Cooking Together With Friends
  • Home
    • The "Best Ever" Dinner Party!
    • Structuring the Evening
    • Rafting Food
    • Diane & Jerry's Socially Distanced Thanksgiving
    • A Gregory Virtual Food Event
    • GAND Virtual Event
    • The Joy of Meals with Friends
    • Cooking for Two >
      • Blog
    • Expeimenting with new recipes
    • Fat Tuscan - Cooking Class
    • A New Style Church Dinner
    • Camp Cooking
    • Sushi Feast
    • The Young Cook >
      • Willow
      • Ryan - A Talented Cook >
        • Ryan's Menu
        • Sausage and Potatoes, Onions, and Peppers
        • Lemon Bars
      • Veronica
  • Menus
    • Menu #1 >
      • Shopping List - Menu 1
      • Warm Spinach Salad
      • Pasta alla Puttanesca
      • Peach and Blueberry Crisp
    • Menu #2 >
      • Shopping List - Menu 2
      • Risotto with Peas
      • Chicken Saltimbocca
      • Tiramisu
    • Menu #3 >
      • Shopping list - Menu 3
      • Broccoli & Squash Soup
      • Salmon en Papillote
      • Creamy Brandied Cherries
    • Menu #4 >
      • Shopping List - Menu 4
      • Salad with Greens and Stawberries
      • Paella
      • Pineapple Coconut Crumble
    • Menu #5 >
      • Shopping List - Menu 5
      • Citrus Avocado Lettuce Salad
      • Shrimp with Feta and Orzo
      • Pears with Raspberry Sauce
    • Menu #6 >
      • Shopping List - Menu 6
      • Fennel and Orange Salad
      • Moroccan Turkey Stew
      • Doughnuts with Chocolate Glaze
    • Menu #7 >
      • Shopping List - Menu 7
      • Beet, Apple, and Walnut Salad
      • Chicken with Goat Cheese
      • DOUBLE CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE
    • Menu # 8 >
      • Shopping List - Menu 9
      • Green Salad with Roasted Pears and Blue Cheese
      • Orange-Raisin Chicken with Toasted Cashews
      • Nutty Brownies
    • Menu # 9 >
      • Shopping List - Menu 9
      • Green Waldorf Salad
      • Baked Fish with Ripe Olives and Feta
      • Chocolate-Cherry Oatmeal Cookies
    • Menu #10 >
      • Shopping List - Menu 10
      • Squash Mushroom Soup
      • Quinoa Salad
      • Banana Strawberry Frozen Dessert
    • Dinner for Two
  • Recipes
    • Salads >
      • Fennel and Orange Salad
      • Caramelized Shallot Salad
      • Green Waldorf Salad
      • Beet, Apple, and Walnut Salad
      • Green Salad with Roasted Pears and Blue Cheese
      • Salad with Greens and Stawberries
      • Warm Spinach Salad
      • Hurricane Salade Niçoise
      • Saautéed Spinach with Almonds & Raisins
      • Tossed Salad with Marinated Apple Slices
      • Citrus Avocado Lettuce Salad
    • Vegetables & Legumes >
      • Roasted Potatoes, Beans, and Mustard Dressing
      • Cauliflower, Chickpeas, Curry, and Quinoa
      • Curried Lentil Stew & Sweet Potatoes
      • Black beans and Corn
      • Pasta Primavera
      • Brandied Winter Squash
      • Roasted Beets with Goat Cheese
      • Cuban Black Beans
      • Asian Broccoli Salad with Peanut sauce
      • Balsamic Root Vegetables
      • Chickpea and Potato Stew
      • Brussels Sprouts
      • Spinach, Mushrooms, and Red Peppers
      • Cauliflower Appetizers
      • Garlic Parmesan Roasted Carrots
      • Braised Cabbage with Apples & Pecans
      • Sautéed Rainbow Chard
    • Grains & Potatoes >
      • Risotto with Peas
      • Risotto with Mushrooms & Gruyere
      • The Best Sweet Potaoto Wedges
