#090 Do you season your food?

The answer is not what you think

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need special seasonings for everything. You don’t need a pantry full of seasoning blends. All purpose seasoning. Italian seasoning… They’re all just a combination of various individual herbs and spices.

Most of the time, you get far more flavor from injecting individual herbs and spices in your dishes themselves, instead of opting for pre-made blends. Unless these blends are from a reputable brand like a Simply Organics (not affiliated, just a brand I use personally), I would stay away.

A lot of general seasoning blends are comprised of poor quality ingredients and unnecessary fillers that don’t contribute to the flavor profile. This results in underwhelming flavor being imparted to your dish. This is why we always advocate to buy from the source. Use the CORE ingredients yourself. This gives you the weapons to impart just about any flavor profile you want, with a strength that’s actually effective. Here are some good staples to have that form a base for just about anything:

• Mixed whole peppercorns (in wooden pepper mill)

• Dried herbs (rosemary, thyme, oregano, etc)

• Fresh herb equivalents

• Cinnamon powder

• Turmeric powder

• Cayenne pepper

• Coconut aminos

• Smoked paprika

• Whole nutmegs

• Garlic powder

• Real sea salt

@thecanvasmenagerie

This graphic from TasteAtlas gives you a few ideas for the flavor profiles you can achieve with various blends:

Pro Tip: Keeping fresh herbs on hand is one of the BEST ways you can elevate the flavor of the dish. Whether it’s throwing in fresh rosemary when you’re basting a steak or using some fresh basil in your omelet, the difference will be noticeable. Either grow them on your own and start building your very own herb garden, or pick up some fresh rosemary, spring onions, parsley, basil etc on your weekly grocery shop. You'll soon find yourself adding them to just about every dish.

We need a farming revolution

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White rice is superior

We need to reverse the brown rice propaganda. It’s never been the right option, and we’ve all intrinsically knew. There’s a reason you don’t ever see Asian restaurants using brown rice…

A grand new vision for hospitals

If hospitals truly wanted to heal their patients, they would mandate post-meal walks outside, optimize the mineral composition of their water, and fuel them with the best quality meats they can find. What if we made hospitals great again?

Ultimate coffee tier list

This one ruffled a few feathers. Agree? Disagree? What’s YOUR best coffee ever?

Snack like a king

You need to be nibbling on snacks of the highest quality. Wild salmon. Eggs. Cheese. Butter. Fruit. Lube the gears. Spark your metabolism. You deserve optimal fuel.

We released Issue 27 last week

❋ GLAZED PECAN SHORTBREAD COOKIES RECIPE

EMMA DUCKWORTH BAKES

Pecan Shortbread Cookies

• Butter- I recommend unsalted butter, as when adding the candied pecans or bacon, the additional salt is enough. Ensure the butter is at room temperature so it can be creamed well.

• Sugar - Granulated or caster sugar is used. The recipe states granulated as its mainstream, but either can be used.

• Flour - Plain (all-purpose) flour creates the perfect structure for the cookies to maintain their shape.

• Pecans - I recommend toasting the pecans before adding them to the shortbread. This isn't a pre-requisite, but I find the toasty, nutty flavour shines through.

• Maple syrup - Just enough to add more flavour to the cookies; use proper maple syrup rather than the flavouring. Alternatively, add in vanilla extract.

❋ ORIENT EXPRESS RECEIVED ITS FIRST REDESIGN IN ALMOST 100 YEARS

DEZEEN

In this exclusive video produced by Dezeen, French architect Maxime d'Angeac reveals how his redesign of the historic Orient Express train aims to create "a new embassy of French luxury".

Launching in 2025, the interiors of the train cars were revealed in an immersive virtual reality (VR) exhibition called Orient Express Revelation, displayed during Paris art week between 17 to 21 October 2022.

❋ MOVING TO COMO, ITALY

THISISGLAMOROUS.COM

Despite its small size, the population density and tourism help create a lively and bustling atmosphere, especially during the summer months. Como’s location on the shores of Lake Como adds to its charm, with stunning views of the lake and the surrounding mountains. Its mild and sunny climate makes it an ideal destination for those who enjoy outdoor activities and exploring on foot. With its rich history, picturesque surroundings, and relaxed pace of life, Como is a perfect destination for those seeking a peaceful and laid-back lifestyle in Italy.

❋ A PLANT BELIEVED TO CURE EVERYTHING FROM INFERTILITY TO INSOMNIA

In the Middle Ages the mandrake (mandragora) was a plant believed to cure everything from infertility to insomnia. The root was known to grow in two forms — male and female. But harvesting it came at your peril! Upon harvest the mandrake was known to shriek and would cause madness to those who heard it. Therefore it was common to tie a hungry dog to the plant. Once the owner was out of earshot, they could tempt the dog with a piece of meat and retrieve the mandrake.

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#085 ISSUE 26 🦬

#080 ISSUE 25 📸

#076 ISSUE 24

#072 ISSUE 23

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Thank you for joining us on this beautiful Sunday ladies & gents 🥂

Patron Club Recipe: Chicken Francese

Here’s an extra recipe for Patron Club members. Joining grants you access to exclusive guides and recipes as well as first dibs on all our digital and print drops (new print issue drops in two weeks)