The Diva Gourmet

For Jack Bauer enthusiasts…
And/Or…
Anyone who just wants cooking tips
for each hour of your day!

8:00-	9:00am	Have fun in your kitchen…that’s the most important part!
9:00-	10:00am	Your food will only taste as good as your ingredients!
10:00-	11:00am	If you have a “bad taste memory” about a certain food, you owe it to yourself to try it again!
11:00-	12 noon	Only keep spices for a year…save the jars, buy spices in bulk and reuse the jars.
12:00-	1:00pm	Don’t leave vegetables too long in water…they lose some of their flavor by absorbing too much water.
1:00-	2:00pm	Produce is a personal thing…stand back in the produce department and watch what’s happening.
2:00-	3:00pm	You don’t cry if your knife is very sharp.
3:00-	4:00pm	Change a favorite beef stew recipe and use either pork or lamb.
4:00-	5:00pm	If you don’t want to drink the wine…don’t cook with it!
5:00-	6:00pm	If you want to cut the hot in a recipe…add sour cream…flush out hot with dairy, not water…even in your eyes.
6:00-	7:00pm	A feisty cuisine speaks to the entire palette.
7:00-	8:00pm	Add turnips and parsnips to mashed potatoes… you’ll fool the kids and have more veggies in their diet…you’ll probably fool your husband, too!
8:00-	9:00pm	Try using some Prosecco in salad dressing.
9:00-	10:00pm	If you are slicing pears for a salad or dessert, peel them first and then sprinkle them lightly with lemon juice to keep them looking fresh.
10:00-	11:00pm	There are taste differences in chili powders…taste them before you use them.
11:00-	12 midnight	Life is too short to eat boring food.
12:00-	1:00am	Choose smooth skinned fruits(lemons and limes)over rougher ones when you need juice. They are easier to squeeze.
1:00-	2:00am	Daily consumption of fruits, vegetables, olive oil and dairy products is important in the Mediterranean diet.
2:00-	3:00am	Be inspired by international cuisines that are known for their fresh, healthy food…Indian, Asian, Latin and Mediterranean.
3:00-	4:00am	As you cook, think about creating a “party in your mouth”!
4:00-	5:00am	Poblano peppers are not hot…great taste…roast them, stuff them…
5:00-	6:00am	Put tomatoes in boiling water for 10 seconds…then remove skins.
6:00-	7:00am	When you eat, taste the different textures in your mouth.
7:00-	8:00am	Now, celebrate your Inner Diva!