Can We Talk 2

Toppings

         Don't know why I'm wasting time thinking about this, like one of the meaningless scenes from Seinfeld. There are some things that you can add to any dish and not go wrong. You can overdo it, but that seldom happens.

         The first one I think of is bacon. It's not my personal favorite, but it's very trendy now, especially maple bacon. Crumble it on doughnuts, cupcakes or in cookie batter. I haven't tried any of these, but they are everywhere. There's even bacon crusted pizza. That sounds like a heart attack I'm not ready to have. Bacon sales must be way up. If you're a baker, or run a restaurant, and need something new, just add bacon crumbles to something tried and true.

         Parmesan cheese is one I like. A lot. Sprinkle it on pasta pizza, buttered bread, a salad, a casserole or soup. It's yummy. This one is hard to overdo. Freshly grated, or canned, it works for me. I forgot eggs; sprinkle it on eggs.

         Pecans are my favorite nut. Not only do they go in and on desserts, they go in a lot of breads and salads. Put them on ice cream, with or without chocolate syrup. Eat them plain, or mixed with raisins or craisins. They really go well with sweet potatoes or winter squashes.

         Coconut is not just for desserts. It goes with homemade trail mix and works with fruit salads. It's great with oranges, fresh pineapple, cherries optional.

         I had a brother who could eat any and everything with ketchup. I never acquired the habit. He put ketchup on mashed potatoes, eggs, all meats, and anything that wasn't sweet. My husband used it on hot dogs, which was new to me.

         I like cinnamon on almost anything. Other people don't, so I don't add it to recipes. I put it in my tea, and sometimes to meat dishes. Any baked item works with it, and it makes the house smell good. It goes with fruit and apple cider or party mixes.

         These are staples to keep on hand. Try some when you entertain, and see what the reaction is.