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Depending on what you make or bake you may need amaretto in your recipes as it’s a super flavorful Italian liquor made of apricot or almond kernels or both.  It tastes rich and sweet with an almond flavor and has a slight bitterness. This beverage has gained great fame all over the world and it’s … Read more

Watercress is a leafy vegetable coming from the cabbage family. You can eat it both raw and cooked. Raw watercress has a fresh, pungent, peppery flavor while cooked watercress tends to lose its flavor and become neutral.  It’s somehow similar to spinach but carries the taste of related veggies like mustard, cabbage, and wasabi.  Watercress … Read more

Saffron is considered the most expensive spice in the world. It is produced by a flower called crocus sativus.  It is high in antioxidants and comes with many health benefits. You may hardly find it in common grocery stores but there are similar spices and substitutes for saffron to use in many dishes.  Saffron has … Read more

A beef shank is the cut of meat from the animal’s leg above the knee. It usually contains bone that has succulent marrow inside and is considered a delicacy. The meat is tough but very flavorful.  These factors make it one of the most delicious and unique parts of beef that’s not easy to replace … Read more

Chili powder is made of ground-dried chilies. The store-bought one is sometimes a mixture of several varieties of chilies including anchos, cayenne, chipotle, jalapeno, etc., and spices such as cumin, garlic, oregano, and so on.  Because of this, the taste and level of hotness vary from blend to blend.  Chili powder is popular in Latin … Read more

Asparagus is one of the delicacies all over the world. It’s a seasonal green vegetable with long stems which can be steamed, grilled, sauteed, or roasted.  They taste delicious just the way they are and are often served as side dishes along with other veggies, meat, fish, and sauces.  There are not so many alternatives … Read more

One of the most delicious cuts of beef is skirt steak. It’s a long, flat cut of cow’s meat mostly loved for its flavor rather than tenderness.  Although skirt steak is suitable for any type of dish it is usually served grilled or roasted. It’s considered as an easy and quick dinner idea that you … Read more

Ponzu is a one of the most popular Japanese sauces mainly served with seafood and used for marinating. It is made of ponzu which is a mix of citrus juice of yuzu, sudachi, vinegar and kabosu, as well as a blend of soy sauce, mirin or sugar, and dashi. This sauce has a citrusy, tangy … Read more

Butternut squash is a healthy winter vegetable harvested in fall. It has so many tasty recipes that some of them are included in our holiday-dish lists.  Although butternut squash is a type of veggie that keeps well for several months, you may still face a problem getting it especially during the holidays.  Fall holidays and … Read more

Sake is a traditional Japanese alcoholic beverage made of polished and fermented rice. It has its special place in Japanese cuisine and is often used in cooked dishes, marinades, soups, stir-fries, steaming and baking.  The main purpose of using it in cooking is to get rid of odors, add an umami taste and flavor to … Read more