      • Sweet Potato Salad
      • Creamed Corn
      • Sweet Potato & Black Bean Burrito
      • Roasted Turnips
      • Quinoa Primavera
      • Quinoa Salad
      • Pesto Bruschetta
      • Les Trois Pommes
      • Fruit and Nut Tabouli
      • Polenta
      • Fruit and Nut Tabouli
    • Tofu & Eggs >
      • Impossible Quiche
      • Savory custard
      • Salmon Souffle
      • Spinach Egg Muffins
      • Cheesy Soufflés
      • Sautéed Tofu with Broccoli in Chili-Orange Sauce
      • Tofu and Bacon Vegetable Bake
      • Tofu & Pepper Stir-fry
    • Soup >
      • Chicken Soup
      • Potato and White Bean Puttanesca Soup
      • Squash & Mushroom Soup
      • Parsnip Soup with Walnut Pesto
      • Corn Chowder
      • Miso Soup
      • Blue Zones Longevity Soup
      • Lemony Shrimp & Bean Soup
      • Turnip Soup
      • Turkey Mushroom Rice Soup
      • Pear & Carrot Soup
      • Broccoli & Squash Soup
      • Lentil Soup
      • Hearty Vegetable Soup
      • Onion Soup
      • Squash Mushroom Soup
      • Avocado Cucumber Soup
    • Seafood >
      • Shrimp & Tomatoes
      • Shrimp with Feta and Orzo
      • Sesame Stir-Fry Shrimp and Spinach
      • Shrimp, tomatoes, and feta
      • Flavorful Shrimp
      • Scallop, Shrimp Risotto
      • Paella
      • Fish with Pesto
      • Salmon en Papillote
      • Fish with Lemon Garlic Sauce
      • Fish with a Nut & Mustard Crust
      • Pecan Crunch Salmon
      • Pasta alla Puttanesca
      • Willow's Tuna Cakes
      • Baked Fish with Ripe Olives and Feta
      • Baked Fish with Garlic & Aleppo Pepper
      • A Great Lobster Roll
    • Meat >
      • Nach Waxman's Brisket
      • Pepper Steak
      • Shepherd's Pie >
        • Shopping List - Shepherds Pie
      • Texas Chili
      • Oven Baked Mini Meatballs
      • Pork Tenderloin with Mustard & Maple Syrup
      • Herb & Garlic Pork Tenderloin
      • Mustard Maple Pork Tenderloin
    • Chicken & Turkey >
      • Chicken Marsala
      • Orange-Raisin Chicken with Toasted Cashews
      • Crispy Chicken Parmesan
      • Chicken Veronique
      • Chicken, Apricots, Sweet Potatoes, & Prunes
      • Hurricane Chicken Salad
      • Aleppo Pepper Glazed Chicken
      • Grapefruit Chicken with Roasted Vegetables
      • Chicken with Goat Cheese
      • Chicken Saltimbocca
      • Penney's Chicken
      • Chicken Stir-fry
      • Moroccan Turkey Stew
      • Sweet Potato, Turkey, & Peanut Stew
      • Turkey Chili with Beer
    • Sweets & Breads >
      • Baked Alaska
      • Banana Strawberry Frozen Dessert
      • Tiramisu
      • Sally's Strawberry Pie
      • Sun-Dried Tomato Cheese Bread
      • Ryan's Cranberry Sauce
      • Chocolate Prune Cake
      • Pear & Custard Dessert
      • Chocolate Yogurt Pavlova
      • Chocolate-Cherry Oatmeal Cookies
      • Peach and Blueberry Crisp
      • Banana-Walnut Souffle >
        • Shopping list - Banana Souffle
      • Powerful Bran Muffins
      • Easy Graham Crust Cheesecake
      • Pineapple Coconut Crumble
      • Orange Walnut Torte
      • Nuts - 2 Ways
      • Stollen
      • Creamy Brandied Cherries
      • Upside Down Apple Bacon Pancake
      • Peanut Butter, Chocolate, & Cherries Protein Bars
      • Roasted Chickpeas
      • Pears with Raspberry Sauce
      • Cherry Pistachio Topping
      • Doughnuts with Chocolate Glaze
      • Flan - Traditional Cuban Custard
      • Pumpkin Souffle
