The neverending discussion about pasta, olive oil and just putting enough water... 10g salt, 100g pasta, at least 1L water e basta così ! No oil or you ruin the pasta/sauce synergy. 😃
I've always done the salt and prob a tablespoon of vegetable oil (yeah I'm a pleb). usually make my own sauce or will add simmered vegetables to a store bought base.
I don't like vegetable oils if I am using a tomato sauce--I don't think it goes well together. If I'm doing Mac-n-Cheese, then yes, Otherwise it's olive oil.
I use apple vinegar to catch fruit flies and white vinegar to keep various laundry items odor free, plus it's good for the front loading washing machine. I have to say though, cooking with various vinegars is beyond my capabilities.
I'll tell you what blew my mind and opened a world for me. Please give this a try next time you make rice, with luck it does the same for you.
Use a rice cooker and prepare as normal. Before starting the cycle, add in about a teaspoon of salt and about 2 teaspoons of either rice wine vinegar or cider vinegar. Mix well then cook as usual. Adjust for the stovetop method if you don't have a rice cooker.
I find that the rice wine vinegar works better, but that the cider vinegar works just fine. You're going to worry that you put in too much vinegar because you can smell it a little while it's cooking. But guess what? You didn't. That little bit of acidity in contrast with the slight sweetness of the rice starch balances out.
I've also recently learned of the flavor triangle. You're meant to balance sweet, salty, and bitter. The recipe above does that for rice.
Last tdbit: my chef friend turned me on to this, and it's all I use now:
I used to get all the fancy brown and wild rices, the long grain rice, etc. Calrose is just no-fuss. It definitely has its uses and you're not going to make biriyani with it, for instance. What it's great for is when you just need rice on the side of whatever else you are making.
I hope this works for you. Please let me know what you think if you end up trying it.
p.s. just noticed that I linked you to a 5lb bag! LOL. They come in small bags too so don't worry too much about that.