I use twice as much of ____ when I cook
Is there an ingredient that you love so much that when you find it in a recipe, you have no trouble doubleing it?
For me it's vanilla. I looooove vanilla. When I was a kid, I thought vanilla was a non-flavor. Now, I adore it. So, when I'm baking or making ice cream, or making anything that has vanilla, it's not unusual for me to double the vanilla quantity right off the bat. And then maybe add a little more, if that's the mood I'm in.
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27 Comments:
Alot of different things, mainly spices, alcohol. But before doing that I add the amount asked for in the recipe, after adding I let simmer a bit, taste and adjust accordingly.
pjracz10 at 2:49AM on 09/07/08
Cumin and cilantro.
Luckily the family is all good with it as well.
rlwycoff at 3:50AM on 09/07/08
Black pepper and garlic.
If I was cooking for myself alone, there would be a whole lot more "fire" in just about everything. As it is, the hot sauces get added to most all dishes once they're on my plate but I'd rather they got in early enough to meld and mellow.
czken at 6:04AM on 09/07/08
Hmm, black pepper, Thai basil, and sriracha.
Cassaendra at 8:01AM on 09/07/08
garlic and seasoned salt
dozertx at 8:26AM on 09/07/08
Onions, shallots, leeks, garlic ... you get the picture.
Dee at 8:52AM on 09/07/08
me too, vanilla.
cybercita at 9:30AM on 09/07/08
garlic all the way baby! My husband claims that he has stronger body odor (and he's not a stinky guy by a long shot) since he started living with me because I use garlic so much. Funny, the food still disappears at a rapid rate!
Maureen at 9:43AM on 09/07/08
garlic, salt, vanilla, veggies, alcohol
cowprintrabbit at 10:21AM on 09/07/08
Garlic, salt, vanilla, cayenne pepper, black pepper and cinnamon.
deefine at 10:22AM on 09/07/08
I thought this was a JEP topic at first! I would say butter (maybe 1.5x as much) and garlic.
Adam Kuban at 10:33AM on 09/07/08
I agree (with everyone).
I definitely use more vanilla or almond extract when baking, and usually more pepper when cooking.
Laurel E at 11:35AM on 09/07/08
Vanilla, cinnamon, some herbs (I LOVE fresh basil) or spices (I LOVE cumin), and definitely garlic!
Brownie at 11:51AM on 09/07/08
@maureen, you reminded me of my friend's approach to using the recipes in the silver palate cookbook: use half the butter and twice the garlic.
cybercita at 11:55AM on 09/07/08
Shallots and garlic, salt, pepper, tarragon.
bessfour at 12:00PM on 09/07/08
Vanilla. Definitely cinnamon. And everyone in my family understands if a recipe calls for a clove of garlic you use a whole head.
And sugar.
carolrsf at 12:09PM on 09/07/08
garlic, black pepper, cheese, fresh herbs. and usually i dont use as much butter/oil is called for.
billyburgwife at 12:13PM on 09/07/08
I tend to intensify the chocolate level - when a recipe calls for, say 10 ounces of semisweet chocolate, I'll put in 8 ounces of semisweet and make the other 2 ounces unsweetened.
lemons at 12:30PM on 09/07/08
Stock. I like things saucy so I generally add more stock (chix or beef) than called for in the recipe.
I'm also frequently accused of adding tomato to most things...LOL.
therealchiffonade at 1:37PM on 09/07/08
Hmm...I don't follow recipes - I usually look for ideas, not instructions, in cookbooks - , so it's hard for me to tell really. But from reading cookbooks (since I read them like I read novels) I'd say that I probably use significantly more garlic, onions, fresh herbs, freshly ground black pepper (and probably other spices, too), vanilla, etc. than "normal" recipes would call for. Probably salt, too.
brooke29 at 1:41PM on 09/07/08
double the garlic, 50% increase on crushed hot pepper, cayenne, cumin, anything that brings the heat. 50% increase in most spices actually.
VerasTastyFreeze at 10:10AM on 09/08/08
red pepper flakes or cayenne - i love heat! and pretty much everything Vera said.
Tara Tot at 11:55AM on 09/08/08
heat, cheese, mushrooms
Cary at 12:40PM on 09/08/08
I totally thought this was a JEP question too. I do this with vanilla AND chocolate. But I'm not sure I completely double the amount. Maybe more like 1.5x or just a bit extra.
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 3:01PM on 09/08/08
Basil, garlic, lemon (in desserts), booze, chocolate, butter... there's a very scant handful of recipes that I can't resist tweaking when I make them.
thebasilqueen at 9:55PM on 09/08/08
Garlic, salt, and basil. I tried a new recipe the other day that called for 6 basil leaves. SIX? Are you KIDDING ME? First of all, I don't think I've ever counted basil leaves in my life. Second of all, less than a small handful is never enough.
embolini9 at 9:08AM on 09/09/08
I use more cilantro, almost doubling it in any recipe. I tend to use half of the recommended garlic in many recipes too. I think garlic is way overused. Often times I will add a shallot, whether a recipe calls for it or not.
EatWisconsin at 9:44AM on 09/09/08