      • DOUBLE CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE
      • Nutty Brownies
      • Actcado Chocolate Pudding with Dates
      • Boozy Strawberries
      • Snack Bars with Almonds, Oats, & Pretzels
      • Chickpea Blondies
  • Your Ideas
    • Kosher Foods
    • Ashima's Tasty Cuisine
    • Jessica's Garden >
      • Jessica's Recipes
      • Jessica's Cooking Together
      • Chili info from Jessica
    • Debra's Salmon "En Papilote"
    • Renee's Plant-Based Cooking
    • Maureen & the Air Fryer >
      • Fish En Papillote
    • Becky's Creative Dishes
    • Ohan's Perfect Steak
    • Jennifer's Dishes
    • Myra's Recipes >
      • Lentil Soup - Egyptian
    • Ron's Sweet Potato
    • Sallie's Quinoa Salad
    • Ezra, the cook
    • Ezra Shrimp Bahn Mi
    • Ron & Brenda's Puttanesca on Coucous >
      • Roasted Asparagus with Mustard Sauce
      • Ron's Terrific Rhubarb Cake
    • Julie's Crunchy Cheese Snack
    • Turkish Eggplant and Beef
    • Fred's Bread
    • Klaus & Giselas birthday meal >
      • Wild Duck with Sour Cherries
      • Mussels & Clams
    • Gainesville Free Grocery Store
  • Blue Poo Muffins
Picture

Is the Most Important Ingredient for Your Thanksgiving Meal Missing?

10/31/2019

0 Comments

 
You've started your list - turkey, potatoes, squash, stuffing, green beans and, of course, pumpkin pie. This works. You've made a lot of very good Thanksgiving meals sticking to the standards that everyone looks forward to and expects.  You feel pretty sure that nothing is missing.  OK, Let's look at your list again.  All those traditional foods are wonderful, but as often prepared, a little bland.  Certainly good enough for many of our guests to eat themselves into a Thanksgiving coma, but how could you change these good foods into superstars?  The secret is acid!  Add some acid to at least some of these dishes and they will shine because acid is an antidote to blandness.  There are lots of acidic foods to choose from.  Finding the right one can change an average dish into a great one.  ​
Picture
In the picture above I've lined up some of the foods  I had in my house, placing them in a line from the most acidic on the left to milder acid on the right.  Most of us are aware that lemon and vinegar are acidic, but there are many milder acids.  So what is it exactly that the acid does?  It balances and brightens flavors.  For example, just adding olive oil to a salad will enhance the flavor, but adding a good vinegar will make it pop.  Greek Yogurt is a mild acid, close to 5 on the pH scale, but can add a wonderful  tang to the right recipe.  Mustard is one of my favorite acids, with a pH of 3 and it can brighten all sorts of dishes, including salad dressings, fishes, meats, and grains.  Wines and liquors are acidic and often add brightness to a dish.  Many wonderful dessert dishes have liquor added to balance the sweetness.  The brandy in my Creamy Brandy C​herries elevates a very simple dessert dish into a special one.   Below is a squash dish that contains a number of acidic ingredients, including brandy, that enhance the great taste of  this vegetable.          Just click the link
Brandied Winter Squash for the recipe.  How can you tell if your dish is balanced?  Taste it!  You'll find that your tasting skills will improve as you try various vinegars on your salad or different amounts of mustard in your dishes.
