What is your favorite flavor?

Happy Valentine's Day!

What a sweet day to think about our loved ones...and a nice time to enjoy fresh flowers and chocolate (dairy-free, of course)! :-)

Flavors & flavorings were the topics today! We tasted several different foods then combined them with a spice or another ingredient. Try these at home and see how you would describe the flavor combination that is going on in your mouth. It's not easy! I am working on training my palate and slowing down my eating enough to truly appreciate the flavors that I am experiencing.

• Cherry tomatoes with balsamic vinegar & basil
• Avocado, lime, & sea salt
• Strawberries with balsamic reduction
• Orange & Cinnamon
• Carmelized bananas with fresh vanilla bean & agave

The carmelized bananas were amazing!! Only a bit of safflower oil was used and plain bananas. The carmelization allowed the sugar of the bananas to be enhanced - what a treat! Agave was used, but not necessary as the bananas were plenty sweet. However, the fresh vanilla bean made a nice addition and is worth the extra effort. An orange with a dash of cinnamon is pleasantly refreshing as well. I had never tried this, but this evening, I put a bit of cinnamon on my grapefruit - quite tasty! We have to put a spin on our food once in a while - don't stay in your rut! I encourage you to try something new today.

What is your favorite flavor? Leave a comment below so I can be inspired! One of my favorites is a classic, but deserves to be recognized ~ cinnamon and nutmeg spiced muffins ~ the aroma that fills the room makes me feel warm & cuddly!

Also, when one is trying to describe a flavor, it is important to thoroughly chew the food until there is essentially nothing left in the mouth (another task that is not easy to do). Do you know how many chews it should take to finish a bite in its entirety? Leave your answer below...I'll post the correct answer tomorrow! :-) And you are welcome to answer the question "how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?" That's bonus though! ;-)

Treat your palate to something new and exciting today! Keep it fresh and healthy...until tomorrow...