Know what I'm crazy about?
Herbs and spices!
That's right. Herbs and spices make my heart go pitter-pat (and for all the right reasons).
I didn't always dig them, though. Growing up we used "crazy salt" and lemon pepper and that was about it. After I left home I became obsessed with fresh garlic and ginger root (my Dad: "But the dried is so much cheaper!") and it pretty steadily blossomed from there.
Until recently, I never really relished h&s though; didn't yet delight in the nuance, the pop, the FLAVOR that can bring a dish from mediocre to marvelous. That all changed when I started cooking with friends and experimenting with new cookbooks (all soup cookbooks like Love Soup or old favs like Mollie Katzen's Enchanted Broccoli Forest).
Here's a little list of my favorites.
Herbs that soften my heart:
Cilantro
I put this baby in EVERYTHING. Fresh, dried, in my hair (not really...well maybe in the summer). It adds a freshness, a clean flavor that adds a dash of sunshine to any dish.
Oregano
I used to buy dusty jars from Ocean State Job Lot when I was a teenager (I still love OSJL) and add it to my tomato sauce. Years later, I'm still of the opinion that a good red sauce isn't complete without it (or some red wine!).
Spices that make me swoon
Cayenne
I just started using cayenne a few months ago (see unfortunate cayenne and nose incident below) and I truly don't know how I ever lived without it. A kick that rides in on the end of a spoonful of something great and gives complexity to any dish.
Cumin
Why don't we put this in everything? Legumes, veggies, you name it. Add cumin, it's just better. I add a good handful to my lentils and the whole pot is weightier, warmer and the opposite of bland.
I'll be updating more with my herb & spice adventures soon! (The lovely Erin Kate Ryan procured me some amazing finds on her trip to Minnesota!)
Now I'm looking for advice on the little additions that matter a lot.
Here's where YOU come in (yes, you, in front of the computer screen). Which spice can't YOU live without? Why? Where do you get it from? Which herb flummoxes you? Would you be interested in learning more about it?
I'd love to get a little herb&spice forum going. Please leave a note in the comments. I will pick ONE lucky person and send you a sample of my favorite spice!
Cinnamon! It goes on my oats every morning and in most of my smoothies. Cinnamon also has a positive response to controlling your blood sugar, too.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree that cumin is so good. Does garlic count? I can't without that, nor black pepper. Cumin, cinnamon, ground ginger (also fresh), smoked paprika. These are all important to me.
ReplyDeleteHerb-wise, in the past few years I have really gotten into marjoram and savory to supplement or even replace the old standbys of basic and oregano. Hard to explain the difference, but worth experimenting with.