No one likes to sit down and have a bad meal, what would the fun be in that? So when you go out to this amazing restaurants and they serve that delicious rice, a soup that tastes better than your mom's and that sauce served on top of your steak mmm. As you sit there and try to figure out the ingredients to try to make it at home you can kind of tell that there is maybe some tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic and really pin point other ingredients. Then you go home and make a list because next week you will try to make it and it will taste just like it.
Next week arrives you have all the ingredients ready and you couldn't be more excited, you give it your best effort and taste things three to four times to make sure the seasonings are just perfect...and then the time for truth arrives.
You get out that China that is used only at special occasions and you might even have a few people over to show off to. As you plate up that wonderful dinner, and you sit down to have that first bite, you look around and see what the expressions of others are like and they seem pretty pleased, which gives you all that much confidence. The time has arrived that first bite and you can't help it, true disappointment. It tastes good, just not as good.
What is the secret you might ask yourself. Well if you read the recipes and read what all good chefs say about the base for their cooking, it simple. Stock. Real, hearty stock. What does it take to make it, how much does it cost, how much time...
Simple it does take some time but the stove does all the work for you. It's quite inexpensive since you will mostly be using bones and fresh herbs.
So get on reading and find a good recipe for stock, either beef, chicken or game. Take the time to actually do it, freeze it and keep it there until you need it. The more you make the more you can freeze which means the less time you will have to do it. But most importantly your food will taste just like you want it to taste and you will finally will be able to recreate those specials that you enjoy.
Blog about food and how to enjoy it, Restaurants, and reviews. Seattle, Mercer Island, Bellevue, Kirkland, Renton, and Newcastle, WA
- Johnny G. from Seattle
- I do my best to make the most of my time in the Seattle, WA area. Food is something that brings joy to my heart and soul. I visit many Restaurants on the east side and share some of those experiences here. Most of the time I just use this as a journal to get a few thoughts out.