Apple to the Core

Flavor Boosters

When making creamed chipped beef, add a half a tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce for zingy flavor.

If you have spinach dip left over from a party, mix it into a batch of mashed potatoes. 

Replace the water called for in cake recipes with milk. This results in much richer cakes.

When making a pot of bean or split pea soup, add 2 slices of fresh lemon. It brings out the flavor of the ingredients and reduces the need for salt.

Add a teaspoon of molasses to beef stew for an irresistible sweetness.

When boiling the pasta to make macaroni and cheese, add half a bag of frozen mixed vegetables. Then drain the water and make the mac and cheese as usual. The veggies are deliciously coated with the cheese sauce and help to round out this simple dish.

Add shredded cheddar cheese, crushed french-fried onion rings and cooked, crumbled bacon or bacon bits to a batch of mashed potatoes.  This is really yummy!

In an apple pie recipe that called for a dot of butter, substitute maple butter. That little bit of sweetness make a huge difference.

Add an undiluted can of cream of chicken or mushroom soup to dry stuffing mix to give it a flavor boost. Add enough water to moisten and bake as usual. 

Add 3 drops or so of lemon juice and 1/2 tsp vanilla to your pecan pie filling. It really adds a lot of flavor!

Try adding maple flavoring instead of vanilla in your peanut butter cookies. It makes wonderful change.

Use well-drained pineapple tidbits to your apple pie filling and reduce the apples by the same amount. It creates a whole new flavor.

  Crush gingersnaps and use the crumbs to thicken gravy in pot roasts, sweet & sour meatballs and other recipes. It adds a unique flavor.

  Add a pinch of ground allspice to Thousand Island dressing for a super salad topper.

  Coat chicken breasts with a mixture of olive, rosemary and oregano before roasting them for a zippy flavor.

  Sprinkle an equal amount of salt and chili powder to your French fries and bake instead of frying.

  Add a pinch of celery seed to your buttered carrots, this gives a real zip to your side dish.

  Mix a pinch of prepared horseradish to the mayonnaise to dress potato salad.

  Add a bit of milk and sugar to the mayonnaise when making potato salad.

  Add a bit of Maple flavoring to zucchini bread batter for a wonderful, mellow taste.

  Use some shredded carrots for a small portion for the zucchini in zucchini bread for a different taste.

  Pour a bit of maple syrup over a grapefruit half for a new, sweet flavor.

  For a dazzling apple pie, drizzle maple syrup over the apple before putting on the top crust.

  A bit of shredded zucchini added to a boxed brownie mix makes an extra moist batch of brownies.

  When making rhubarb pie, cover the bottom crust with chopped fresh rhubarb, then sprinkle on some brown sugar and  top that with a package of strawberry gelatin. Put on the top crust and bake.

  Stir a can of tiny shrimp (rinsed and drained) to your next batch of coleslaw.

  Add grated carrots to clam chowder to enhance the color and flavor of this creamy soup.

  Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of ketchup to your homemade vegetable soup for a tasty batch of soup.

  Add a few, diced pieces of cream cheese to your goulash before serving for an extra rich meal.

  To brighten the flavor of your beef stew, add some cubed turnip.

  Try adding a clove or two of garlic and some chili powder to your stew for a really nice flavor.

  For a new twist to oatmeal, add a spoonful of peanut butter and stir until it's melted and sprinkle on a few chocolate chips. 

  Before brewing coffee, add 1 to 2 tablespoons cinnamon, 1 to 2 tsp brown sugar and a dash of ground cardamom for and extra special cup of coffee.

  Try adding a 1-ounce square of semi-sweet baking chocolate during the last 30 minutes or so of simmering. No one will be able to figure out what new uplifting flavor is.

  Add some diced pepperoni to your next batch of homemade chili for a unique lift.

  Try mixing a chopped apple into corn bread batter for a moist, delicious treat.

  To any can of baked beans, stir in 1/4 cup barbecue sauce, 1/4 tsp each of garlic powder and pepper and 1/2 tsp dried basil for a wonderful batch of beans.

  Add a dash of cinnamon and ginger to your favorite baked beans recipe for a really special flavor.

  Add a sprinkle of instant coffee granules to perk up brown gravy

  Add a dash of chili powder to beef or pork gravy

  Substitute eggnog for the milk in a recipe for pancakes, waffles or French Toast

  Mix chopped ham in with your egg salad for a new twist

  Use day old cornbread instead of bread crumbs in your meatloaf 

  Use sour cream in your mashed potatoes instead of milk and sprinkle a little oregano in

  Use 2 slices or caraway rye bread to make your meatballs  

  Simmer a cinnamon stick in with your red cabbage and remove it before serving

  Mix a tablespoon of dry onion soup mix to your sautéed mushrooms

  Top your asparagus with butter and freshly grated nutmeg 

  Add 1/2 teaspoon of cornstarch to your flour when making a pie crust for a tastier and flakier crust.

  Coat your cabbage in oil and vinegar dressing before making coleslaw for a zestier taste

  Add a bit of ground nutmeg with the dry ingredients when making sugar cookies. It gives it a slightly richer flavor.

  Add a dash or two of ground cloves and two tablespoons of honey to your big pot of chili.

  Add a little pickling spice to your roast beef. The spices make a terrific gravy!

  Add a drop of ketchup in your beef gravy for a richer flavor without a tomato taste

  Add a little brown sugar to the flour to coat liver before frying. Makes a huge difference

  Replace a quarter of the mozzarella cheese in you lasagna recipe with sharp cheddar

  Instead of frying meatballs for spaghetti, drop them in chicken broth and boil for 15 minutes. Drain and add them to simmering spaghetti sauce. They hold together but remain tender.

  Add a few slices of pepperoni to your spaghetti sauce for a quick and tasty addition.

  Boil your green beans with a teaspoon of beef bouillon for a tasty difference

  Add a teaspoon of sugar and some chopped onion when you fry potatoes for a heartier, old-fashioned flavor

  Drizzle a little maple syrup to your cottage cheese before serving. It makes it taste a whole lot better!

  Sprinkle pink lemonade mix to your apple pie filling for different twist

  Add 1/2 cup of applesauce to your apple pie filling for extra flavor and body

  Mix a can of cherry pie filling in with your brownie batter

  Substitute flaked coconut or finely chopped pecans for 1/4 of the crumbs when you make a graham cracker crust.  What a flavor booster!

  To perk up your meatloaf, use crushed potato chips instead of bread crumbs.

  Top your green beans with a mixture of equal parts honey and Dijon mustard.  This will give your beans a  wonderful flavor.

  To give your corn some zip, combine 1 cup corn and 1½ cups stewed tomatoes, a dash of salt & pepper and a teaspoon of taco seasoning and heat on the stove.

  Use pepper-jack cheese over cooked broccoli for a side dish with pizzazz.

  For a refreshing iced tea cooler, fill a tall glass two-thirds full with brewed iced tea and fill the rest of the way with ginger ale and a squeeze of lemon juice.

  To give your brownies a little extra flavor, grease the baking pan and dust it with a cinnamon-sugar combination, pour in the batter, sprinkle more cinnamon-sugar over the top and bake as usual. The brownies will have a crisp coating that's delicious.