Stock your Spice Cabinet
I couldn’t cook nearly as well as I do without my well-stocked spice cabinet. There are so many more flavors you can give food when you have the necessary tools. Just salt and pepper don’t cut it for me. I like my food to have complex flavors that give my taste buds something to think about.
One thing you should know about me is that I almost always cook according to taste. In high school Anatomy and Physiology we performed a taste bud lab and I found out that I am what is known as a “SuperTaster.”
Because I can experience certain flavors with more intensity than the average person, I’ve learned to taste as I go. When I’m following someone else’s recipe I’ll usually start with half the amount of hot spices, and add according to my tastes. Sometimes I’ll want more than the original, other times I might want less.
I find that I’m especially sensitive to cayenne. While I might want 3 dashes in the whole dish, Eric would be happy with 3 dashes just in his portion. But other “hot/spicy” flavors don’t bother me as much.
A few months ago I shared this post: Kitchen Tip: A Well Stocked Spice Cabinet and mentioned what my favorite holiday baking spices were. We’ll, we’re not in holiday baking mode anymore so I’ll share some of my other favorite spices.
Favorites from my Spice Cabinet
- Cardamom (Recipe: Cardamom Citrus Coffee Cake)
- Chili Powder (Recipe: Quinoa Taco Salad)
- Coriander (Recipe Orange Thai Beef Skewers)
- Garam Masala (Recipe: Indian Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice)
- Curry Powder (Recipe: Coconut Chicken Curry Soup)
- Ground Cumin (Recipe: Cumin-Lime Pork and Pineapple Quesasdillas)
- Nutmeg (Recipe: Muffins That Taste Like Donuts)
- Smoked Paprika (Recipe: Smoky Black Bean Soup)
I was able to try some of these and a few more from SpicesInc.com. I liked the spices so much that they’re offering a great giveaway for you too so you can get that spice cabinet of yours all stocked up.
If you have any doubts as to what you should have in your spice cabinet, be sure to check out my FREE PRINTABLE Spice Cabinet Inventory. You can download it HERE or by clicking on the above image.
Before you enter the giveaway PLEASE read the rules.
Giveaway Prize (1 winner):
Your very own customized spice set!
Value: $20 – 45, depending on your selection
Giveaway Requirements:
- Head over to SpicesInc.com and choose any 6 spices, herbs, seasonings, chiles or extracts, then name your spice set and tell me why you picked that selection.
- You may NOT enter using multiple email addresses. Automatic disqualification.
- Additional entries must leave a separate comment.
- Contest ends April 21, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
- Contest open to US States only.
- Winner will be chosen by Greg, the owner of SpicesInc.com based on creativity.
Giveaway provided by SpicesInc.com. I received a selection of spices to sample, but otherwise was not compensated for this post.
Don’t forget to leave me your worst kitchen disaster story here: Your Worst Kitchen Disaster – SPILL IT! for a chance to win a $115 Pampered Chef Pizza gift set. Your comment will help me with the Pampered Chef Blogger Blunders contest.
Callie says
WOOOHOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
Thank you Katie and Spices, Inc. I can’t wait for my spice set to get here so we can kick off summer right!!!!!
Thank you!
Brook says
I love spices and have a whole cupboard full! I’d call my set of six Some Like It Hot…St. Louis Rib Rub, Adobo Lime Rub, Berbere,Organic Chipotle Powder, Serrano Chile Powder and Chipotle Honey Rub.
Andrea says
Definitely the Vanilla Beans – Bourbon, Hickory Salt, Organic Ceylon Cinnamon, Organic Mulling Spice, Organic Saigon Cinnamon Sticks, Garlic Salt
Lauren says
I would pick:
mustard seed powder
smoked peppercorns
chipotle powder
blackened seasoning
himalayan pink salt
cheddar cheese powder
I have never seen these in my grocery store and think they would be fun to try!
JulieD says
Thanks so much for this giveaway. This was so hard to pick! Garam masala, saffron, madagascar vanilla bean, nutmeg, cocoa powder and smoky citrus salt.
Megan says
I would chooose:
cardamom (I haven’t tried it but want to)
chipotle honey rub (sounds delicious!)
saigon cinnamon (you can never have too much)
vanilla beans (bourbon)
vanilla beans (tahitian)
thai seasoning (I love Thai food and Thailand!)
Michelle Judd says
I’d definitely name my Spice Set so it matched with the brand of my food blog — the “Taste As You Go” Spice Set. In it would be: whole nutmeg, vanilla extract, chipotle powder, Himalayan pink salt, Herbs de Provence, and organic smoked black peppercorns.
Being from Connecticut (the “Nutmeg State”), nutmeg was always the secret ingredient in dishes that my mother would prepare. Especially the dishes that called for milk or cream. The nutmeg shows versatility in savory and sweet dishes. I love vanilla, so it wouldn’t be a spice set designed by me without it. The Himalayan pink salt and organic smoked black peppercorns would provide an elevated version of the basic seasonings. Because I love it on everything from roasted potatoes to roasted chicken, Herbs de Provence HAS to be included. And I love the flavors of the American Southwest/Mexico, so why not mix it up a bit with the chipotle powder?
What a great giveaway, Katie!
Tiffany Rogers says
My spice set would be called “Bakers Dream”
Because i absolutely love to bake..that is by far my passion 🙂
Apple Pie Spice
Madagascar Vanilla Beans
Organic Ginger Powder
Organic Ground Allspice
Organic Cocoa Powder
Organic Saigon Cinnamon Powder
Heidi says
My 6 would be basil, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, kosher salt, and parsley. It would be called pizza night. My family loves our weekly pizza nights!
Krissa says
Cardamom, allspice, smoked paprika, vanilla beans, honey powder, and saffron.
Megan says
My spice set is “The Mayan Feast” It includes:
Mayan Salt
Cacao nibs
Tomato Powder
Vanilla Extract
Crushed Epazote Leaves
Granulated Honey
All of these were cultivated by the Maya, and some of the foods were not know to the outside world before the Columbus expeditions (I’m looking at you tomato.)
Katie R says
My spice mix is: “Banish the Bland”. It includes: ground cumin, dried tarragon leaf, Greek oregano, Garam Masala, Korintje cinnamon powder and organic vanilla bean. These spices would allow me to create a variety of foods (that originate from all over the world), and they’d help me banish the bland-ness (or boring-ness) that has crept into my meal planning.
MA Ross says
I’d have to call mine “Around the World in 80 Ways”. I love to cook soooo many different cuisines and spices are hard to find at the local stores- sure, they carry the basics, but do they have my six?
-grains of paradise (to make my own Ras el Hanout)
-saffron (for saffron and pistachio cookies)
-guajillo chiles (for Abuelita’s tamale recipe)
-whole black cardamom pods (for milk tea)
-whole nutmeg (for currant scones)
-zaatar (best fried chicken ever)