Homemade hummus is always tricky to make, especially when you expect the exact same quality and texture as the smooth ones in the store. For one thing, industrial blenders are way stronger than anything meant for home use. But what else is missing ? Why does hummus usually end up bland ? Are there any …

If you’re just starting out with Middle Eastern cuisine, then you’ve probably run into the words tahini and hummus, often together. You may have a vague idea of what they are, but can’t really tell them apart. That’s understandable, especially when you haven’t had much experience with either. So today we’re going to discuss these …

Are you at a loss of what to pair olives with ? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. The best part is these little guys work very well with pretty much anything, so you’ll have lots of options to choose from. And you can always mix and match several of these ideas to make your …

If you’re in love with olives, then you know they’re deliciously salty and sour, with a hint of bitterness. Olives may remind you of pickles in that regard, or sauerkraut, or even capers. Why is that? Are olives a fermented food? And if yes, are there any extra precautions you need to take? Or can …

Do you absolutely love olives but can’t really handle all that salt ? Understandable, lots of people find olives way too salty, especially green and kalamata olives. It seems black olives are the mildest around, and you can often find them in low sodium versions. But what if your favorites are green olives ? Why …

Shrimp is possibly one of the most widely-consumed seafood types in the world. They’re not overly fishy in flavor, and they’re very easy to cook, it only takes a few minutes in a hot skillet. Still, shrimp seems to be pretty expensive and this often deters folks from even trying it out. And we’re talking …

Were you looking to make the absolute best salad dressing out there, only to find your ginger has a blue hue to it ? This happens to those who don’t eat salad too, don’t worry. In fact, blue-tinged ginger is a thing. Whether it’s by accident or on purpose, ginger can and does turn blue. …

If Thanksgiving is right around the corner and you find yourself without a cranberry in sight, you might think you’re in trouble. But you’re not, because there are a few cranberry substitutes, some easily available in some areas, and some you might have to look for carefully. Sure, nothing beats fresh, tart cranberries but when …

Let’s face it: Maraschino cherries sound great, and when you were little you thought they were this expensive, high-quality fruit you only ate every few years. As an adult, you now know they’re mass produced and taste just like they look: neon-sweet, nothing like a cherry, and annoying. So what do you do when your …

If you’re in love with sushi then you might make your own at home. In that case, you need all the assorted flavors and accompanying food items, including pickled ginger. But how long does pickled ginger last ? We ask because the only time you can get small packets of the stuff is with pre-made …

Blueberries are a favorite in many kitchens. They are sweet, tangy, and packed with nutrients. People love adding them to muffins, pancakes, smoothies, and desserts. But what if you run out of blueberries? Maybe they are out of season, too expensive, or simply unavailable. Don’t worry—there are plenty of options. Knowing a good blueberry substitute …

Strawberries are really hard to replace, and the flavor they bring to any dessert is like nothing else. Still, sometimes you might find yourself in the position of having to replace strawberries, and that’s that. So what do you do ? We’ve made up a lit of the best candidates possible, keeping texture, flavor, and …

Are you in the middle of making oatmeal cookie batter and totally forgot about the raisins ? Don’t worry, there’s definitely something you can use instead. In fact, there’s several options you have, depending on your taste and how easily you can find them. So here’s the best ideas for raisin substitutes, and we’re pretty …

Does your new favorite recipe call for olives but you just can’t stand them ? Or maybe you absolutely love them but can’t find any right now ? There are substitutes for both sides of the camp, both for olive lovers and haters. Some of these will have more in common with olives, specifically green …

Passion fruit are amazingly delicious little things, but their high price can instantly upset anyone. So what do you do if you’re in desperate need of passion fruit, but don’t want to shell out $2 per fruit ? There are alternatives you can use, and they will cover the flavor quite nicely. So we’ve made …

Passion flowers are really something else. They look both strange and mesmerizing, and often like they belong on a coral reef, with colorful fish swimming by. Or maybe that’s just our imagination. Maybe you just got a young seedling as a gift, and are wondering if it will give you actual fruit. That’s a very …

Don’t you absolutely love passion fruit? It’s probably one of the most interesting fruits to look at, smell, or eat! These wrinkly babies are delicious, but also downright expensive. But why is that? After all, where passion fruit grows, it does so in large numbers, so there shouldn’t really be a crop shortage problem. So …

If you’ve ever wanted to make something with fresh, delicious berries you’ve noticed they cost a small fortune for 7 oz of fruit ! Really, the prices on berries are ridiculous when you stop to think they grow freely on the side of the road. Ah, yes, but are those berries the same as market …

If you’re looking for the best cheeses for a fondue you might’ve noticed an upsetting fact: cheese is expensive. Not only that, but all the good, melty, delicious cheese will make you think twice about the cost of melting a whole pound. Why is cheese so expensive ? After all, cheese was made thousands of …

If you’re absolutely in love with pomelos, you know they’re not supposed to be bitter. Well, at least the good ones, and the ones you usually find in supermarkets. But what if you do happen across a bitter pomelo one day, what then ? And is there anything you can do to remove that bitterness …