" when I tell them what I'd like to make 😶
My dad is awful about leftovers, and yet makes a ton of food at one time because he says others in the house will eat it. What ends up happening, is I'm saddled with eating all the leftovers by myself because everyone else is a stickler about freshness, and I'm also the one who is struggling/had struggled with an eating disorder and virtually no metabolism. What I'm saying is, his habits make my life hell.
That changed back for me, and I hope it does for you. When the kids had all left home and we were empty nesters, we began to dine out - a lot! We also shared the cooking and usually cooked together. With just 2 adults, there are endless possibilities to choose from. All of those ethnic foods that the kids would not eat we can eat as often as we want. Don't feel like cooking, go out. Don't want to go out? Frozen meals in the deep freeze. It is now fun again because I don't have to do it.
SAD. Cook what you want to cook and let the refuseniks eat cereal at every meal.
I'm starting to enjoy cooking for the family. Sometimes when they ask what's for dinner and I tell them, they get excited. I've learned that my sghetti gets devoured. No leftovers. BBQ? I better do twice the amount because the grandkids invite their friends. Not that I mind. But when I cook a jambalaya, I have to include syrup sausage. My daughter in law is trying to make that as a necessary ingredient. Literally, a family cook book recipe. And she's very particular about what she eats.
When I was a teenager I decided to become a vegetarian. My mother freaked out and started crying “what are we going to do? I can’t make separate meals for everyone and your dad won’t eat tofu- I told her I’d cook my own food and she was like “oh ok, that sounds easy (heh, heh, heh - my plan worked perfectly *evil laugh*)
That's easy: Eat it or go hungry and NO, I'm not buying McDonald's or what not!
Make what you want to make, let others cook what they want. Exception for coercing children to eat actual food, not just ramen and pop tarts.
I feel every. last. word. of THIS!!! Lil punks come in the kitchen screaming, EW! YOU PUT THAT IN (fill in the blank)! I DONT LIKE ONIONS! I DON'T LIKE PEPPERS! (meanwhile you licked the bowl the last time I made it) I know I used to eat it but, I DON'T LIKE THAT ANYMORE! Now it's straight up school cafeteria cuisine around here. And when I want something better I make it just for me.
This is happening to me, I have loved cooking for years and have gotten better at it, but most days I go to cook something I like and enjoy and I have to make such a massive amount of it that I am in the kitchen for hours cooking and cleaning, or even worse there are too many people not willing to eat what I am cooking so I have to make a second meal to feed the picky eaters in my house, more time and more dishes. Sometimes I still enjoy cooking but mostly it just feels like a chore now.
My mom (mother of five) was always cooking one dinner she picked, and if you didn't liked it - you ate sandwiches instead. No rolling eyes, no angry questions, everyone knows that there is no single meal that would satisfy all of us. That's a good and healthy way to deal with cooking for a big family.
One one side, there's my mom and brother's family. They have so many food issues and are so ungrateful that I don't like to cook for them at all. On the other side is my sister and brother-in-law. They have a lot of food issues, too, but they are super grateful when I cook. I hate cooking for my mom and brother. Need a fodmap-friendly BBQ sauce? There's a brand at the store you can buy. I adore cooking for my sister; I will take the hard path for my sister. She needs gluten-free, garlic-free, seafood-free Asian style food? I gotchu.
It made me cry when I realised that I started to hate my hobby. For the last 3 -4 years I cook like a robot with no happiness or feelings.
Some Buddhist monks, famously vegetarian, will eat meat if it is prepared for them by someone who means well. It's considered more of an insult to reject the good intention and hard work that someone gifted you than it is considered a virtue to adhere to your own preferences. The rest of us could learn from that.
When my 5 kids were at home, I would avoid only ONE item per kid. Many times I would just dish them up and then add the ingredient to the dinner for everyone else, or allow them to pick out the pieces and give them to their sibling (I would cut that item in large chunks to facilitate.) They got to say what the one item was. If there were other foods they didn't like they ate them anyway bc I did not "customize" dinner beyond their one item! As they grew it turned out that 3 of them dropped their one item anyway! They also were not allowed to "bad talk" any food as this affects the enjoyment of dinner for all! They could say thank you for dinner, I'm done now, and sit at the table until they were excused. (We also did not have tons of snack food, and they knew that if they didn't eat dinner they would be hungry- so they always ate "enough"!)
