Have you ever cooked up something that tasted like cardboard? Or burned cardboard? Did you know that there are five magical ingredients that can fix almost any cooking disaster? And they are, in no particular order:

• lemon juice
• salt
• Kame szechuan sauce, available in most supermarkets
• butter
• grated pecorino romano cheese (sini fulvi)

Depending on the nature of your problem, one of these ingredients is likely to help. Try butter or lemon for sweet or rich foods. Cheese, salt, lemon or spicy szechuan sauce can resurrect a savory dish.