Salivate! for Food Lovers

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Ditch the Bottles of Simmer Sauces - NOW!

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HERBS AND SPICES ARE NATURAL, DIVINE AND EASY TO USE

The other day I bought some lamb chops and the owner of the store showed me a range of sauces I could add to them to make dinner on the fly. I didn’t buy any sauces - I went home, chopped up potatoes, onion and garlic, doused them in some olive oil and got them into the oven. Then I rubbed my Middle Eastern Spice Blend on the chops and let them sit for half an hour.

Next I got out the veggies out of the oven poured a slug of white wine (or you could use verjuice) in and laid the chops on the top with a sprinkle of sea salt. Back into the oven for twenty minutes and dinner was about done. Plating up, the vegetables went on first, then the chops on top, a spoon of the sauce in the pan - deliciously flavoured by the spices - and a crispy handful of salad greens on the side.

This is a one ‘pot’ dinner done in under an hour with no fuss. It wasn’t complicated - it was quick and easy. The result? One fantastic meal packed with flavour. No sauce bottle in sight.

I know it’s quicker and easier to grab a ready made bottle of sauce from the supermarket to add to your dinner. It’s quick and easy, yes but it’s no alternative to working with natural spices and fresh ingredients. Sauces are often filled with additives, preservatives, enhancers, extra salt and sugar. Take some time and read the ingredients and you may be surprised.

Here are some examples:

Chicken Tonight Simmer Sauce Butter Chicken

  • Water, Tomato Puree (35%) (Reconstituted), Sunflower Oil, Lemon Juice (Reconstituted), Onion 14% (Reconstituted), Fresh Cream (3%), Thickeners (1422, Xanthan Gum), Sugar, Spices, Ginger, Almond Meal, Coriander, Salt, Egg Yolk, Garlic, Flavours (Contains Milk, Soy, Wheat), Parsley (0.3%) (Reconstituted), Chilli, Parsley, Colours (Carotene, Carmines, Annatto Extracts) (Contains Fish), Acid (Acetic Acid, Citric Acid), Herb Extract, Spice Extract.

  • NUMBER OF INGREDIENTS: 27

Home made

  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed

  • 3cm piece ginger, peeled, finely grated

  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin

  • 2 teaspoons ground coriander

  • 1 teaspoon garam masala

  • 1/4 teaspoon chilli powder

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

  • 20g butter

  • 1 brown onion, halved, thickly sliced

  • 410g can tomato puree

  • chicken stock

  • 1/2 cup thickened cream

  • NUMBER OF INGREDIENTS: 12

Chicken Tonight Simmer Sauce Stroganoff

Water, Vegetables (Mushrooms (7%), Onion (7%)), Sunflower Oil, Thickeners (1422, Xanthan Gum), Tomato Puree (2%) (Reconstituted), Salt, Egg Yolk, Sugar, Butterfat (Milk) , White Vinegar, Mushroom Extract, Sour Cream Powder (0.3%) (Milk), Flavour, Acidity Regulators (Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Spice, Mustard Powder, Caramelised Sugar, Herb, Enzyme (Fish).

  • NUMBER OF INGREDIENTS: 23

Home made

  • 2 tablespoons plain flour or a gluten free alternative

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1 large brown onion, halved, thinly sliced

  • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

  • 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika

  • 400g button mushrooms, sliced

  • 1/2 cup dry white wine

  • 3/4 cup stock

  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste

  • 3 teaspoons dijon mustard

  • 1/4 cup sour cream

  • NUMBER OF INGREDIENTS: 11

Leggo's Pasta Sauce Bolognese With Chunky Tomato Garlic & Herbs

Tomatoes (70%) (Reconstituted, Diced), Tomato Paste (12%), Vegetables (9%) (Onion, Carrot), Canola Oil, Sugar,Thickener (1442), Salt, Parmesan Cheese (Contains Milk), Garlic, Yeast Extract, Herbs (Parsley, Oregano, Rosemary, Thyme), Pepper.

  • NUMBER OF INGREDIENTS: 16

Home made

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 brown onion, finely chopped

  • 1 carrot, peeled, finely chopped

  • 1 celery stick, trimmed, finely chopped

  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed

  • 1/3 cup tomato paste

  • 2 x 400g cans diced tomatoes

  • 1 teaspoon Oregano Leaves

  • Large pinch ground nutmeg

  • NUMBER OF INGREDIENTS: 9

I am not trying to shame you for buying the ‘convenient’ off the shelf products, I just want you to notice what you’re actually putting in your body for that convenience. My reason for being is to show you  just how easy it is to create beautiful and delicious food the natural way as long as you’ve got your pantry sorted. Which brings me to this…

Here is a PANTRY LIST I’ve created for you to download.

It encompasses everything from flours and grains to spices and canned food. Yes, I do you some canned goods, I just read the ingredients to make sure they’re natural! I hope it helps. Let me know if you need anything in particular and I’ll find it for you. Talk soon

Love Christina x