50 Ways to Spice up Your Life
Using Herbs and Spices
Herbs and spices are the heart and soul of cooking. They can take an otherwise bland meal, and turn it into a savory and unforgettable experience. However, many of us feel unsure about using herbs or spices, or simply reuse the same few spices that we know so well over and over again. We wonder what other cooks are using that we don't know about, and why their food tastes so wonderful.
Instead of shying away from those herbs or spices with unfamiliar names, we invite you to try cooking with them. Below are some of our suggestions for incorporating herbs and spices into your meals. Remember to enjoy yourself, and don't be afraid to experiment. Enjoy!
1. Incorporate Lavender flowers into shortbread and ice cream recipes.
2. Use Kelp, Wakame, and other seaweed fronds in soups.
3. Cinnamon can be added to cream cheese and used as a bagel spread.
4. Red Pepper flakes spice up pizza and calzones.
5. Add Lemon and Orange peel to muffins and scones for a zesty flavor.
6. Use Cinnamon sticks in coffee or black tea drinks as a stir stick.
7. Make homemade chai out of Cinnamon, Ginger, Cloves, Cardamom, and Black Pepper.
8. Add Ginger to your tea (hot or iced) for a spicy and warming treat.
9. Sprinkle Thyme onto roasted vegetables, meat rubs, and rice dishes.
10. Ground Cumin may be used in curries, soups, fresh salsas, and roasted vegetables.
11.Use Turmeric in curries, also gives rice a beautiful yellow color.
12. Add Basil, Oregano, and Rosemary to omelets, or egg/tofu scambles.
13. Mix Chiles into cornbread recipes for a spicy kick.
14. Use Garlic flakes in stir fry and tomato sauces instead of mincing fresh Garlic.
15. Add Cinnamon to smoothies and shakes.
16. Make your own Vanilla Extract, using Vanilla Beans and Vodka or Rum.
17. Add Lemongrass to curries and soups.
18. Use Rosemary and Black Pepper on baked potato wedges (alternative to french fries).
19. Add Mint to shortbread, sorbet, and ice cream recipes.
20. Grind Cardamom with your coffee beans, brew as normal for a spicy treat.
21. Use Marjoram in oil and vinegar salad dressings.
22. Oregano, Basil, Rosemary, and Garlic are great additions for tomato sauce.
23. Galangal gives a spicy ginger-like note to soups and sauces.
24. Freeze Rose petals in ice cubes, and add to your iced tea.
25. Incorporate Rosemary into homemade bread, rolls, or scones for a savory delight.
26. Use Fenugreek in curries and in flatbreads.
27. Add Anise seeds to biscotti for a traditional treat.
28. Bay leaves are used to flavor soups and rice dishes.
29. Use Savory when cooking beans and lentils for extra flavor.
30. Add Caraway seeds to savory breads and soups.
31. Infuse Licorice root, and add to teas and ice creams for a natural sweetness.
32. Add Chervil to chicken or potatoes, and then bake.
33. Brew roasted Chicory Root as a coffee substitute or add one part to five parts of coffee.
34. Garnish omelets with Chives, or add to dips and spreads.
35. Use Cilantro in tuna or vegetable sandwiches, or sprinkle onto tacos and tostadas.
36. Infuse Lemon balm, and add to iced tea.
37. Add Coriander seed to curries, masalas, pickles, and in barbecue rubs.
38. Use Dill Weed in sour cream and yogurt based dips, a great complement to seafood.
39. Fennel Seed is added to curries, sausages, and in baked goods.
40. Add Juniper Berries to meat marinades.
41. Infuse Lemon Verbena, and add to ice tea, ice creams, and cheesecake recipes.
42. Use Stevia instead of sugar to sweeten tea, coffee, and baked goods.
43. Mace may be added to barbeque rubs and marinades for a bold flavor.
44. Use Celery Seed in stuffing recipes.
45. Add Mustard seeds to salad dressings, marinades, or make homemade mustard.
46. Incorporate Paprika into barbecue rubs and savory sauces.
47. Add Sage leaves to gravies, sauces, and soups.
48. Use Tarragon in soups and sauces.
49. Add freshly ground Nutmeg to apple pies and crisps.
50. Sprinkle Rosemary and Lemon Peel onto fish, and then bake.
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