Picture an imaginary spice contest. Would you win for having the most spices in your cabinet?
I’m glad we live in a time where spices are easy to procure. In the ‘olden days,’ spices were so rare that not many cooks had them. If you read Little House on the Prairie, or remember some history from high school, you’ll recall how prized salt was, and the spices from the Indies.
I love spices. I have a lot of spices in my spice cabinet. Last year, one of the local French restaurants had a clearance sale on a gigantic jar of Herbes de Provence. Luckily for me, my mom bought it and split it with me. That blend of Herbes de Provence is simply amazing. I’ve made my pot roast taste better with it, and too many other entrees to count. That’s the beauty of a good spice: amazing taste. Without it, our taste buds would be bored.
Of course, other than making food taste better, spices can help reduce the need for salt, which is great, especially if you are cooking for someone on a low-salt diet. Lately I’ve been going through a lot of chili and cumin powder. Spices that I like to keep on hand (other than salt and pepper) are:
1. Ground chile powder
2. Ground cumin
3. Ground nutmeg
4. Ground cinnamon
5. Ground ginger
6. Dried Herbes de Provence
7. Dried oregano
8. Dried basil
9. Dried thyme
What’s in your spice cabinet?
Photo by Kelly Estes
I love me some basil! Although I do not use it as much, I think cilantro is an absolutely great flavor, but it’s best fresh. Have you ever used the herb pastes they sell in the grocery store?
Where do I start? Chilli, cumin, turmeric, fennel, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, mustard seeds, pepper, nutmeg, ginger, fenugreek. For herbs, I like to have oregano, marjoram, and thyme.
denise @ quickies on the dinner table´s last blog ..just pointing in the general direction
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I got plenty other ones… but I think u hit the nail on the head! those are the key… I must add in there Garlic Powder and Onion powder as a must…
@mike Dry cilantro just does not tastes like anything… fresh is much better. I have tried the pastes and they have this terrible after taste. I never bought them again!
I don’t know why, but the Germans like cooking with Saffron. There’s even a children’s rhyme about baking a cake with it.
Definitely Italian seasoning (which is just a combo of some of your favorites) & cinnamon!! One unusual one I like to put into my mac n cheese is dry mustard =)
@Denise,
Wow! I love your spice list…I’ll have to look up fenugreek. What does that taste like, I wonder?
@Liz,
Ah, yes. I do love garlic powder, and sometimes use onion powder. @Mike–Have to agree with Liz on dry cilantro….don’t bother buying that or the pastes!
@Graham,
Oh, I’d love to get some saffron. I’m going to order some when I place my next order at Penzey’s Spices!
@Noel,
Italian seasoning is one of my faves, too! Dry mustard has a lot of great uses. I use it in gingerbread. I’ll have to try it when I make mac n cheese next…bet the kids won’t even realize why their favorite lunch (which they get once in a blue moon) tastes so much better!
I sure have a question for you Kelly. What is your favorite place to buy spices? For Oregano and even sesame seeds they HAVE TO be Latin their flavor is so much richer! When family comes from El Salvador I usually ask them to bring some.
I am please w/the Archer Farm spices, but just out of curiosity Where do you buy yours?
Liz,
In the past, I have bought my spices at Publix. However, I am going to start ordering them from Penzeys Spices. I already bought some around Christmas of last year, and the quality is much higher while actually being less expensive because you’re buying in bulk.
I must say that having bought cumin from Target once, I was not pleased with the quality or taste of it.
As far as ordering spices from Penzeys Spices, it’s even more economical to buy from them if you have a friend you can split the cost of shipping with…so that’s what I plan on doing.
I have too many favorites to list. I love when you can find unique sources – like your herbes de provence. A friend of mine married an Algerian and her mother in law sent her a huge bag of Algerian spices in a mix. It’s simply divine.
Wendy (The Local Cook)´s last blog ..Hazelnut Coffee Brownies
Will check it out!.
When I get some more Oregano or sesame seeds from El Salvador I’ll let u try it and see what you think!
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I love to roast chicken, so rosemary and sage would be on my list (I’d only use dried if I had no fresh left).