I will never forget walking into Whole Foods for the first time and breathing in that wonderfully fragrant spice smell and thinking this is how a kitchen should smell like. Herbs and Spices are the key to success in any kitchen and knowing that you have the right ingredients to make any dish is as important as the right cut of meat or the freshest vegetable.
Most like myself are never told which herbs can be found in most dishes or where to find them so to all my friends I am going to give you the 411 of all things Spice
Here are a few that you can not get by without.
Sea Salt : it has a better flavor than the regular iodized salt and is healthier.
Sugar: most baking recipes call for it but then so does pasta sauce
Bay leaves.
These aromatic, woodsy-tasting leaves are typically sold dried. Choose those with a rich green color. Add whole bay leaves to soups, stews, and marinades; remove before serving.
Black peppercorns.
A must-have for their slight pungency. Always pick whole peppercorns over preground versions: The flavor of freshly ground or cracked pepper makes the small effort in preparation well worth it.
Chili powder.
This is typically made from a blend of dried chilies, cumin, coriander, and oregano. Delicious in Mexican and Southwestern dishes.
Cinnamon, ground.
This warm, aromatic spice has a reddish brown color and a bittersweet flavor. Great for baking as well as adding an earthiness to stews, chilies, and curries.
Cloves, ground.
This sweet, rich spice is a staple in holiday baking, especially gingersnaps and can double as pain reliever for a toothache. Use it sparingly; a little goes a long way.
Cream of tartar.
Derived from a crystalline acid that forms on the insides of wine barrels, this fine white powder is most often used to stabilize meringues.
Cumin, ground.
An aromatic, mellow spice, ground from a small seed. Delicious in Middle Eastern and Indian cooking, especially curries.
Curry powder.
Up to 20 spices—including coriander, cumin, and turmeric—can make up this popular Indian blend. The Madras variety has more heat.
Ginger, ground.
Ground ginger has a more intense and astringent taste than fresh ginger. Keep it on hand for baking.
Kosher salt.
A type of coarse salt usually made without the addition of iodine. Use it in place of table salt for seasoning recipes; the larger crystals are easier to pinch with your fingers, allowing for greater control of seasoning.
Nutmeg, whole.
A delicate, warm spice frequently used in baking. Also a common addition to baked winter squash, béchamel sauce, and spinach dishes.
Oregano, dried.
A member of the mint family, this robust herb is commonly used in Mediterranean, South American, and Cajun cooking.
Paprika.
A powder made from ground sweet red pepper pods, this is available in sweet and hot varieties. (If the type is not indicated on the bottle, it’s most likely sweet.) With a rich red color and a smooth texture, Hungarian paprika is of the highest quality. Use the spice to season meat, seafood, and vegetables. It also makes for a nice garnish on deviled eggs.
Crushed red pepper.
Use the flakes of crushed red chili to spice up pastas and stir-fries or to sprinkle on pizzas.
Rosemary, dried.
With an aroma of lemon and pine, this herb is used in an assortment of Mediterranean dishes as well as on all things poultry.
Sesame seeds.
These versatile seeds have a sweet, nutty taste that complements both savory and sweet dishes. The seeds are especially flavorful and aromatic when toasted. Store them in the freezer: Because of their high oil content, the seeds can quickly become rancid.
Thyme, dried.
This fragrant herb lends a delicate flavor to meat, poultry, and vegetables. It’s popular in Mediterranean, Cajun, and Creole cuisines.
Vanilla extract.
A baking essential made by soaking vanilla beans in alcohol. Opt for the pure rather than the imitation variety, which often has additives and an unnatural flavor.
Cardamon pods.
Great for baking but also can be used for Middle eastern dishes and deserts such as custard it has the same stress relieving benefit as lavender and can be brewed as a wonderful floral tea with lemony notes.
Turmeric.
Once used as a dye and currently to spice middle eastern foods it can be made into a paste for a mask to cleanse the pores and there are those in India that swear it cleans the chakras which is why they rub new brides from head to foot with a paste made from this multi- purpose herb.
Cayenne.
Spices meats, stews and is more gentle on stomach ulcers than red pepper (yes there is a difference) as well as can calm an upset stomach due to motion sickness I myself never leave home without a little if I know that a boat ride is in my future.
Fenugreek.
Used primarily in India as a food spice young mothers of the same region also swear by it to increase milk production. whether or not this is true you can be the judge but it is a lovely spice to keep around the pantry and adds a complex flavor to curry and stews.
Lavender.
Now this is truly a extremely versatile herb, it can be used as a tea, a tonic to relax the nerves, a flavor for custard or can be sprinkled into bath water as a muscle soak. when boiled in milk with cardamon it makes a lovely scented sweet treat that can be pipped into crepes one word YUM!
Honey.
I love raw honey!! Good as a sweetener but also works as an antibiotic and for those wanting super smooth lips raw honey is one of those versatile food product that can be used for truly everything just don't feed to infants.
Now do not let this list intimidate you there are ways you can stock that spice rack without worrying about breaking your budget with the expanding net of the internet we now have access to millions of sites where we can buy herbs and spices for a fraction of the cost. I was fortunate to discover these sellers on Ebay and was so pleased with a recent purchase of Cardamon Pods from Goodplanetproducts2012 that I knew I had to share with you all!!!!
So here are some of my favorite sellers (tried and true) where you can go to find great deals on all things needed to cook your hearts out.
1.
dark.2007 great for truffles and exotic salts.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/180795260735?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
2
. goodplanetproducts2012 wonderful for all spices and herbs they carry the hard to find spices and fortunately they do not charge a fortune for their products they are also really good about shipping quickly and their products are fresh and spot on.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/goodplanetproducts2012/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686
3.
beelover2012 want pure honey that tastes fresh from the hive? this is the place to find it this seller is
excellent at handling their product quality And have many different varieties of honey
http://www.ebay.com/itm/330890402226?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