Picture
 I've encouraged you to use acidic ingredients in your dishes to balance the flavors and avoid bland foods. Acid is the opposite of alkaline, so we should be clear about what these terms mean.  Acid levels of foods and liquids are measured on a pH (power of hydrogen) scale of 0-14.  A measurement of 7 is neutral,  less than 7 is acid and above 7 is alkaline.  The alkaline diet states that you should eat those foods that keep your body's pH above 7.  However, your body's pH levels are not affected by the food you eat, unless you're dealing with a serious illness.   For example, your blood's pH is in the very narrow range from 7.36-7.44. Going much above or below that can be fatal.  Your stomach is very acidic with a pH between 2.3-3.5 which is necessary to digest your food properly.  Another confusing fact about the alkaline diet is that, although the pH of a lime is 2.2, a reasonably strong acid, it is rated as highly alkaline on the alkaline diet.  The theory behind the alkaline diet is faulty according to a number of reliable sources; however, the diet itself is fairly healthy, mostly fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes.  Its major drawback is that it eliminates some foods that are good for you..  For though the lime is rated as highly alkaline on this diet, an orange with a similar pH is rated as mildly acidic.  ​
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 A common suggestion is that a vinaigrette salad dressing should be three parts oil and one part vinegar.  However, vinegars can vary so much that for a more gentle balsamic vinegar a 2 to 1 ratio might be much better.  But you'll need more oil with a stronger vinegar. 
Picture
Above is a picture of green beans.  My husband and I used them to fine-tune their flavor.  First, I sautéd them in a little olive oil and some garlic and then added a little broth, covered and steamed them until their texture was just how I liked them.    I squeezed some lemon juice on one of the dishes and added balsamic vinegar to the other.  I assumed I would prefer the sweet taste of the balsamic; however, although I liked the taste of both, I found the lemon preferable. When served with the rest of the meal, the lemon was the clear winner, though between my husband and myself, all the beans were eaten.  Let me know what you think.  If you send me some of your ideas about using acid, I'll include them in my next blog.  
Just send them to cookingtogetherwithfriends59@gmail.com 
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and remember that focusing on the things for which you are grateful, will turn the meal into a celebration!
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

       Tricia Gregory,               MA,RD/N

     A dietitian who is a foodie and loves a great dinner party with wonderful food and terrific friends.

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  • Home
    • The "Best Ever" Dinner Party!
    • Structuring the Evening
    • Rafting Food
    • Diane & Jerry's Socially Distanced Thanksgiving
    • A Gregory Virtual Food Event
    • GAND Virtual Event
    • The Joy of Meals with Friends
    • Cooking for Two >
      • Blog
    • Expeimenting with new recipes
    • Fat Tuscan - Cooking Class
    • A New Style Church Dinner
    • Camp Cooking
    • Sushi Feast
    • The Young Cook >
      • Willow
      • Ryan - A Talented Cook >
        • Ryan's Menu
        • Sausage and Potatoes, Onions, and Peppers
        • Lemon Bars
      • Veronica
  • Menus
    • Menu #1 >
      • Shopping List - Menu 1
      • Warm Spinach Salad
      • Pasta alla Puttanesca
