Alphabet pasta...suggestions:

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Re: Alphabet pasta...suggestions:

 

Unless your relative told you the exact recipe, my guess is that she/he/they had

some

added ingredients.  I do that a lot--just grab some spices, herbs, seasoned salt

or --whatever and dash of this and a bit of that...I never really pay close

attention, but keep tasting until it's how I " like " it.

 

My guess is there is some kind of seasoning that might " fill out " the flavor you

are hoping for.  Try a seasoned salt, unless you have to or want to restrict

salt usage.  I often use a

herb blend called " McCormick's Salt-Free All Purpose (herbal) Blend " .  It's just

a mixture of a lot of different herbs--seems to add a " fuller " , more savory

flavor to a lot of foods.  It's also completely vegetarian.  " Mrs. Dash "

seasoning mix is also very good for adding a bit of " oomph " to an otherwise

bland dish.

 

Now when you said you made alphabet pasta, you didn't say whether it was a

casserole or a soup type of dish.  If it's a soup, you need much more flavoring

components because you

will also add a lot of liquid to make the soup's broth.  Pasta alone ususally

doesn't add much flavor, so you need some vegetable stock (liquid you get when

you cook a LOT of different veggies and the broth is very flavorful), or maybe a

couple of vegetarian bouillon cubes dissolved in the liquid....There is a

product called " Better Than Bouillon " that is a thick paste that you can use in

place of bouillon--it's similar.

 

If you don't want to add bouillon or stock, then maybe more (different) veggies

cut up and added in with the spring onions and garlic: chopped carrots, some

chopped celery, a larger, " bulb " onion, chopped, in addition to the " spring

onions " .  Other " flavorful " vegetables are

parsnips, maybe turnips, a few chopped cabbage leaves, celery LEAVES, parsley,

any fresh or dried herb that you like--try just a small amount at first, to see

how it adds to or changes the flavors.

 

Finally, one EASY and convenient item to have on hand is to get something called

" Dried soup mix " or something like that.  It is just chopped dehydrated

vegetables and herbs.

I have seen it in places that sell a lot of bulk dried herbs, and I am pretty

sure most places like Whole Foods sell it in the bulk section.  I have used this

as my " ace in my sleeve " when I want a FAST soup base--just add it to some

boiling liquid and simmer a while. The dried veggies puff back up and most of

them blend nicely to make the broth of whatever soup I am making --taste yummy.

 

I hope maybe some of these or one of them might be helpful to you.  Best wishes

to you with your cooking adventures!

 

--Laura B., in Illinois