A Peek Inside My Refrigerator

© shoutingforha

I thought I would give you a peek inside my refrigerator.  I just came back from the grocery store and, as a result, the poor thing is packed to the gills.  Can you tell that we like to eat around here?

While my refrigerator is filled with a wide variety of foods, I have a thing for sauces and condiments of all kinds.  I have such an extensive assortment that it's not uncommon for guests to exclaim, "Holy cow! You have a lot of condiments!" 

I'd like to share a few of my favorites with you today.   

© shoutingforha

1.   Better Than Bouillon  - Better Than Bouillon concentrated paste food bases are made primarily from meat, seafood, or vegetables. This gives them a richer and more natural flavor than ordinary bouillon cubes or granules. 

Well, technically this really isn't a sauce but I'm going to include it anyway.  

When I cook, I try to use homemade stock whenever possible.  That said, Better Than Bouillon is a worthy substitute.  It comes in handy when I don't have any stock on hand or if the flavor of my dish needs a little something extra. 

My late father-in-law is the one that first introduced me to Better Than Bouillon.  At the time, it could only be purchased in restaurant supply stores.  These days, you can find it in the soup section of any grocery store.  They even sell it at my local Costco. 

The low fat, low salt Better Than Bouillon comes in a variety of flavors: chicken, beef, ham, turkey, vegetable, lobster, fish, clam, chili, and mushroom.  You can also buy organic, vegetarian and kosher versions of the bases. Keep in mind that the flavor is highly concentrated, so a little dab does the trick.

Give it a try.  You will be thrilled with the results.

© shoutingforha

2.  Huy Fong Vietnamese Chili Garlic Sauce

I keep a jar of this sauce on hand and break it out anytime something needs a little extra heat.  It is an amazing addition to any Asian recipe and can transform a simple bowl of noodles into a real treat.

© shoutingforha

3.  Mrs. H.S. Ball's Chutney 

I have to give my sister credit for turning me onto Mrs. H.S. Ball's delicious assortment of chutneys.  Her husband is originally from South Africa and his family liked to bring bottles of the stuff back to the states after trips visiting family.  

I first sampled the chutney at her house and immediately fell in love.  At the time, Mrs. H.S. Ball's could only be purchased in South Africa.  Sensing my plight, my sister was kind enough to share a few bottles from her precious stash.  Ten years later, Mrs. H.S. Ball's full line of chutneys can be purchased here in the states through a variety of retailers, Amazon included.

Mrs. H.S. Ball's Chutney comes in four different flavors:  Original, Peach, Hot and Chilli.  I have tasted a lot of chutney in my day and, in my humble opinion, you would be hard-pressed to find something better.  

The balance of sweet and sour is spot on and it makes a wonderful accompaniment to any meal.  Try it with curries, in chicken salad, in a marinade or as a sauce for chicken, beef or fish.  It's even wonderful spread on a sandwich.

I hope you will give some of these sauces a try.  They can turn even the most simple meal into something special.

*** The opinions expressed in this post are strictly my own. I have not been compensated in any way for these product reviews.