Tired of plain old vegetables? Spice ’em up with some flavor

I am smaller than a dime, and though I am cool, I can also burn. I can be many colors, but also none at all. I am a household name, but people rarely speak of me. What am I?

The answer is an item so insignificant to your daily life that it never crosses your mind — pepper. It’s a kitchen staple, and while it’s rarely a forward flavor in the foods you eat, it is present in nearly every dish you order at a restaurant. We’re not alone in our love of the humble peppercorn, and its . . .