{"id":117,"date":"2008-10-15T17:39:53","date_gmt":"2008-10-15T17:39:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cookhappylivehealthy.org\/blog\/?p=117"},"modified":"2008-10-15T17:39:53","modified_gmt":"2008-10-15T17:39:53","slug":"using-herbs-and-spices-continue-the-adventure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cookhappylivehealthy.org\/blog\/using-herbs-and-spices-continue-the-adventure\/","title":{"rendered":"Using Herbs and Spices:  Continue the Adventure"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/cookhappylivehealthy.org\/blog\/2008\/10\/09\/using-herbs-and-spices-outside-the-comfort-zone\/\">Previous posts<\/a> talked about taking the plunge and using herbs and spices outside our comfort zones.\u00a0 Lot&#8217;s of <a href=\"http:\/\/cookhappylivehealthy.org\/blog\/2008\/10\/10\/getting-adventurous-using-herbs-and-spices\/\">tips and tricks<\/a> were given to make it more comfortable and less agonizing to take that plunge.<\/p>\n<p>It may take a little time and effort to get going, but you\u2019ll be hooked once you start using herbs and spices more regularly and adventurously.<span> <\/span>And talk about a cheap thrill.<span> <\/span>In tough economic times, what could be nicer than to enjoy the comforting salve of a meal brightened exquisitely with the simple addition of an herb, either purchased for pennies or grown for free in our gardens or kitchens?<span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">The best way to keep your adventure going:\u00a0 Keep an eye out for other recipes featuring whatever new herbs or spices you target.<span> <\/span>This will be easier than you think:<span> <\/span>I remember how, with each new car we got over the years, we suddenly \u201cnoticed\u201d that everybody seemed to be driving the same kind of car!<span> <\/span>By our third car, we finally realized this phenomenon was an optical illusion.<span> <\/span>Vehicles like ours had always been out there; we just began to \u201csee\u201d them once we became an owner.<span> <\/span>Happily, the same will happen once your attention is focused on a particular herb or spice.<span> <\/span>Suddenly, you\u2019ll begin running across all sorts of recipes that use it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">But don\u2019t stop with your initial one or two new herbs.<span> <\/span>Continue working up the confidence to extend even further, trying ever more daring combinations and new and more interesting herbs and spices.<span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">As you begin experimenting, watch for patterns that emerge:<span> <\/span>how do recipes combine herbs, spices and flavorings?<span> <\/span>What types of meats, vegetables, grains or beans are used as backdrops?<span> <\/span>Does an herb or spice taste best in small amounts or large?<span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Speaking of patterns, one things you\u2019ll begin to notice are \u201cHerb Families.\u201d<span> <\/span>These are helpful because if you like one member of a family, you may well like (and you\u2019ve probably already had) some of the others.<span> <\/span>Here are a couple examples, by no means scientific, just to get you started: <span> <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Italian:<span> <\/span>Basil, oregano, marjoram, thyme<\/li>\n<li>Indian: Coriander, cumin seeds, mustard, chili peppers, turmeric<\/li>\n<li>Simon and Garfunkel:<span> <\/span>Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme (like the song, if you can remember back that far)<\/li>\n<li>Sweet:<span> <\/span>cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cardamom<\/li>\n<li>Savory:<span> <\/span>Rosemary, thyme, sage, bay leaves<\/li>\n<li>A little more unique\u2014the \u201cfines herbes:\u201d<span> <\/span>parsley, chervil, tarragon and chives<\/li>\n<li>Mexican: Chili peppers, oregano, cumin<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">As an example of a pattern, you\u2019ll see dishes with chili powder are often complemented nicely with a sprinkling of fresh cilantro and lime juice.<span> <\/span>Basil, mint and cilantro are very often combined in Thai food&#8211;an unlikely but nevertheless superb flavor trio.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt;font-family:&quot;\">Once you begin noticing these patterns, you\u2019re set to take an exciting step:<span> <\/span>Getting creative and seasoning dishes on your own, without a recipe to follow.<span> <\/span>That\u2019s how the fun continues without end!\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/cookhappylivehealthy.org\/blog\/2009\/05\/11\/using-herbs-and-spices-more-on-flavor-families\/\" target=\"_blank\">Check out how I transferred the flavor family from Julee Rosso&#8217;s Beef and Eggplant Stew to a vegetarian version<\/a>.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Go ahead and get hooked on using herbs and spices.  In tough economic times, it&#8217;s an amazingly cheap thrill&#8211;especially using herbs from a kitchen or outdoor garden.  And once you begin seeing common herb patterns, you can begin exercising your own creativity.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"generate_page_header":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12,1],"tags":[108,155,291,292,293,541],"class_list":["post-117","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-herbs-spices","category-uncategorized","tag-cheap-thrill","tag-cutting-grocery-costs","tag-herb-families","tag-herbs","tag-herbs-spices","tag-spices","masonry-post","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-50"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cookhappylivehealthy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cookhappylivehealthy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cookhappylivehealthy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cookhappylivehealthy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cookhappylivehealthy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=117"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cookhappylivehealthy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cookhappylivehealthy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=117"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cookhappylivehealthy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=117"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cookhappylivehealthy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}