I respect allergies, intolerances and serious dislikes but other than that I cook the way I like and if someone doesn't like it they are free to make something else or get food from a take out.
I have been feeling the same way lately too. It’s more of chore anymore. My daughter doesn’t like this and my wife doesn’t want that. Just zero enjoyment anymore. And ordering out is too expensive so I just make full meals anymore
With you on this and as hard as it was I went back to the way mam used to cook. 1 meal n of u don't like it tough, go hungry. They fought initially but gave up quick and fell in line. I help enable their fussy attitudes by giving in and cooking individually in the past...
I think, I would stop cooking for a family like that. It's not a parent's job to run a restaurant where everybody can pick and chose. the job is to feed everybody. If anybody doesn't like it, feel free to eat a bowl of cereal.
It's not about pleasing everyone, it's about making good food. When did people get so picky that they won't eat something that's not perfectly how they like it?
My poor mother. Night after night, year after year she cooked for us kids and, gradually, the range got smaller and more bland and us wee bastards continued complaining and never saying thank you or offering to help. Then, in my late teens, my Dad had more time at home and started dabbling in cooking and we were suddenly diving into all sorts of delicious exotic meals and helping and complementing and making a big old mess. Dad privilege, I think we would call it now. I don’t think my mum ever really stopped being bitter about it but at least we help her and show her some gratitude now.
A good fix for this is forcing other people to do the cooking at least 1/3 of the time. When no one ever cooks for you (let alone themselves) having to cook can become something you resent. Once you get that arrangement settled, cook a meal 100% for yourself that YOU like and don't expect anyone else to eat once a week. You will eventually enjoy cooking again if and when you can do these things. I understand from personal experience how hard doing these two things is, but it is absolutely worth it. Good luck!
It's a hard task to cook every night, even if the family isn't picky. I loved cooking, but over time, as my family gets bigger and there's a stronger feeling of duty and responsibility, it's less enjoyable.
I know a young woman who has a family rule "We don't do picky in this house." She started when her children were very young and now they tell their guests.
That doesn't always work. Some people are picky for sensory reasons or things taste different to them (supertasters can't eat bitter things like broccoli). You have to figure out why someone is picky before you decide on a rule. Forcing someone to either gag while eating or starve because you've arbitrarily decided everyone eats what you choose is not considerate or healthy. Someone addicted to fat, salt or sugar is an entirely different thing.
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There are small things I'll do to help. Mom doesn't like the crunch of onions (eats other crunchy things but let's not open that can of worms), so I'll cook them down quite a bit. Brother and dad don't like bell pepper, cauliflower, and a few other things, so we'll typically make that a main part of the meal and they can cook a frozen pizza, or it's easy enough to leave separate from everything else. But I get the issue. I have basically nothing I don't like (besides okra), so it's quite often extremely irritating. Actually makes me glad I didn't move out with my friends lol they're so much worse than that
If my mother didn't like her cooking she'd say, "eat it or wear it." We quickly learned she meant it.
Once again so happy I chose no kids. Imagining mini me at a dinner table gives me shivers (hella picky eater all through to 20s)
I ordered 250$ worth of Belgium chocolate online and after it arrived, I hid the box from my kids.
My popular spinach dip recipe is just a specific store-brand deli item that I add things to (like sour cream, seasoning, etc).
Why don't I make it myself? No idea, this just seems easier.
Why don't I tell anyone? The pleasure of knowing I'm full of lies.
On grilled cheese sandwich night:
Wife's grandma: Make the tomato soup with water, not milk!
Me: *Makes it with milk*
Wife's Grandma: This is how I like it. I hate it with milk.
It's all fun and games until Grandma gets the walkin' toots from the milk
I was inspired by Caramel week on the Great British Bake Off and made a batch of caramel sauce. It was so good I did shots with it until I drank half the batch.
Had a friend ask me to bring deviled eggs to a party but use non-fat yogurt instead of mayo because they hate mayo.
I used mayo and didn't tell them. They loved the deviled eggs.
