Tips for putting punch into students' cooking

Here are some taste tips for the novice student cook heading off to university:

-Try mixing a pinch or two of ground spices such as curry powder, chili powder or turmeric with breadcrumbs or flour, and use to coat foods before frying.

-Stir whole-grain mustard into mashed potatoes or mayonnaise before serving to add extra flavour.

-A teaspoon or two of pesto sauce stirred into each portion of a hot vegetable soup just before serving will liven it up.

-If you add too much salt to a soup or casserole, add one or two peeled and cubed potatoes to soak up the salt, cooking until tender. Discard potatoes before serving.

Source: "The Student Cookbook" (Ryland, Peters & Small).