Jazz up your cooking with Spices and Herbs!

Spices and herbs can add a lot of flavor and variety to your cooking, but they also can be intimidating for beginners. Here are some tips to help you get started with spices and herbs.

First, start with a few basic spices and herbs that you and your family like and use often. Some common ones are salt, pepper, chili powder, garlic, onion, basil, thyme, rosemary, cumin, paprika, and cinnamon. These are some of my family's favorite spices and herbs.

Now, start experimenting with different combinations of herbs and spices to create your own blends. This can benefit you and your family by allowing you control of what goes into your food and how much. Think about food allergies and diet restrictions. You could create your own taco seasoning with cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt, and pepper. Some other common blends are Italian seasoning (basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, sage, marjoram), curry powder (tumeric, cumin, coriander, ginger, fenugreek, cardamon), and pumpkin pie spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves).

To keep your herbs and spices so they retain the most flavor, store them in a cool, dry, and dark place. Avoid keeping them near the stove or direct sunlight. Check the expiration dates and replace them when they lose their aroma or color.

As you experiment and try new combinations, use a small amount of spice and herbs at first according to your taste. A general rule is 1/2 teaspoon of dried herbs or 3/4 teaspoon of fresh herbs for every 4 serving of food. Then write what you did down. Many times I have made something that my family raves over but I am not exactly sure what I had added. I have learned over the years to make notes and then label with faces if they liked it or not.

Lastly, taste your food as you go along, seasoning it accordingly. Do not be afraid to experiment and have fun with spices and herbs. They can make your food taste delicious and can add health benefits. Go ahead, take chances and have fun!