Garlic and Onions
The absolute easiest and fastest way to add savory and sweet flavors to anything cooked is to saute with garlic and onions. I am a terrible cook, but since I started using this trick, my boyfriend now enjoys my meals and no longer politely eats a couple bites before making something else.
Here's how: Mince a clove or two of garlic (chop or use a garlic press) and chop 1/4 of an onion, then saute in a large frying pan or wok with a dab of olive oil.
Then add any of the following:
Green beans and red pepper flakes; cook until beans are tender. I sometimes add a splash of soy sauce for extra flavor, but soy is high in estrogen (not good for endo) and a tiny bit goes a long way. Don't make the mistake of having soy sauce soup with a hint of green beans.
Fish filets. Tilapia or other white fishes absorb the flavor well and brown nicely in the pan. Add some black pepper for spice.
Organic chicken. Add some water and boil chicken thighs or legs with the garlic and onions for a flavorful soup base before adding carrots, celery, and other chicken soup ingredients. Black pepper adds a kick. Alternatively, boil chicken legs for 10 minutes, then broil in the oven for 25 minutes (turning periodically) for a crispy, not-fried replacement for KFC. I sometimes dip legs (chicken, not mine) in bbq sauce, hot sauce, or ranch, but I try to use these sparingly.
Besides removing garlic and onion stink from your chopping fingers, fresh lemons smell sweet, add bright color, and even cut grease from dishes or kitchen surfaces. Oh yeah, they also taste great! Sliced or squeezed, they add Vitamin C and flavorful tartness to fish, drinks, and salads. Add a little to guacamole to prevent avocado browning or squeeze on garlic shrimp for citrus seafood.
Just make sure to ask your neighbor's permission before picking some off their tree or you might get pelted by lemon baseballs.
Load up on veggies while adding a blanket of flavor to organic chicken or whole grain, gluten free pasta. A jar of sauce from the store works, but I try to make one giant batch of homemade sauce once a year when my garden is overflowing with tomatoes. No garden? Try the local farmer's market. Freeze or can extra sauce to enjoy year round, knowing you added only healthy ingredients.
Besides tomatoes, I usually include red and green bell peppers, onions, garlic, oregano, parsley, and any other veggies or mushrooms that I can find. The red bell pepper is key for adding sweetness to the sauce. Most good recipes also require tomato paste (buy from a store) for thickness. Otherwise, your sauce dreams will drain away like a runny, chunky tomato juice.
Sea salt contains natural iodine and minerals, better than additives found in table salt. I try to avoid salt as much as possible, but when food absolutely needs it, Hawaiian (Alaea) sea salt pictured here is one of my favorites. With just a tiny pinch, it adds more salty flavor than the same amount of table salt.
I am doing my best to fully eliminate processed sugar. Most of the time berries, melon, or other sweet fruits and juices satisfy that sweet craving.
However, I think my morning oatmeal, coffee, and afternoon tea all still deserve a little sweetening. For that, I use local organic (not processed) raw honey. It also seems to help sore throats and cough better than sugary cough drops.
I am not a fan of bugs, especially those that can sting me, but I would like to thank the hardworking bees that bring sweetness to my life. Bee happy and healthy!