# Suggestion needed, recipe is missing...something
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-needed-recipe-is-missing-something/822261
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [October 1, 2018, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-needed-recipe-is-missing-something/822261 "2018-10-01T14:21:25Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@rainy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rainy)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2018, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-needed-recipe-is-missing-something/822261/1 "2018-10-01T14:21:25Z")
I’ve been experimenting with some crock pot recipes and made a really good one that seems to be lacking something. It’s almost like a chicken corn chowder. Gold potatoes, chicken breast, canned sweet corn, smoked sausage are crocked all day in chicken stock. Then chopped green onions are added close to the end, and garnished with shredded cheddar cheese. It was well received by the rainy clan and I thought it was good, but it seemed like it needed something to provide a little snap/crunch.
Might satisfy that by serving with oyster crackers, but it seemed like something actually in the stew would be better. I can’t think of anything that would work. Crocking all day is going to take the snap out of any veggies I add. And I couldn’t come up with anything I could add with the green onions that would be basically raw when added so late.
Any suggestions from the culinary Dope?
-rainy
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### Author:  [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2018, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-needed-recipe-is-missing-something/822261/2 "2018-10-01T14:33:29Z")
How about adding crispy bacon right before serving?
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### Author:  [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2018, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-needed-recipe-is-missing-something/822261/3 "2018-10-01T14:59:10Z")
Maybe a play on French onion soup? Make some big croutons and broil them with cheese on, then float on the soup?
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### Author:  [@PlumBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlumBob)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2018, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-needed-recipe-is-missing-something/822261/4 "2018-10-01T16:12:49Z")
Celery’s nice, don’t cook it to long & it’ll have some crunch.
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### Author:  [@Deser2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deser2)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2018, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-needed-recipe-is-missing-something/822261/5 "2018-10-01T17:42:03Z")
My suggestion would be some asparagus right at the very end.
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### Author:  [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2018, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-needed-recipe-is-missing-something/822261/6 "2018-10-01T18:02:54Z")
Water chestnuts?
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### Author:  [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2018, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-needed-recipe-is-missing-something/822261/7 "2018-10-01T19:39:14Z")
Lots of stuff can be added right at the end. You already mentioned green onions - you could just put those on top when serving instead of “close to the end.”
Alternatively, if you wanted more of a crunch, forget the green onions and instead use chopped red onion, added at serving time. Depending on the flavor profile, you could quick-pickle the onion (dice and put in white wine vinegar for 15-30 minutes before serving, drain before adding to the bowls.)
I liked **puddleglum** ’s bacon idea. A lot. That’s probably what I’d go with.
Other crispy stuff to add at the end:
- freeze-dried corn kernels. Heck, lots of freeze-dried veggies would work.
- popcorn!
- diced red bell pepper. Would look pretty too.
- Parsley. Doesn’t add much snap but looks nice and adds a little snap.
- diced jalepenos, if you’re jalepeno kind of folks
- crispy fried chicken skin
- Seeds or nuts. Pepitas come to mind.
That’s what comes to mind for me, at least.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2018, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-needed-recipe-is-missing-something/822261/8 "2018-10-01T19:55:31Z")
That’s the secret of the wife’s corn chowder - bacon at the end, liberally sprinkled over the top. Gives a smoky touch as well.
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### Author:  [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2018, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-needed-recipe-is-missing-something/822261/9 "2018-10-01T19:59:02Z")
“Bacon” is the correct answer to most culinary questions.
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### Author:  [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2018, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-needed-recipe-is-missing-something/822261/10 "2018-10-01T20:15:48Z")
[Fry some sage leaves](https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Fried-Sage-Leaves)until crispy…
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### Author:  [@Frazzled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frazzled)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2018, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-needed-recipe-is-missing-something/822261/11 "2018-10-01T21:02:45Z")
Others have given great ideas to add crunch. I know you didn’t ask about this specifically, but oftentimes when people say a recipe just lacks “something”, that can be fixed by adding an acid. For something like this, maybe squeeze in some lime juice, or add a splash of white wine vinegar. If you don’t mind spice, pepper sauce would be good too. The acid just brightens up the flavor and takes something from “meh” to “hey, this is really good”.
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### Author:  [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2018, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-needed-recipe-is-missing-something/822261/12 "2018-10-01T21:25:51Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#):
>
> “Bacon” is the correct answer to most culinary questions.
…to the extent that, when it ISN’T the answer, the answer can often be “Forget that. Here, have some bacon.” 😃
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### Author:  [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2018, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-needed-recipe-is-missing-something/822261/13 "2018-10-01T21:39:12Z")
> [@rainy](#):
>
> Gold potatoes, chicken breast, canned sweet corn, smoked sausage are crocked all day in chicken stock. Then chopped green onions are added close to the end…
>
> …Crocking all day is going to take the snap out of any veggies I add.
I think you need to add some aromatics at the beginning. It’s a flavor base, not for “snap.” Some variation of [mirepoix](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirepoix_(cuisine)) is appropriate here.
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### Author:  [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2018, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-needed-recipe-is-missing-something/822261/14 "2018-10-01T22:19:29Z")
Frenches fried onions. ( like you put on greenbean casserole)
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2018, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-needed-recipe-is-missing-something/822261/15 "2018-10-01T23:09:15Z")
**deedeeknowit** suggests some combination of cumin, red pepper flake, ancho chili powder, hot sauce, garlic and a can or two of diced Ortega chilis.
You can mix and match to your tastes. Then top each bowl with green onion, shredded cheese and crumbled bacon. Serve with biscuits.
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### Author:  [@rainy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rainy)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2018, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-needed-recipe-is-missing-something/822261/16 "2018-10-01T23:19:46Z")
> [@Frazzled](#):
>
> Others have given great ideas to add crunch. I know you didn’t ask about this specifically, but oftentimes when people say a recipe just lacks “something”, that can be fixed by adding an acid. For something like this, maybe squeeze in some lime juice, or add a splash of white wine vinegar. If you don’t mind spice, pepper sauce would be good too. The acid just brightens up the flavor and takes something from “meh” to “hey, this is really good”.
This sounds like an idea I will try. Thank you.
Loving the topper suggestions there are some I hadn’t considered. I’m going to ignore all the calls for bacon. That just seems like it would be redundant since it has smoked sausage in it. I can’t believe I’m advocating against bacon ☹
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### Author:  [@rainy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rainy)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2018, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-needed-recipe-is-missing-something/822261/17 "2018-10-01T23:24:59Z")
> [@scr4](#):
>
> I think you need to add some aromatics at the beginning. It’s a flavor base, not for “snap.” Some variation of [mirepoix](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirepoix_(cuisine)) is appropriate here.
This intrigues me too. Not familiar with this exactly…though I inadvertently do something very similar quite often. Do you think precook the mirepoix or since I’m crocking just add it at the beginning?
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2018, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-needed-recipe-is-missing-something/822261/18 "2018-10-01T23:44:57Z")
Just add at the beginning. And the bacon? Don’t be silly. It will _accent_ the sausage.
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### Author:  [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2018, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-needed-recipe-is-missing-something/822261/19 "2018-10-01T23:47:02Z")
Tabasco
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [October 1, 2018, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-needed-recipe-is-missing-something/822261/20 "2018-10-01T23:57:12Z")
> [@MrDibble](#):
>
> [Fry some sage leaves](https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Fried-Sage-Leaves)until crispy…
Yup. Another trick is to place some chopped fresh herbs in the soup bowls prior to ladling the broth in. You get a blast of aroma and flavor that way. Try thyme or sage or maybe basil.
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