It's All About The Sauces

I've been thinking about writing this post for a couple of days now, and consequently have had the song lyrics "it's all about the money, money, money" going round in my head pretty much constantly!

I've mentioned quite a few times recently, especially since getting back from honeymoon, that my food has tasted a bit bland. I decided, rather than constantly complaining, to do something to change it!

Sauces are so helpful in adding in flavour to meals, yet I often find myself forgetting about them in the rush to get food on the table, and will only think about them at the last minute when serving up...by which time it is too late to do anything other than grab the ketchup or sweet chilli sauce from the fridge.

So the last couple of days I have been making more effort to make sauces in advance. I've pretty much stuck to the same sauces all the time though, so any ideas for other sauces would be appreciated!

For savoury, we've been having Mama Pea's Mmmm Sauce. First on the tofu, rice and veggies that I originally made the sauce for, and then I have been using the leftovers to dip roasted butternut squash into...

"Do you think if I use this plate they won't notice that there are no green leaves with my roast veg??"

as well as unpictured meals of meat-free fillets, pasta and sweetcorn drowned in Mmmm sauce, and as a dipping sauce for lots of Kettle crisps! It really does liven up all meals. The meat-free fillets, pasta & frozen veg combo is what I cook when I'm feeling tired and run down - an easy meal that can be on the table without any hassle. It is usually pretty boring, even with lots of ketchup, but the Mmmm sauce really made it into a proper meal. I mixed it into the pasta and smothered it on the fillets. Delish!

Of course those of you that read my blog regularly (or even those that just read my cake filled post yesterday!) will know that I have a very sweet tooth. As soon as my peanut flour arrived from iHerb, I couldn't wait to make a sauce with it. I made my sauce just by mixing the peanut flour with a little agave nectar to sweeten, and thinning it with milk to the desired consistency. The first time I made it a little too thin, but now I've got the hang of it!

It is delicious on...

Waffles with fresh strawberries and cherries (this was the thin sauce so it doesn't look quite so appetising, but still tasted great!)...

Granola with fresh strawberries and milk...

And finally, this morning's green smoothie (spinach, banana, milk & a few drops of vanilla stevia) with peanut flour sauce, coconut butter and yet more fresh strawberries...

This was so good that I added a second round of toppings half way through!

Looking back at these photos has made me realise how many strawberries I've been eating the last couple of days too! My Mum gave us her strawberries & cherries as she was away for the week. The strawberries, not surprisingly, are all gone now, and the rate I'm going the cherries will be soon too! I also loved, loved, loved the coconut butter on this smoothie! It was the first time I'd used it for anything other than spoonfuls straight from the jar and it was divine! The peanut flour sauce is, of course, delicious too...I love the distinct nutty flavour it gives to everything, and it is so quick to make too...ideal for when I'm rushing around in the mornings getting daughter ready for school!

So, I've shown you mine...now what are yours?? Favourite sauce recipes/ideas this way please!! :)