Ingredients We Can't Live Without

By: Sarah De Heer
salt, bacon, butter, garlic

Recently, Food Network asked fans on Facebook, "What's the one ingredient you can't live without?" With more than 5,000 comments, it wasn't surprising to see that these four items made it to the top of the list: salt, bacon, garlic and butter. In fact, when you combine those four, you're on your way to an amazing dish -- maybe a little salty, but none the less comforting. Cheese, cracked black pepper, extra-virgin olive oil and onions were closely behind, but not nearly as popular.

But what makes these foods so popular? Is it because they remind you of home or because of their simplistic nature? Salt is added to almost every dish, even in baking. Butter and olive oil are sometimes interchangeable and garlic and onions are a staple in Italian cooking. Bacon, well, bacon will always be popular and delicious.

But what about the others? What's the one ingredient you can't live without? Tell us in the comments or start the conversation on Twitter by including this hashtag: #1ingredient.

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