Spices...what d'ya do with em?

Perhaps you might have enough for your own Taco Seasoning (a recipe I have saved in my documents from Allrecipes.com):

"A mixture of spices that approximates what you might buy in a package. Depending on how spicy you and your family like your dishes, use as little or as much as you want."

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (substitute: ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper)
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:
1. In a small bowl, mix together chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, oregano, paprika, cumin, salt and pepper. Store in an airtight container."

We figured out that 21/2 - 3 tablespoons = one 1.25 oz. packet, which I will NEVER go back to!

You could always google the name of the spice and look for recipes that use them. Something like, "cumin recipe," or whatever. I like to smell spices that I'm not familiar with and imagine it in the dish I'm making to see if it would taste good in the dish. I add a ton of spices as I cook that way. What are some of the spices you have? Maybe I can give you some ideas.

Try mixing some with non fat Greek style yogurt as a dip or salad dry mixing some with Greek style non fat yogurt and use as a dip or salad dressing. Or shake some on a neutral protein like chicken breast or white fish, then bake or pan fry.

I tend to put cinnamon on anything sweet... it helps boost metabolism.

My personal favorites are Mrs. Dash, which is a spice blend that is sodium free and makes everything taste phenomonimal! I put it on almost anythign savory for a lot of flavor. 0 calories and 0 sodium! It is a dieters gift from God!

Rosemary is also REALLY good... I forget what benefits it has... but I know it has some, It tastes GREAT on Chicken, also 0 calories.

Black pepper helps booste your metabolism.

Oregano helps with digestive health

Sage helps with brain function, and I don't think it has a really strong flavor wo you can put it in a lot of savory dishes as well.

Try googling spices, you can find lists with a bunch of spices and their medicinal purposes.

I gotcha on this one honey..
Check out my blog and I have some recipes for mixing up spices and what products to add them to

http://daywithchefjenn.blogspot.com/

I have over 100 spices I use and love mixing them up and creating new recipes with them

~Chef Jenn~

I am like you. I love spices and have a ton of them.

I put'em in stuff!

Ok some of you asked for a list...so here it is...
Mustard Seeds (ground & whole)
Dill Weed
oregano
cumin
turmeric
coriander
sesame seeds
ginger
cardamon
allspice
nutmeg
savor
fennel seeds (whole)
cilantro
cayenne pepper
peppercorns
paprika
lemon pepper
chives
thyme
chipotle chile pepper
parsley
bay leaf
cream of tartar
white pepper
celery seeds
poultry seasoning
crushed rosemary
cloves
hot madras curry powder

Ok, I think that's it!

you have a CHEF'S dream of spices!!
you can make a 4 course meal with all those spices.
To get a feel for what most can be paired with google them and see what products best fit your diet and cooking style

Mustard Seeds (ground & whole) can go into indian type recipes, also good in lentil soups/bean stews
Dill Weed with fresh or smoked salmon
oregano italian recipes
cumin curries, humus
turmeric curries
coriander curries
sesame seeds chinese type stir fry
ginger curries
cardamon curries
allspice never use it
nutmeg a little on vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower
savor
fennel seeds (whole) curries, indian cooking
cilantro humus, indian recipes
cayenne pepper indian recipes
peppercorns freshly milled black pepper
paprika gulash
lemon pepper don't know what it is
chives everywhere where you want to have a mild onion-y taste
thyme italian recipes, any mediterranean cooking
chipotle chile pepper
parsley i never use it much
bay leaf stews, braised meats
cream of tartar a little when you whisk egg whites
white pepper
celery seeds
poultry seasoning i never use it
crushed rosemary i never use it
cloves sometimes a little with a curry, but also in red cabbage
hot madras curry powder i never use it: my staple curry mix is: tea spoon of cumin, tumeric, coriander, mustard seeds and some salt: fry up in a little oil, over a medium hot fire: whole spices first, powdered spices next. this is a base to which you can add a can of tomatoes, and it will be the perfect curry base for any vegetable you'd like to cook, or fish, chicken...

i never use ready made curry powders.

Mustard Seeds (ground & whole) can go into indian type recipes, also good in lentil soups/bean stews
Dill Weed with fresh or smoked salmon
oregano italian recipes
cumin curries, humus
turmeric curries
coriander curries
sesame seeds chinese type stir fry
ginger curries
cardamon curries
allspice never use it
nutmeg a little on vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower
savor
fennel seeds (whole) curries, indian cooking
cilantro humus, indian recipes
cayenne pepper indian recipes
peppercorns freshly milled black pepper
paprika gulash
lemon pepper don't know what it is
chives everywhere where you want to have a mild onion-y taste
thyme italian recipes, any mediterranean cooking
chipotle chile pepper
parsley i never use it much
bay leaf stews, braised meats
cream of tartar a little when you whisk egg whites
white pepper
celery seeds
poultry seasoning i never use it
crushed rosemary i never use it
cloves sometimes a little with a curry, but also in red cabbage
hot madras curry powder i never use it: my staple curry mix is: tea spoon of cumin, tumeric, coriander, mustard seeds and some salt: fry up in a little oil, over a medium hot fire: whole spices first, powdered spices next. this is a base to which you can add a can of tomatoes, and it will be the perfect curry base for any vegetable you'd like to cook, or fish, chicken...

i never use ready made curry powders.

Lodro, you really like making curries, huh? LOL

Mustard Seeds (ground & whole) can go into indian type recipes, also good in lentil soups/bean stews
Dill Weed with fresh or smoked salmon
oregano italian recipes
cumin curries, humus
turmeric curries
coriander curries
sesame seeds chinese type stir fry
ginger curries
cardamon curries
allspice never use it
nutmeg a little on vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower
savor
fennel seeds (whole) curries, indian cooking
cilantro humus, indian recipes
cayenne pepper indian recipes
peppercorns freshly milled black pepper
paprika gulash
lemon pepper don't know what it is
chives everywhere where you want to have a mild onion-y taste
thyme italian recipes, any mediterranean cooking
chipotle chile pepper
parsley i never use it much
bay leaf stews, braised meats
cream of tartar a little when you whisk egg whites
white pepper
celery seeds
poultry seasoning i never use it
crushed rosemary i never use it
cloves sometimes a little with a curry, but also in red cabbage
hot madras curry powder i never use it: my staple curry mix is: tea spoon of cumin, tumeric, coriander, mustard seeds and some salt: fry up in a little oil, over a medium hot fire: whole spices first, powdered spices next. this is a base to which you can add a can of tomatoes, and it will be the perfect curry base for any vegetable you'd like to cook, or fish, chicken...

i never use ready made curry powders.

Lodro, you really like making curries, huh? LOL

It's just that a lot of the spices are the ingredient for garam masala ie "curry powder"

I think the variety of indian cooking, especially the vegetarian side of it, is underestimated, but really, all spices are there to do some experimenting, and the basic technique is very easy to get. the rest is experimentation, not only with vegetables, but also with chick peas, lentils...

that, and i used to be the cook in a small buddhist meditation center. i feel so busted. LOL

cream of tartar
I have no idea??????????