How did it get so chilly again? I think we were all hoping and convinced it wouldn’t “feel like 9″ again. So such luck. I canned my morning workout when I saw how cold it was going to be. Something about it made me want to stay in bed until almost 7:00.
I’ll be hitting up the treadmill later on at the gym. Hopefully something good will be on Ellen or Oprah.
I get a fair amount of questions from people who are just starting to cook in the kitchen, so I thought I would start a series about the top things I use in my kitchen. I’ve talked a little bit about superfoods I eat and my favorite frivolous kitchen tools, but what about getting back to the basics??
Let’s start there:
Top 5 Condiments I Use in my Kitchen: (in no particular order)
1. Vinegar: my most used and favorite vinegar is balsamic. (I love Trader Joe’s brand.) I do use red wine vinegar and rarely apple cider vinegar. I used vinegars mostly in salad dressing, but I love combining balsamic with honey and olive oil and making a marinade. Also this is a must try marinade from Uncle Tommy.
2. Oils: I mostly used a pretty good quality Extra Virgin Olive oil. I used this from everything from salad dressing, to cooking, to marinating and I’ll use it in baking sometimes too.Very rarely, I’ll use coconut oil in some vegan desserts, like these raw ganache tarts. I’d like to find ways to use it more.
3. Stock/broths. I usually choose organic and almost always low sodium. I alternate between vegetable and chicken. I used them to cook vegetables in and for soups.
4. Low Sodium Tamari or Soy Sauce: Tamari is basically a wheat free soy sauce, that has a richer flavor. I use it in the same way you would use soy sauce. I used tamari/soy sauce to add to stir fried meals, in egg drop soups and with sushi.
5. Mustard: Mustard has so many different types and uses. My favorite way to use it is in olive tapenade, but it can be used in salad dressings and to glaze or add to tuna or salmon.
Okay time for work. Have a great day! Stay warm!
What’s your favorite condiment in the kitchen?
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
I use oil and vinegar a lot…but ketchup would have to be on there for me!!! It’s my fave
I have balsamic and mustard in my pantry right now. I need to get more condiments and spices!
I nixed my AM workout because of the chilly weather, too! (Plus a blister on my foot – booo!) Ketchup and mustard are my faves
Colleen @ The Lunchbox Diaries recently posted..The Pleasures of Being a Lady
Mustard is a must…I can make anything great with mustard! It got colder here too and really I needed the warmth this weekend. Oh well, I will have to just have a cozy weekend in.
I love stock! I love to use some in place of oil in pestos
I definitely use olive oil the most. Otherwise does hummus count as a condiment?
Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun recently posted..Self-Love Reflection- Idolizing Our Bodies
I LOVe your condiments and theya re SO mine too! I always have tons of mustards, vinegars oils and broths on hand! oh and salsa!
Ooh, mustard is definitely a great one! And we use lotsa olive oil, haha!
You mentioned wanting to find more uses for coconut oil…check out the Eat Clean Diet book and cookbooks. I got coconut butter (which is interchangeable for coconut oil) and it’s used in desserts and some savory recipes in those cookbooks. Have you looked into the Eat Clean Diet at all? Love your blog!
I love, love, love any kinds of mustards – I love using jalapeno mustard on pork tenderloin – so good!
And good vinegar is great to have on hand too.
Hope you have a great weekend!
Biz recently posted..He’s Home!
Low sodium soy sauce for me… yumm! <3
I really like to have mustard on hand. I spice it up and use it in a lot of things.
lately my favorite has been nutritional yeast!
right now I would have to say I’m addicted to coconut oil