For some strange reason, I have discovered that August is National Goat Cheese month.  Goat cheese is one of my favorite ingredients, and got me to thinking about what ingredients I think make a dish jump from “so-so” to “slap your mamma” good.  So here’s a list of my top 12 ingredients that make food better.

1. Goat Cheese – Just about anything from pasta to pizza to salad is made better with a few dollops of creamy, tangy goodness.
2. Mexican Sour Cream – No, not just regular sour cream.  Not sure what makes it different, but once you’ve had it you won’t go back.
3. Bacon – Do I really need to say why bacon makes everything better?
4. Pecans or Walnuts – Being from Texas, I’m partial to Pecans, but I can go with Walnuts as a good substitute.  Great from salads to main course to dessert.  An all position player!
5. Eggs – By themselves they are great, but added to something unconventional and it makes for a unique experience.  Try an egg on a hamburger, the classic steak and eggs, or eggs with chilaquiles – ymm!
6. Panchetta – Bacon’s sophisticated Italian cousin.  For that bacon flavor without the heavy smokiness.
7. Butter – Sure, I like olive oil and I know it’s good for me and all, but nothing beats butter.
8. High quality spices – going full board here on the spices, but they make all the difference.  I’m particularly fond of the high oil cinnamon from Pendery’s.
9. Fresh basil – the dried stuff tastes as much like real basil as tootsie rolls taste like Scharffen Berger Chocolate.
10. Prime beef – beautifully marbled and aged – it’s worth it.
11. Garden tomatoes – They shouldn’t be allowed to call what they pass off as “tomatoes” in the grocery store by the name “tomato.”  You can’t get the flavor of a tomato by picking it green and gassing it to “ripeness.”
12. Homemade jam – I’m a big fan of homemade jam.  It’s easy, cheap, and is another reason to make biscuits.  (Not that you need a reason to make biscuits, mind you!)