Favorite Secret Ingredient In a Recipe?
#13
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,004
#14
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Deltaville, VA
Posts: 139

Try a small amount of cinnamon in spaghetti sauce.
Do you have a hidden, secret spice, or ingredient in a recipe that makes that recipe beyond amazing? I'm not talking about the obvious, like bacon in Mac n' Cheese, but something that no one eating the food would ever guess is in there. Something that makes that recipe sing! Here are a couple of my secrets.
1. A pinch of curry powder in white, clam chowder
2. A dash of nutmeg in cooked spinach
3. A couple of tablespoons of nutritional yeast in white, or cheese sauce
I have a lot more, but you'll have to beat me over the head with a wooden spoon to get them out of me.
1. A pinch of curry powder in white, clam chowder
2. A dash of nutmeg in cooked spinach
3. A couple of tablespoons of nutritional yeast in white, or cheese sauce
I have a lot more, but you'll have to beat me over the head with a wooden spoon to get them out of me.

#16
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Illinois
Posts: 1,734

So then I'm reminded of the woman who was an excellent cook and everyone loved her potato salad. She received many requests for the recipe but she refused to share it, replying "over my dead body". When she died, her family had the recipe carved onto her gravestone!
#18
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 14,860

So then I'm reminded of the woman who was an excellent cook and everyone loved her potato salad. She received many requests for the recipe but she refused to share it, replying "over my dead body". When she died, her family had the recipe carved onto her gravestone!
I love that! I have never understood someone keeping a homemade recipe a secret. It may be delicious but it's not the secret of Fatima.
I love that! I have never understood someone keeping a homemade recipe a secret. It may be delicious but it's not the secret of Fatima.
#19
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Carroll, Iowa
Posts: 3,159

I don't have any secret ingredients but I remember when I started cooking for my hubby back in the 70's if the recipe called for something strange I didn't add it not knowing that may have been the secret ingredient for that recipe. Now I add everything they say to put in it. While looking for a recipe for squash soup, I downloaded a couple of them and then took from each one what I thought would work. My mother and sister were amazed that the soup contained nutmeg and cayenne pepper in it. Just that little pinch added made the soup better. Now I follow the recipe..................most times.
#20

My mashed potatoes have a dash of "Better Than Boullion" Chicken Stock Paste and a bit of garlic puree along with the milk and butter. People rave over them.
I always add some bread and butter pickle juice to the mayo before adding it to the potatoes for potato salad. (Along with the rest of the regular ingredients.)
Watson.
I always add some bread and butter pickle juice to the mayo before adding it to the potatoes for potato salad. (Along with the rest of the regular ingredients.)
Watson.