Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...to ask you for your simple or strange...

87 replies

Mollie85 · 09/09/2017 21:05

... additions to food to make an otherwise edible dish a culinary masterpiece?

Back story - on the phone to my dad lamenting that I can't get my gravy as thick and tasty as I remember it having been growing up. I always remembered the red Bisto jar on the worktop. Which yes, I use but add the juices, which is what I thought dad did...

"A dollop of Heinz".

That's the secret to the fantastic gravy... I was expecting tales of marrow or some random herb or spice... but no, tomato sauce Grin

Yes I've just made a cup and dipped a three slice s of bread in it for my supper. Childhood in a cup...

Anyone got any other tips? My friend has just informed me that her mum told her she used to mix a raw egg into mash...Confused

OP posts:
HelloPossums · 09/09/2017 22:04

Great thread idea OP 😋

ProseccoMamam · 09/09/2017 22:07

Worcestershire sauce (along with salt &pepper) when browning off mince for a spag bol. Lovely!

ProseccoMamam · 09/09/2017 22:08

@cailisto garlic salt is fucking beautiful!!

Sgtmajormummy · 09/09/2017 22:10

A ladle of pasta water into any creamy pasta sauce helps it to mix in better.

dolphinbbq · 09/09/2017 22:11

My mum makes "sticky pork" basically a homemade sauce slathered onto pork and then grilled. Served with mashed potatoes and broccoli.. my favourite! For years I thought it was BBQ turns out it is..

.. a BIG squirt of Heinz ketchup & a squirt (half the amount) of honey 😍😍😍😍

coffeekittens · 09/09/2017 22:11

Outing myself here but I love chicken nuggets dipped in mc flurry, tastes like hot donuts.

Whyisitsodifficult · 09/09/2017 22:12

What is garlic salt? Does it taste of salt or garlic?!

coffeekittens · 09/09/2017 22:13

Didn't read the thread properly thought it said addictions, not additions. Ignore my post above Hmm

MumBod · 09/09/2017 22:14

250ml milk in bolognese.

Teaspoon of cocoa in chilli.

Teaspoon of sugar in anything that tastes too hot to cool down the heat.

Balsamic vinegar or black pepper on strawberries.

Black pepper on pineapple.

PeppaPigTastesLikeBacon · 09/09/2017 22:15

I put ketchup and brown sauce in my spag bol. Not sure if it changes the flavour as I have done it that way for years!

MusicToMyEars800 · 09/09/2017 22:19

Lots of butter, salt and milk in mashed potato, My mum always did it, and it was the best mash ever Grin

A knob of butter in curry is lush!

CigarsofthePharoahs · 09/09/2017 22:20

Blended apple in anything tomatoey also works.
Also if you're doing gravy the really old fashioned way (veg and water under the meat, blend) then a small drop of dark sky sauce stops ungrateful gits moaning at you that the gravy is "too pale".

MusicToMyEars800 · 09/09/2017 22:20

Oh and marmite in chili and Bolognese is a tasty addition it adds lots of flavour!

Calaisienne · 09/09/2017 22:24

Tablespoon of Branson pickle and a splosh of Worcestershire sauce in spaghetti Bol, mustard in a cheese sauce- don't taste of themselves just make the meals more bolognaisy/cheesy

blacksax · 09/09/2017 22:25

Dash of Tabasco and a pinch of mixed herbs in baked beans.

A couple of finely-diced prunes in beef casserole.

Crushed Doritos on top of fish pie (I made that one up yesterday in a rash moment, but it worked out surprisingly well).

oigetoffmycheese · 09/09/2017 22:25

A tin of anchovies in a spag Bol/chilli sauce. Use the oil from the tin to fry your onions and then add the anchovies and carry on as you would. They melt in and add an amazing flavour. Not at all fishy.

Honey in homemade tomato soup.

Muddlewitch · 09/09/2017 22:27

For those talking about adding milk to bolognaise - when do you add it? Do you just bung it in or does it need to be warm milk/added bit by bit?

MumBod · 09/09/2017 22:29

Just bung it in.

DontCallMeBaby · 09/09/2017 22:31

Worcester sauce in cottage pie or shepherds pie, plus mushroom ketchup in the latter. I don't even like mushrooms but mushroom ketchup provides an amazing umami kick.

Worcester sauce and grain mustard in corned beef hash. DD doesn't like onion, so I do all the constituent parts separately, mix everything bar the onion, serve her, add the onion for me and DH.. Only the onion has also had a splash of Worcester plus a tsp of mustard added at the end of cooking - really, really tasty. It's turned corned beef hash from one of those things I cook mainly because we all at least tolerate into something I really look forward to.

hesterton · 09/09/2017 22:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

shushpenfold · 09/09/2017 22:35

Branson pickle in cottage pie meaty bottom (Grin) Really lifts it.

OnlyAmy · 09/09/2017 22:38

A large dollop of sour cream in my chocolate chip cookie dough. Makes them less cloyingly sweet, fluffier and soft.

PumbletonWakeshaft · 09/09/2017 22:41

Teaspoon of smoked paprika does incredible things to a chilli!

19lottie82 · 09/09/2017 22:43

Sweet chilli sauce in baked beans. You will never eat then without it again! X

Graphista · 09/09/2017 22:47

Knob of butter and garlic salt - to baked beans. Even better on marmite on toast