I took up sourdough baking and serious home chef cooking prior the pandemic. I was home during throat cancer treatment (I'm fine now!) so I had time on my hands and my sleep schedule was wonky and I found that there was always something on Food Network to watch.
But the radiation killed my taste buds and I can't swallow food.
I've baked hundreds of sourdough loaves, countless baked goods, hundreds of meals from simple to complex.
Haven't. tasted. a. single. bite.
People rave over my new found skills.
Lol.
I use jarred tomato sauce.
Ain't nobody got time to f**k with a bunch of tomatoes.
Homemade marinara/pomodoro isn't difficult but it's definitely time consuming and honestly you can take the ragu garlic or garden vegetable and jazz it up with fresh garlic onions peppers and mushrooms and make it amazing. Also if you want a bolognese take a hot and a sweet Italian sausage and like half a pound of 80/20 ground beef (the lean stuff isn't greasy enough) and mix it with the aforementioned concoction and it's phenominal
The snickerdoodle cookies that everyone loves and asks for every Christmas are just Pillsbury slice and bake sugar cookies. I roll em in a ball, coat them in cinnamon and sugar and call it a day.
I make these from scratch, I'd do Pillsbury if I could too. Side note: those cookies need less butter and more baking soda/powder. And less time in the oven
Sometimes I just wipe out my non-stick pan with paper towel and put it back in the cupboard rather than washing it.
Nutmeg. My wife thinks she hates it. I put it in certain recipes to send them over the edge. She likes to cook, too, and hasn't been able to replicate those particular recipes, which she loves . It doesn't take much to enhance the nuttiness, or compliment the sweetness, or add a layer to the spiciness of certain dishes. For starters, try it in your quiche - nutmeg plays so well with gruyere and Swiss cheese!
My Asian wing sauce is equal parts sambal Olek and honey. Cut it with soy sauce.
I told everyone that it’s “a process”
It’s literally the easiest thing I make.
My wing sauce is: ketchup, sugar & honey, vinegar, hot sauce, pineapple juice, garlic, ginger, smoked pepper and a mix of flour and water for thickening. But I don't like wings so it's my everything chicken sauce (The recipe is from Washington DC)
I eat a fancy lunch at the fancy grocery store when I go shopping there. I purposely go solo so I don’t have to share my luxe meal with anyone.
On most days I just resort to using Jarlic instead of fresh garlic.
This is a long one, the long con if you will.
Last year my girlfriend and I hosted Thanksgiving. Her family being from the Maritimes insisted that the stuffing be homemade, since their stuffing was always homemade. We reluctantly agreed.
We used Stovetop stuffing (the boxed stuff) and come dinner time, we got compliments, naturally. Her sister said "this tastes like stovetop" ... pause... "thank you!" I replied.
Her mother passed away a few months ago, and while we were saying our private goodbyes to her, while she was in a medically induced coma, we admitted that the stuffing was in fact the boxed stuff.
Nobody knows but her, and I love it.
No one knows I use Knorr Beef Stock Pot in many of my sauces and stews.
Those pots are literally flavor bombs
I'm classically trained, worked in the industry for... S**t since 1994, when I was 15 folding boxes in a pizza place. I've cooked every kind of cuisine imaginable, I've worked in places with michelin stars... And my all time favorite food is microwaved banquet salsbury steak. I'll buy and f**k up a [family size container of them at least once a month. I'm addicted.
I've been in the industry off and on both front and back of house at a variety of levels of cuisine (no Michelin stars but I've cooked at places with four dollar signs on yelp and I'm totally hooked on taco bell and pizza rolls....
I hide the jam from my husband. He's British and eats it by the spoonful every day, so I had to take measures
I only wash my vegetables/fruit if someone else is watching me cook (of if they’re visibly dirty obviously). I just can’t be arsed and I figured if pesticides/production contamination are what kills me, I was meant to eat fast and die young
While in a grocery store I watched someone sneeze (big open mouth sneeze) all over a fresh fruit display. You bet I wash my produce! What happened in the field isn't the only thing in our fruit and veggie's history!
