Salad oil - pronounced 'SAL-ed oil' is a broad term used to describe any light, neutral-flavored oil that's suitable for salad dressings and vinaigrettes.

The key characteristic of salad oil is its ability to blend well with other ingredients without overpowering the flavors of the salad itself. It provides the fatty base necessary for creating an emulsion with vinegar or lemon juice, herbs, and seasonings, resulting in a balanced and flavorful dressing.

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Salt, pronounced 'sawlt', is a finely ground mineral primarily composed of sodium chloride. It is the most common type of salt used in everyday cooking and seasoning.

Above and beyond its basic uses, table salt plays a crucial role in food preservation and can also be used in various household cleaning tasks.

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Saltpeter, known chemically as potassium nitrate (KNO₃), is a naturally occurring mineral that has been used for centuries in various applications.

Its name comes from the Medieval Latin "sal petrae," meaning "salt of rock," which reflects its method of collection from cave walls or soil where it crystallizes.

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Scallions, also known as green onions or spring onions in some regions, are a type of vegetable from the Allium family, which also includes garlic, onions, leeks, and chives.

Scallions have a long, thin green stalk that transitions into a white base that has not fully developed into a bulb.

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Semi-sweet chocolate - pronounced 'SEH-mee sweet CHAW-kuh-lit' is a type of dark chocolate that contains a higher percentage of cocoa solids and less sugar compared to milk chocolate but more sugar than bittersweet chocolate.

This balance gives semi-sweet chocolate a rich, chocolaty flavor with a moderate level of sweetness, making it versatile for both eating on its own and using in baking and cooking.

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Semolina flour - pronounced 'sem-uh-LEE-nuh FLOW-er' is a type of flour made from durum wheat, a hard wheat variety. It's coarser in texture compared to typical wheat flour, with a yellowish color, and is high in gluten, which gives it the ability to create firm and elastic doughs.

Semolina is commonly used in making pasta, bread, and certain desserts like the Middle Eastern sweet, semolina cake.

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Shallots - pronounced 'SHAL-ots' are a type of onion. They are smaller in size and have a more elongated shape. The skin of shallots can range from golden brown to reddish-purple, and when peeled, you'll often find that what looked like one bulb is actually two or more cloves joined at the base, similar to garlic.

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Sherry - pronounced 'SHEHR-ee' is a fortified wine. It's a distilled spirit, usually brandy is added to the wine, which increases its alcohol content and gives it a distinct taste. Sherry comes in various styles, ranging from dry to sweet, and is used both as a drink and in cooking to add depth and flavor to dishes.

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Sour cream is a tangy dairy product, adding richness to dishes with its creamy texture and subtle acidity. Its tanginess cuts through the richness of dishes like stroganoff or balances the sweetness in desserts like cheesecake.

Used in both sweet and savory recipes, sour cream offers nutritional benefits like calcium and protein. It's a creamy dairy product with a distinctively tart flavor.

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Star Fruit is a unique fruit with a thin waxy skin. It has five deep grooves that form a charming star shape when sliced. No need to peel or seed it, simply enjoy star fruit out of hand.

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