| Herbs and spices can make or break a meal. Even at | | | | overpower a meal if you use too much, and there's |
| the bare minimum, just putting a little bit of pepper | | | | no way to balance it out when you go too far. |
| into a dish can really bring out the flavors while | | | | Cinnamon: Cinnamon, made from the bark of a type |
| making the meal tastier and fuller. Still, there's only so | | | | of small tree that mainly grows in certain parts of |
| much you can do with the basics. But the problem is | | | | Asia, especially Sri Lanka, China, and Indonesia, is a |
| that there are so many different herbs and spices to | | | | wonder-spice for practically all types of desserts and |
| choose from, and it can be hard to know which ones | | | | many breakfast dishes. Add it to pies, cakes, sweet |
| to use for which dishes, particularly if your chef's | | | | breads, fruit-based desserts, ice cream, hot cereals, |
| palate is not well developed. If you're not the most | | | | pancakes, waffles, and french toast. You can also |
| experienced cook in the world but you want to start | | | | mix it into coffee, cider, or hot cocoa to give the |
| developing a sophisticated sense of seasoning, get to | | | | drink more character. Cumin: Cumin is an |
| know these first. | | | | underappreciated spice that goes well in many types |
| Basil: Basil is a staple of many international cuisines, | | | | of international cuisines such as Indian and Middle |
| most notably Italian. If you're cooking any type of | | | | Eastern, but it's also a very welcome addition to |
| Italian dish, particularly northern Italian, there's a very | | | | Southwestern or Latin American dishes. For example, |
| good chance that at least a dash of basil will fit right | | | | as a perfect side dish to a Mexican meal, make some |
| in. On the other hand, it works great as a main | | | | beans and rice, and mix in a few dashes of cumin |
| ingredient in dishes such as tomato basil soup or | | | | along with a little salt and pepper. Once you get into |
| margherita pizza. Meanwhile, the herb is also useful in | | | | the habit of using Cumin, it will become one of your |
| Middle Eastern, Indian, and certain types of Asian | | | | go-to spices for all kinds of meals. |
| foods. | | | | Oregano: Another herb that goes great in most |
| Chili powder: Want to add a little bit of bite to your | | | | Italian dishes, oregano is very strong, so use it in |
| meal? Chili powder is surprisingly versatile. In small | | | | relatively small quantities. While it goes well with basil, |
| quantities, it goes well in a wide variety of dishes | | | | it also works great in spicier dishes from southern |
| from almost all types of cuisine. Mix it into any dish | | | | Italy. It's indispensable in Greek and Turkish cuisine, |
| that is supposed to be spicy, including Mexican or | | | | and it's a common addition to many types of soups |
| Southwestern foods, and also keep it handy for | | | | and sauces-especially pizza sauce, where it can be |
| southern Italian dishes such as spicy pastas. Just | | | | used quite liberally. In fact, oregano originally became |
| always make sure to add a little at a time, and do a | | | | popular in the U.S. as a pizza ingredient, and it has |
| taste test before you add anymore. Chili can | | | | since spread to other types of dishes. |