      • Peach and Blueberry Crisp
    • Menu #2 >
      • Shopping List - Menu 2
      • Risotto with Peas
      • Chicken Saltimbocca
      • Tiramisu
    • Menu #3 >
      • Shopping list - Menu 3
      • Broccoli & Squash Soup
      • Salmon en Papillote
      • Creamy Brandied Cherries
    • Menu #4 >
      • Shopping List - Menu 4
      • Salad with Greens and Stawberries
      • Paella
      • Pineapple Coconut Crumble
    • Menu #5 >
      • Shopping List - Menu 5
      • Citrus Avocado Lettuce Salad
      • Shrimp with Feta and Orzo
      • Pears with Raspberry Sauce
    • Menu #6 >
      • Shopping List - Menu 6
      • Fennel and Orange Salad
      • Moroccan Turkey Stew
      • Doughnuts with Chocolate Glaze
    • Menu #7 >
      • Shopping List - Menu 7
      • Beet, Apple, and Walnut Salad
      • Chicken with Goat Cheese
      • DOUBLE CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE
    • Menu # 8 >
      • Shopping List - Menu 9
      • Green Salad with Roasted Pears and Blue Cheese
      • Orange-Raisin Chicken with Toasted Cashews
      • Nutty Brownies
    • Menu # 9 >
      • Shopping List - Menu 9
      • Green Waldorf Salad
      • Baked Fish with Ripe Olives and Feta
      • Chocolate-Cherry Oatmeal Cookies
    • Menu #10 >
      • Shopping List - Menu 10
      • Squash Mushroom Soup
      • Quinoa Salad
      • Banana Strawberry Frozen Dessert
    • Dinner for Two
  • Recipes
    • Salads >
      • Fennel and Orange Salad
      • Caramelized Shallot Salad
      • Green Waldorf Salad
      • Beet, Apple, and Walnut Salad
      • Green Salad with Roasted Pears and Blue Cheese
      • Salad with Greens and Stawberries
      • Warm Spinach Salad
      • Hurricane Salade Niçoise
      • Saautéed Spinach with Almonds & Raisins
      • Tossed Salad with Marinated Apple Slices
      • Citrus Avocado Lettuce Salad
    • Vegetables & Legumes >
      • Roasted Potatoes, Beans, and Mustard Dressing
      • Cauliflower, Chickpeas, Curry, and Quinoa
      • Curried Lentil Stew & Sweet Potatoes
      • Black beans and Corn
      • Pasta Primavera
      • Brandied Winter Squash
      • Roasted Beets with Goat Cheese
      • Cuban Black Beans
      • Asian Broccoli Salad with Peanut sauce
      • Balsamic Root Vegetables
      • Chickpea and Potato Stew
      • Brussels Sprouts
      • Spinach, Mushrooms, and Red Peppers
      • Cauliflower Appetizers
      • Garlic Parmesan Roasted Carrots
      • Braised Cabbage with Apples & Pecans
      • Sautéed Rainbow Chard
    • Grains & Potatoes >
      • Risotto with Peas
      • Risotto with Mushrooms & Gruyere
      • The Best Sweet Potaoto Wedges
      • Sweet Potato Salad
      • Creamed Corn
      • Sweet Potato & Black Bean Burrito
      • Roasted Turnips
      • Quinoa Primavera
      • Quinoa Salad
      • Pesto Bruschetta
      • Les Trois Pommes
      • Fruit and Nut Tabouli
      • Polenta
      • Fruit and Nut Tabouli
    • Tofu & Eggs >
      • Impossible Quiche
      • Savory custard
      • Salmon Souffle
      • Spinach Egg Muffins
      • Cheesy Soufflés
      • Sautéed Tofu with Broccoli in Chili-Orange Sauce
      • Tofu and Bacon Vegetable Bake
      • Tofu & Pepper Stir-fry
    • Soup >
      • Chicken Soup
      • Potato and White Bean Puttanesca Soup
      • Squash & Mushroom Soup
      • Parsnip Soup with Walnut Pesto
      • Corn Chowder
      • Miso Soup
      • Blue Zones Longevity Soup
      • Lemony Shrimp & Bean Soup
      • Turnip Soup
      • Turkey Mushroom Rice Soup
      • Pear & Carrot Soup
      • Broccoli & Squash Soup
      • Lentil Soup