My closely guarded family secret brisket recipe:
Brisket
Sliced onions
Heinz chili sauce (the whole bottle)
Lipton onion soup mix (must be the powder, must be Lipton)
12-16oz of the soda of your choosing. Mom does root beer, I do Dr Pepper.
Throw everything in the crockpot for at least 6 hours on low.
Also works for pork shoulder (for that I like ginger ale).
i use Better than Bouillon 'roast chicken' flavor base/bouillon in every soup i make, or anything that calls for broth/stock. sometimes i also add a little BTB mushroom base too, for even more umami. it tastes amazing, lasts forever, and saves time/space/waste. sometimes on special occasions i'll make stock from scratch, or i'll make specific stocks from scratch as a recipe calls for it (shrimp stock is easy/fast enough to make, and if i make pho or ramen i definitely go from scratch. but that's a rare project). but 9 times out of 10 i'm more than happy to use BTB, i think it tastes great.
Just to add a bit, if you ever make rice or a chicken pasta, add BTB in the water first. We started making it with chicken broth in the box and it was amazing. Then we switched to BTB to save packaging/waste/money. So worth it.
For the holidays I make cranberry sugar cookies for my grandma (her recipe), last year I completely forgot to mix the cranberry into the dough and she didn't notice. She blamed her lack of taste for the holiday weather and I let her, she kept lamenting on how she knows I'm so good at cooking and yada yada. Oh well, try again to remember to mix it in this year!
Also throw out stuff from my parents pantry that's old or that they'll never eat (looking at you canned creamed spinach) but I move boxes and cans forward to it looks like their shelves are full so they won't buy more stuff.
My mother passed away a few months ago and I'm the one who got most of the food from her pantry. My goodness, I threw so much stuff away it's incredible. Most of it was expired - like expired since 2012 or something. My brothers could have checked those out instead of packing everything and get me to lease a minivan to move my mother's stuff over at my house 6 hours away. Oh well. I would still probably needed the minivan without the food.
I chop storebought creamy caesar dressing in with the meat when I make a Philly cheesesteak. No one has ever guessed it, and everyone is blown away at how awesome they taste.
I worked at a restaurant where a kid made balsamic reduction out of the 3L of 25 year old balsamic.
To this day he’s known as “Money Bals”. That was 2012 😬
As a mexican, Doña María mole with a couple of large tomatoes cooked in chicken broth, blended with extra mexican chocolate and peanut butter for a "homemade" classic, lol. Thanks to my ex sis in law for the "family recipe".
I am intrigued by this meal. Tomatoes I love, broth is tasty, peanut butter also, and my favorite is chocolate.. but the combo of all.. hmm
I drank more wine than usual a few weeks ago and ate half a bag of Cheetos (family size) for dinner.
The secret ingredient to my famous from scratch mac and cheese is Velveeta. I have done it with real cheddar, gouda, swiss you name never as good as when there is a little Velveeta.
All my friends and family think I'm a great cook.
They tell me that all the time.
My dirty secret: I have very under-developed taste buds.
I'm only good at shape & texture of foods.
I once heard a similar story was the secret to Ben and Jerry's early success. One of them (I don't remember if it was Ben or Jerry) was developing the recipe for ice cream, and kept adding vanilla because it didn't taste much like vanilla. It turned out that he had a problem tasting it (again, I don't recall if it was a permanent condition or temporary), so by the time he could taste it, he'd added several times the typical quantity of vanilla. And that's why B&J's vanilla ice cream tastes so good.
My sister always insists only one specific pepper blend is any good to her. I replaced the pepper in her grinder with grocery store pepper. It still tastes good to her.
A sister of a friend only drank Volvic Water, an expensive brand. Their mother always filled the water up with tap water and acted like someone else already took a bit off it, so she wouldn't wonder about the seal being broken. She took six months to figure it out, though she's a smart person
I use these bullion cubes that aren't the super hard rocks, and before I drop them in l like to pinch off a corner and eat it.
I make tomato sauce for shakshuka “from scratch“ by adding tomato purée to diced tomatoes from a can. The tomatoes where I live suck and the stuff from the can is at least consistent with regard to flavour / acidity profile. Everyone loves me for “homemade” shakshuka ;)
this is what I'm always saying. Don't use "fresh" if it's old and shipped in. Freezing and canning and preserving is the better option. so is using them when they're made by others
My lemon bars I make for my family/coworkers every July 4 is just from the Pillsbury website.
