Spices

Garlic (Allium sativum) is a plant in the onion family. It is used both in cooking and as a herbal or medical supplement. While studies are not conclusive, garlic shows promise in treating certain...

You grill a little and want to step it up. Try to spice or sauce it up a little.

It is very easy and extremely economical to make your own vanilla extract. Anyone who cooks knows that pure vanilla extract is certainly not cheap, but imitation vanilla flavoring just does not...

Ginger has served humans with its culinary and medicinal uses for over 4,000 years, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, and growth or purchase of this edible rhizome will...

Rosemary salt is a great gourmet ingredient for use on meats, bread, eggs, potatoes or any vegetable dish, and here's an extremely fast and easy way to make it! You can also package it and give it...

While most people think of it as a predominantly Italian spice, fennel is actually a very popular flavor in several cuisines around the world. Fennel seeds are used as a spice, and the leaves and...

Cinnamon bark extract is simply another name for the common cinnamon spice found in most kitchen pantries. Cinnamon has a number of health benefits, and those not getting enough cinnamon can...

The Olde Thompson Pepper Pump pepper mill offers a unique way to spice up your meals, letting you grind pepper with one hand at the table, unlike the dual handed function of most pepper mills. You...

Fresh ginger is typically sold in its raw, root form by the pound at grocery stores. Recipes calling for this sharp, tangy spice usually specify whether fresh or powdered ginger should be used....

Many recipes call for Pumpkin Pie Spice. This blend of spices costs more than four dollars for a little jar at the grocery store, but you can mix your own using ingredients you probably already...

Ginger is one of those versatile spices that adds an extra punch of flavor to both sweet and savory dishes. It's healthy too, says the George Mateljan Foundation's World's Healthiest Foods. Ginger...

Fresh ginger, with its spicy-sweet taste, is the perfect addition to a wide variety of recipes. From Asian dishes to baking, adding a little hint of ginger makes a great dish extraordinary. In...

Ginger root is a flexible spice that can be used in any course of a meal; you can find delicious ginger recipes for beverages, desserts, salads, side dishes or entrees. Ginger is also great for...

Most herbs, including mint, are extracted by the same process. This process involves creating a solution comprised of three parts herb to one part solvent. The solvent is usually alcohol, although...

How to make lemon zest at home. Making lemon zest yourself is a delicious way add some spice to your dishes!

Fennel seeds have a rich history. They were used as an ancient spice in the Mediterranean by the Greeks. Over time, the use of fennel as a spice made its way east and north, and fennel is now part...

The South American plant, stevia, is adaptable to climate zones as diverse as Florida and southern Canada. It has insect-repelling qualities and the dried leaves of the plant are used as a very...

Experts and food lovers are enamored with fennel, and it shows in the multitude of recipes that call for this herb. It presents itself in unexpected places such as a loaf of bread or pasta sauce....

Turmeric, the primary ingredient in curry seasoning, is popular in Asian cuisine. Also called curcumin, turmeric has a bright yellow color. Its hue makes it a popular seasoning when you want to...

Fructose is a sugar that is found naturally in fruits, their juices and honey. U.S. companies have been using high-fructose corn syrup as a replacement to natural sugar. Some individuals have an...

Substitute sugar with stevia for a non-caloric sweetener that will not affect blood glucose levels. This South American herb is approximately 250 times sweeter than ordinary table sugar and is...

Freezing fresh basil leaves is a great way to preserve them for future use. This method of freezing is so simple it can be done in a matter of minutes. Never let those fresh herbs go to waste...

Add a seductive smokey flavor to your chili with homemade powdered chipotle. Chipotle chilies, or wood-smoked jalapeno peppers, have a history that extends back to the Aztec empire; Aztecs...

Although celery seed is small, there may be times that you'll want to grind it into powder. Perhaps you're making a very rich, creamy soup, and you don't want the texture of the celery seeds...

Do not think of mint leaves as only for a garnish or decoration. These bright green leaves add a refreshing flavor to desserts, entrees and sides. While you may know of peppermint and spearmint,...