      • Hearty Vegetable Soup
      • Onion Soup
      • Squash Mushroom Soup
      • Avocado Cucumber Soup
    • Seafood >
      • Shrimp & Tomatoes
      • Shrimp with Feta and Orzo
      • Sesame Stir-Fry Shrimp and Spinach
      • Shrimp, tomatoes, and feta
      • Flavorful Shrimp
      • Scallop, Shrimp Risotto
      • Paella
      • Fish with Pesto
      • Salmon en Papillote
      • Fish with Lemon Garlic Sauce
      • Fish with a Nut & Mustard Crust
      • Pecan Crunch Salmon
      • Pasta alla Puttanesca
      • Willow's Tuna Cakes
      • Baked Fish with Ripe Olives and Feta
      • Baked Fish with Garlic & Aleppo Pepper
      • A Great Lobster Roll
    • Meat >
      • Nach Waxman's Brisket
      • Pepper Steak
      • Shepherd's Pie >
        • Shopping List - Shepherds Pie
      • Texas Chili
      • Oven Baked Mini Meatballs
      • Pork Tenderloin with Mustard & Maple Syrup
      • Herb & Garlic Pork Tenderloin
      • Mustard Maple Pork Tenderloin
    • Chicken & Turkey >
      • Chicken Marsala
      • Orange-Raisin Chicken with Toasted Cashews
      • Crispy Chicken Parmesan
      • Chicken Veronique
      • Chicken, Apricots, Sweet Potatoes, & Prunes
      • Hurricane Chicken Salad
      • Aleppo Pepper Glazed Chicken
      • Grapefruit Chicken with Roasted Vegetables
      • Chicken with Goat Cheese
      • Chicken Saltimbocca
      • Penney's Chicken
      • Chicken Stir-fry
      • Moroccan Turkey Stew
      • Sweet Potato, Turkey, & Peanut Stew
      • Turkey Chili with Beer
    • Sweets & Breads >
      • Baked Alaska
      • Banana Strawberry Frozen Dessert
      • Tiramisu
      • Sally's Strawberry Pie
      • Sun-Dried Tomato Cheese Bread
      • Ryan's Cranberry Sauce
      • Chocolate Prune Cake
      • Pear & Custard Dessert
      • Chocolate Yogurt Pavlova
      • Chocolate-Cherry Oatmeal Cookies
      • Peach and Blueberry Crisp
      • Banana-Walnut Souffle >
        • Shopping list - Banana Souffle
      • Powerful Bran Muffins
      • Easy Graham Crust Cheesecake
      • Pineapple Coconut Crumble
      • Orange Walnut Torte
      • Nuts - 2 Ways
      • Stollen
      • Creamy Brandied Cherries
      • Upside Down Apple Bacon Pancake
      • Peanut Butter, Chocolate, & Cherries Protein Bars
      • Roasted Chickpeas
      • Pears with Raspberry Sauce
      • Cherry Pistachio Topping
      • Doughnuts with Chocolate Glaze
      • Flan - Traditional Cuban Custard
      • Pumpkin Souffle
      • DOUBLE CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE
      • Nutty Brownies
      • Actcado Chocolate Pudding with Dates
      • Boozy Strawberries
      • Snack Bars with Almonds, Oats, & Pretzels
      • Chickpea Blondies
  • Your Ideas
    • Kosher Foods
    • Ashima's Tasty Cuisine
    • Jessica's Garden >
      • Jessica's Recipes
      • Jessica's Cooking Together
      • Chili info from Jessica
    • Debra's Salmon "En Papilote"
    • Renee's Plant-Based Cooking
    • Maureen & the Air Fryer >
      • Fish En Papillote
    • Becky's Creative Dishes
    • Ohan's Perfect Steak
    • Jennifer's Dishes
    • Myra's Recipes >
      • Lentil Soup - Egyptian
    • Ron's Sweet Potato
    • Sallie's Quinoa Salad
    • Ezra, the cook
    • Ezra Shrimp Bahn Mi
    • Ron & Brenda's Puttanesca on Coucous >
      • Roasted Asparagus with Mustard Sauce
      • Ron's Terrific Rhubarb Cake
    • Julie's Crunchy Cheese Snack
    • Turkish Eggplant and Beef
    • Fred's Bread
    • Klaus & Giselas birthday meal >
      • Wild Duck with Sour Cherries
      • Mussels & Clams
    • Gainesville Free Grocery Store
  • Blue Poo Muffins