Some Helpful Tips

I am asked all the time, "how do you know what goes with what?"

I really don't know the answer to that.  Some of what I do just comes natural to me, like common sense.  Other things are from trying new foods, and experimenting with flavors.  I have been a "food fiddler" since I was little. 


For me, the greatest gift is seeing my family happy with the food I prepared for them.  It is the best feeling in the world.  The way I accomplish that is through my spices and herbs.  When I make a simple chili, it becomes more than that by the flavors I put together.  Chilies, cocoa, oregano, cumin, garlic, salt and pepper combine together to become one flavor.  Dried chilies all have different tastes, smells, and spice.  I combine several together to get a more rounded flavor.

Anyone can do it, it just takes knowing a few simple combinations.  You also have to like tasting things.  I happen to love that.  When you know what something tastes like, you can more easily combine it with something else.  Believe me, I have had some really awful combinations.  I tried to make a rub one time in my spice grinder and it tasted like soap.  Whatever it was I added to that was not a winner!

Cumin is a spice that goes well in Indian cuisine, Mexican cuisine, or Asian cuisine.  I personally love cilantro, and its seed coriander.  I feel that coriander and cumin love each other, and cilantro likes to go for a ride with them.  Coriander and cilantro have a  citrus flavor,  lemon and lime go well with them.  Cumin is smoky, earthy, and deep.  Cumin goes well with chilies as well.  Coriander and cilantro lift cumin up and brighten it.

Try using those three in your next stir fry.  Or the next time you grill chicken or pork.  You would be surprised at how much flavor they bring.  Make a marinade of soy sauce, citrus juice or vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, ginger,  salt, pepper, dijon mustard, cumin, and ground coriander.   Use it for chicken or pork.  Boil down the leftover marinade as a sauce.  You will love it!