The recipe literally ended up in a cookbook thing we did at work like it was something special I made up
Note: this post originally had 40 images. It’s been shortened to the top 35 images based on user votes.
Unpopular opinion: if you buy store-bought anything, (dip, dressing, canned goods, pre-mades), and then you add things, stir it around, use it unconventionally... it no longer counts as store-bought. Home-made and made from scratch are two different things. A lasagne that I buy frozen and jam in the oven is store-bought, but if I buy lasagne noodles, cheese, and meatballs, and then assemble and cook it? it is not a store-bought lasagne.
Finally someone says there's a difference between "from scratch" and "homemade". Homemade can be from scratch but not always as read above in Elea Bell's definition.
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Seriously, don't try to "trick" people by serving them something they say they don't eat. They might be allergic to it, and if so, you possibly kill them for accident or sent them off to the hospital.
Even something as minor as the salt content in processed foods can cause issues.
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Highly intolerant to onion, I can't express how bad it is. So if you try to pull a trick on the food you serve me substituting a home made thing w/ store bought s**t that has onion in it? And it affects me? You will have pain coming your way.
I suggest that if you have people frequently eat what you cook, ask them for any food allergies to prevent accidents or if they're currently in any strict diet
My Dad hates garlic so always says to my Mother when she's making spaghetti bolognese 'Don't put garlic in' she always does ... he always eats it lol
Friendly reminder: downvotes are NOT dislike buttons. Downvoting a comment just because you don't agree = not cool. If a comment gets downvoted, its author will get banned from the site. So please downvote only in case of obvious spam ("how to make cash") or if someone is literally harrassing a fellow panda
I didn't know that, so thank you. Also, why would this site do that?? People say a lot of stupid or not particularly nice things, myself included occassionally, that deserve to be downvoted for many reasons. But, they don't deserve to be banned. I did notice that there isn't an option to report particularly horrible comments; now I realize that the downvote is essentially that. I'm sure the reasoning was along the lines of keeping things civil if down downvoting is meant for very nasty things or spam so people won't downvote others they just don't agree with.
Load More Replies... Chickpea brownies. I use a recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie and they are soooo good and fudgy. Try making them and surprising people! "Healthy" brownies!!
Here's the recipe if someone is interested: https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/chickpea-brownies-recipe/
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My grandmother always made me banana bread, from when I was a toddler to sending me loaves when I was in boarding school. When I lived with her for a while, she wanted me to learn how to make it myself, and it was the recipe from the back of Jiffy box. She did teach me to use fully-ripened bananas, which she peeled and froze for future use. I hated bananas, but I loved me some of that banana bread.
When I was growing up, I was just happy to have food. I ate whatever I was served. Being grateful for the food you have can make "almost" anything taste good. If you're not allergic try it. You may find you have a new favorite dish. Also, people are more apt to invite you over for meals if you're not a picky eater.
Why does Ranch Dressing in the bottle taste nothing like what you end up getting from the powdered mix? I bought Ranch in the bottle from Hidden Ranch and it tastes nothing like original mix. Why, Hidden Ranch, Why?
My cooking secret is that I use malic acid instead of lemon juice or vinegar in most cases. I bought a small jar of it online years ago, and it's lasted for years, since you only ever need a pinch of it at a time. The benefit is that it comes in a powder similar to salt, so adding it doesn't add liquid to the meal. It doesn't run off meats, and it doesn't carmelize or lose flavor when heated like lemon juice does. The only time I would still use real lemon is if I also needed the peel or if I was making a pie where lemon was the main feature
I use steak sauce as a seasoning for everything. I use it akin to salt and pepper. It's just SO good and I love it! I will admit it doesn't go with everything... But it's like hot sauce.... I put that sh*t on everything! 😂
Throw it on some white rice... Throw it on some yellow or pink rice too (seasoned with sazon)... Mac n cheese... Mac salad... Tuna/tuna salad... And if course.... Some actual steak
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I don't make pinto beans. My sister and mother do. Hubs asked me to make him some. Then asked me not to ever again. Lol I didn't taste test cause I don't like them. I'm not even upset about it. Lol
Unpopular opinion: if you buy store-bought anything, (dip, dressing, canned goods, pre-mades), and then you add things, stir it around, use it unconventionally... it no longer counts as store-bought. Home-made and made from scratch are two different things. A lasagne that I buy frozen and jam in the oven is store-bought, but if I buy lasagne noodles, cheese, and meatballs, and then assemble and cook it? it is not a store-bought lasagne.
