Many people don't even attempt to cook ethnic food, not realizing that they can simply use a combination of the right herbs, spices, and vegetables to bring a distinctive flavor to their meals. It just takes knowing the right spices and herbs to work with. Here are a few European tastes to add to meals.
Italian Food: Practically an American Staple
How many American families dine at Italian restaurants because they don't feel confident enough to make their own spaghetti or lasagna? Or maybe when they do make Italian at home, they buy prepackaged sauce.
But much Italian food uses the same ingredients over and over – tomatoes, garlic, onions, olive oil, sweet basil, and oregano. In fact, these ingredients, along with a little salt and pepper, would make a lovely standard pasta sauce.
Olive oil is actually a main ingredient in much Mediterranean cooking. Extra virgin cold-pressed olive oil is best. Balsamic vinegar is another good condiment. Basil and oregano are good in sauce whether they are fresh or dry. And the garlic? There can never be too much garlic. Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses are also nice touches when it comes to Italian food. But that's it. Italian flavor …