It is easy to blend a salt substitute that adds flavor to foods while helping you maintain a low-sodium diet. Seasoning meats and vegetables with an herb-and-spice blend, using favorite...

Do you know the brilliance of Basil? Have you seen how pretty it is growing on a windowsill? Tasty Basil has many health benefits. From soups to pesto, adding Basil to a dish just makes a lot of...

Most spices sold at grocery stores are ground powders contained in small jars. Since they are mass-produced, you never know how potent the spice powder will be, plus lower-priced brands may...

Rosemary is a strong herb and needs to be used sparingly so that it will enhance rather than overpower certain dishes. Rosemary works well with foods that are relatively bland or need a slight,...

One of our oldest cultivated plants, fenugreek was used by the ancient Egyptians as a medicinal and grown by the Romans for cattle fodder. Today, fenugreek may not regularly grace the spice rack...

Stevia rebaudiana is a plant that is native to Paraguay, but which can now be found in many other countries. It is sold as a dietary supplement in the U.S., and has the limited backing of the Food...

Ground ginger and fresh ginger are used very differently in cooking. The ground version of this warming spice is typically used in baking for spicing up cookies, breads and cakes. It's...

Many holiday dessert recipes call for a spice mixture known as Pumpkin Pie Spice. This is simply a mixture of several common spices that you can substitute from your own spice collection, saving...

Who can resist the smell of pumpkin and spice drifting through the air? Your whole home will smell delicious as this pie cooks for your holiday entertaining. This southern recipe is rich and...

Turmeric can be used to find out if a liquid or solution is acidic or alkaline (basic). Acidity and alkalinity are measured using a logarithmic scale referred to as pH. To test pH, turmeric is...

Sea salt is harvested directly from the sea through natural evaporation, and undergoes less processing than traditional salt. Pure, unrefined sea salt can also contain trace minerals such as...

Fresh herbs can enhance the flavor of anything you make whether it's fresh tea, dinner, baked goods or even flavored oils. If you grow your own fresh herbs and can't use them all at once, you can...

There are a hundred or more ways to season a chicken. Some people like their chicken to be spicy, sweet, or sometimes salty. I found this blend of seasonings to be the most flavorful and perfect...

Off the coasts of France and Portugal, in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Celtic sea salt is prepared for harvest on literal salt farms by traditional salt farmers, called paludiers. The salt...

"Since 1976, Celtic Sea Salt® Brand salt has been harvested by the salt farmers of Brittany using a farming method that preserves the purity and balance of ocean minerals." -- according to...

Fennel seeds are a common staple in many recipes, particularly in Chinese and Indian cuisine. These days, they're also common additions to the household spice rack. While sometimes enjoyed whole...

How to make a mean curry..starting from scratch??? ..ppfffttt.. unless you are of indian heritage and know all the in's and out's...it can be difficult..Take a short- cut and compose a curry that...

Orange flower water is an ingredient for many Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes and is also used by bakers for cakes and scones. While most recipes don't call for more than a tablespoon of...

Celery salt is a specialty condiment whose composition is surprisingly simple. Only the mixing of salt and ground celery seed are required to make your own celery salt, though the best mixture for...

If you like to flavor your cooking with herbs and spices then you already know how expensive they can be. This idea might help you save money on them. Especially if you don't want to grow and...

Harvesting generally occurs between May and August. During harvest, layers of bark are removed from the Cinnamomum aromaticum tree by a peeler. Peelers use a rasp knife to remove knots from the...

It is relatively easy to make orange flavored oil, considering that the only basic ingredients you'll need are fresh orange peels and "grain alcohol' ... and a little practice on your part to...

Salt (sodium chloride) was so highly prized at one time in history that it was used as wages to pay Roman Soldiers. Also, salt’s preservative property has been known and revered since antiquity....

Vanilla beans are gathered from the vanilla orchid. Vanilla orchids only produce beans when blooms are produced. This process does not occur until the orchid reaches maturity at three to five...

Growing your own stevia plant gives you access to an all-natural alternative to sugar. Stevia leaf is sweeter than sugar, so you need much less in recipes. You can use the leaves of a stevia plant...