Creating delicious, cohesive flavors is not about adding more — it’s about adding intentionally. All ingredients play their own role, and when layered thoughtfully, they all harmonize to create a big ole beautiful symphony bursting with flavor. In this post we’ll cover the Five flavors, the Maillard reaction and other know-hows — encouraging you to confidently break away from the ‘recipe chains,’ and begin cooking more intuitively.

A different texture - or a unique combination of ingredients you may have turned your nose to before, can potentially elevate your dish to something mind-blowing. Next time you find yourself missing an ingredient, think of it as an opportunity to experiment and expand your culinary repertoire, not throw in the towel.

Spices build depth and complexity in our dishes, especially in slow-cooked sauces and meats; while a handful of fresh herbs right before serving adds a refreshing and aromatic element to salads and soups. Learn how and when to grab for those spices and herbs in this quick guide.

Knowing the simple difference between a spice and an herb can actually make cooking easier, and much more enjoyable. Spices build depth and complexity in our dishes, especially in slow-cooked sauces and meats; while a handful of fresh herbs right before serving adds a refreshing and aromatic element to salads and soups. By mastering your knowledge of spices and herbs, you can create dishes that are properly balanced and bursting with flavor.

No matter your skill level in the kitchen, you can never have enough cookbooks. Having the right resources at your fingertips offers an abundance of practical guidance, and inspires you to cook a little more…intuitively. From timeless classics to modern twists, these cookbooks are essential additions to any culinary collection.