Finally someone says there's a difference between "from scratch" and "homemade". Homemade can be from scratch but not always as read above in Elea Bell's definition.
Load More Replies... Seriously, don't try to "trick" people by serving them something they say they don't eat. They might be allergic to it, and if so, you possibly kill them for accident or sent them off to the hospital.
Even something as minor as the salt content in processed foods can cause issues.
Load More Replies... Highly intolerant to onion, I can't express how bad it is. So if you try to pull a trick on the food you serve me substituting a home made thing w/ store bought s**t that has onion in it? And it affects me? You will have pain coming your way.
I suggest that if you have people frequently eat what you cook, ask them for any food allergies to prevent accidents or if they're currently in any strict diet
My Dad hates garlic so always says to my Mother when she's making spaghetti bolognese 'Don't put garlic in' she always does ... he always eats it lol
Friendly reminder: downvotes are NOT dislike buttons. Downvoting a comment just because you don't agree = not cool. If a comment gets downvoted, its author will get banned from the site. So please downvote only in case of obvious spam ("how to make cash") or if someone is literally harrassing a fellow panda
I didn't know that, so thank you. Also, why would this site do that?? People say a lot of stupid or not particularly nice things, myself included occassionally, that deserve to be downvoted for many reasons. But, they don't deserve to be banned. I did notice that there isn't an option to report particularly horrible comments; now I realize that the downvote is essentially that. I'm sure the reasoning was along the lines of keeping things civil if down downvoting is meant for very nasty things or spam so people won't downvote others they just don't agree with.
Load More Replies... Chickpea brownies. I use a recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie and they are soooo good and fudgy. Try making them and surprising people! "Healthy" brownies!!
Here's the recipe if someone is interested: https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/chickpea-brownies-recipe/
Load More Replies... My grandmother always made me banana bread, from when I was a toddler to sending me loaves when I was in boarding school. When I lived with her for a while, she wanted me to learn how to make it myself, and it was the recipe from the back of Jiffy box. She did teach me to use fully-ripened bananas, which she peeled and froze for future use. I hated bananas, but I loved me some of that banana bread.
When I was growing up, I was just happy to have food. I ate whatever I was served. Being grateful for the food you have can make "almost" anything taste good. If you're not allergic try it. You may find you have a new favorite dish. Also, people are more apt to invite you over for meals if you're not a picky eater.
Why does Ranch Dressing in the bottle taste nothing like what you end up getting from the powdered mix? I bought Ranch in the bottle from Hidden Ranch and it tastes nothing like original mix. Why, Hidden Ranch, Why?
My cooking secret is that I use malic acid instead of lemon juice or vinegar in most cases. I bought a small jar of it online years ago, and it's lasted for years, since you only ever need a pinch of it at a time. The benefit is that it comes in a powder similar to salt, so adding it doesn't add liquid to the meal. It doesn't run off meats, and it doesn't carmelize or lose flavor when heated like lemon juice does. The only time I would still use real lemon is if I also needed the peel or if I was making a pie where lemon was the main feature
I use steak sauce as a seasoning for everything. I use it akin to salt and pepper. It's just SO good and I love it! I will admit it doesn't go with everything... But it's like hot sauce.... I put that sh*t on everything! 😂
Throw it on some white rice... Throw it on some yellow or pink rice too (seasoned with sazon)... Mac n cheese... Mac salad... Tuna/tuna salad... And if course.... Some actual steak
Load More Replies... I don't make pinto beans. My sister and mother do. Hubs asked me to make him some. Then asked me not to ever again. Lol I didn't taste test cause I don't like them. I'm not even upset about it. Lol
