Non-Obligatory Food Post: Salt and Lemon Juice

What I have learned over the last two years: many many things are improved with lemon juice and salt. You might have some fancy ingredient in said something (like tahini or fish sauce), but as long as you add lemon juice and salt, you might look like a genius.

*denotes fancy ingredient, which is often skippable. Take that.

Hummus!
 - Chickpeas
 - Lots of garlic
 - A little bit of tahini*
 - Lemon Juice!
 - Salt!

Potato Salad!
 - Boiled potatoes
 - Boiled eggs
 - Chopped up whatever else is in the refrigerator
 - Mayo
 - Mustard (Dijon*)
 - Raisins*
 - Pepper if you like
 - LEMON JUICE!
 - SALT!

Chicken
 - Chicken
 - LEMON JUICE!
 - SALT!

Zucchini* Carrot salad
 - Carrots
 - Zucchini*
 - Olive oil
 - LEMON JUICE!
 - SALT!

Eggplant/Asparagus/Brussel Sprouts*
 - Eggplant/Asparagus/Brussel Sprouts*
 - LEMON JUICE!
 - SALT!

Fish* .. like.. all fish
 - Fish*
 - LEMON JUICE!
 - SALT!

Pasta with butter

 - Pasta

 - Butter

 - LEMON JUICE!
 - SALT!

 - Parmesan cheese*

Eggs (I haven't tried it but why not!?)
 - Eggs
 - Butter
 - LEMON JUICE!
 - SALT! 

Your mom
 - Your mom
 - LEMON JUICE!
 - SALT!
(your mom = not fancy.)
(Now I feel bad. Your mom is lovely. Please call her.)

.. You see.

Excuse me, is this a food blog? 

The imaginary dinner party in my head proclaims things like, "Oh, how summery!" and "You cook so light!" and again, you will feel like a mad genius. This imaginary dinner party all are wearing hats,  mustaches, and bustles. 

I'm pretty sure it's all about the acid. And I'm pretty sure that this acid could be replaced with just about anything (white wine! vinegar! Win!), but lemon juice gets top billing for the pure food blogginess of it all. You're welcome.

Onward.