Follow these easy gourmet tricks and soon it will be easy to change from everyday to gourmet!

1. Sprinkle mashed potatoes with snipped chives, bacon bits and shredded cheese.

2. Toss white or brown rice with chopped red pepper, celery, and onion sautéed in butter.

3. Flavor vegetables such as broccoli, asparagus and green beans with lemon juice and top with toasted almonds.

4. Serve peas on a nicely shaped bed of lettuce for instant appeal.

5. Sprinkle freshly snipped herbs on potato or macaroni salad.

6. Top sandwiches with roasted red peppers and pepper jack cheese.

7. Mix your favorite herbs and spices into cream cheese. Shape into a log or ball and roll in snipped parsley or chives. Serve with crackers.

8. To liven up a punch bowl, freeze slices of fresh fruit in a bundt pan filled halfway with water.

9. Combine chopped green olives and roasted red peppers. Serve with garlic pita chips.

10. Use a potato peeler to scrape a bar of semi-sweet or milk chocolate to make grated chocolate or chocolate curls. Use to top cream pies or cakes.

11. Top store bought mini cheesecakes with fresh fruit (blueberries or strawberries work best) or flavored candy chips.

12. Add fresh fruit to tossed salads. Serve with a sweet dressing.

13. Dress up ordinary pancakes by adding chopped nuts, chocolate chips or blueberries to the batter. Sprinkle with sifted powdered sugar.

14. Make herb butter simply by softening the butter and mixing in herbs or spices. Chill in a small shaped bowl and unmold onto a serving plate or make individual servings by placing in smaller molds. A mini muffin pan or ice cube tray would work well.

15. Serve sandwich fillings on croissants instead of rolls. Slice in half and place a toothpick in each.