How to Cook With Condiments?

While most adults outgrow the need to dose anything and everything with ketchup, the Hot Pot condiment does still have its place in cooking. Ketchup began as a pickled-fish condiment in 17th century China and evolved into the modern product in the 1700s, when New Englanders added tomatoes to the mixture. Many other popular condiments add a depth of flavor or a touch of tang to your cooking. Experiment with amounts from 1 tbsp. to 2 cups of your favorite condiment in sauces, stews and salads.
Instructions
Ketchup
1
Add ketchup to sloppy joes. For 1 lb. of hamburger, add 1 cup of ketchup, along with two to three shakes of Worcestershire and Tabasco sauce. Add enough water as well to make your sauce the consistency you like.
2
Make barbecue sauce. Mark Bittman, author of "How to Cook Everything Vegetarian," uses 2 cups of ketchup along with red wine, wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, minced onion and minced garlic.
3
Stir in ketchup to meatloaf or meatball mixtures. Food Network chef, Giada De Laurentiis adds 2 tbsp. of ketchup to her beef and veal meatballs along with parsley, Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, garlic and red pepper flakes.
Mustard
4
Experiment with whole grain mustard rubbed on steaks and chops.
Add 1 to 2 tbsp. of mustard to cream sauces. The tanginess of the mustard adds acidity to the cream sauce, giving it another dimension of flavor. Use cream sauces with mustard for lamb, pork or ham.
5
Toss lettuce with a dressing made with mustard, olive oil, vinegar and finely chopped shallots. Add a bit of honey if you like your salad dressings on the sweet side.
6
Moisten tuna or salmon sandwich spreads with equal amounts of mustard and mayonnaise. You'll reduce the calories in the sandwiches and add an extra tang as well.
Salsa
7
Salsa adds color as well as flavor to quick breads.
Add 1/2 cup of salsa to your favorite corn bread or corn muffins. Mix the salsa with the wet ingredients before adding them to the dry ingredients.
8
Stir 1/2 cup of salsa into beans or rice to give these side dishes Southwest flavor. Use either hot or mild salsa, depending on your preference.
9
Spread a thick layer of salsa in your frying pan and clear a few spaces to fry eggs for huevos rancheros. Serve with warm tortillas on the side.
10
Stir a few tablespoons of salsa into your favorite guacamole recipe. Cooks.com makes guacamole with fresh lime juice, salt, red pepper sauce and clove of garlic chopped fine and then tops the mixture with a layer of salsa.