No recipe on this post, just a bit of thoughts of spices. This post is archived here.
Spices** make the difference between bland and fabulous when preparing any dish. It's easy to add a little salt or a little fat to add flavor, but when you're trying to eat healthier these are the most frequently omitted parts of any recipe; resulting in boring, bland foods that no one really likes.
If you're not familiar with the huge variety of spices available, or are uncomfortable using them, look for recipes that push your envelope a little. Look for the recipe that uses a spice you've only read about, or even one you've never heard of.
Follow the recipes directions exactly when you're just discovering the amazing world of flavor spices provide. Eventually, you'll find that you like dill better than thyme or sage a little less than marjoram.
Once you're familiar with the flavors, and sometimes textures, that different spices give to your food; you'll feel more comfortable experimenting and use oregano instead of cilantro or chili instead of black pepper.
Happy Cooking!
These are currently the spices I have in my house which may be used in any of my recipes.
On the rack (or in the cupboard)
| *allspice baharat, arabic *basil *bay leaf, whole bay leaf, ground *black pepper cayenne chili powder *cinnamon, ground *clove, ground *cream of tartar *cumin *dill | *dried onion *garam masala *garlic powder garlic salt *ginger, ground greek seasoning (McCormick) kharcho lemon peel, dried mace Madras Curry Powder marjoram mustard, ground nutmeg, ground | *oregano paprika *rosemary *sage, rubbed *salt sumac svaneti salt tarragon *thyme tumeric *vanilla extract vanilla powder |
Perishable or refrigerated
| cilantro chili sauce fish sauce | *garlic (minced or whole) *onion | soy sauce *worcesteshire sauce |
*Essentials of a well-stocked spice rack
Essentials for my spice rack (in addition to *)
**Spices is used as a general term for herbs and spices, fresh and dried.
Come visit Prep2eat and see how I use spice(s) in my recipes. It is all about flavor and color when I cook. Less fat, more flavor in my dishes.
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The Souper
Prep2eat is one of the blogs I follow for great recipes and ideas. You can always find a link in the sidebar. :D
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