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Spice know-how
By Brianna McMullen
More often then not we have a cupboard designated to spices, and yet most of us don’t know what half of them are used for, or how long they have been in there. Spices can last a long time if they are in a closed container. Strong potency spices such as allspice or cloves can last a few years, where as dried herbs less about half the time. However a good rule of thumb is to keep using them until they no longer have the desired potency of taste. Below is a list of common herbs and spices and their uses.
Allspice- This spice is mainly used in Caribbean or Palestinian cooking. Its main use is to flavor to fresh meats and jerky’s. However in American cooking it’s most common use is in baking.
Basil- Basil is mainly used in Italian meals such as your favorite spaghetti recipe. Basil is a very versatile spice used with meats, vegetables and eggs.
Bay leaf- Bay leaves are mostly used as a base for soups and stews.
Coriander- Coriander is used in cooking lentils, potatoes, legumes, soups and stews. It has a light musky flavor to it.
Cumin- Cumin is mainly used in Mexican and Indian inspired dishes. It has a strong scent and is a main component of chili powders.
Dill- Dill is mainly used in seafood and meat dishes. It has a light sweet flavor and can be used from anything such as a dip, to flavoring shellfish.
Garlic- Garlic is very versatile. It is used widely around the world in places such as China, Vietnam, Italy and France. It is used to add flavor to meat, soups, eggs, and even bread.
Ginger- Ginger is mainly used in Chinese cooking along with Indian curries. Although it is not the most common spice in your house, it is put to great use when making a stir-fry.
Marjoram- Marjoram has a sweet but bitter taste to it. It is mainly used in a wide variety of meats such as beef, to sausages, to chicken and fish.
Nutmeg- Nutmeg is commonly used in sweeter baking recipes such as your favorite muffin recipe.
Oregano- Oregano is used in Italian and Mexican style cooking. It is used in tomato based sauces such as a pasta sauce, or while flavoring your meat for your favorite tacos.
Rosemary- Rosemary is a great spice for marinating your meats. It has a very strong but pleasant taste to it
Sage- Sage is most commonly known for adding flavor to chicken and fish. It is also a good spice to use when making your favorite stock for your favorite soup or stew.
Thyme- Thyme is used for adding flavor to meats such as chicken and game.
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