Adding the right spices to your recipes can provide the extra flavor that makes it perfect. Without spices, most dishes would be bland-tasting and we wouldn't enjoy them as much. Fortunately, there are a number of spices and herbs that can be used in cooking.

Understanding the different cooking spices and herbs can help you enhance something wonderful or save something you've made from disaster. This section of tips explores several common spices and herbs such as basil, cloves, allspice, and ginger root.

Tips, Tricks, and Answers

The following articles are available for the 'Spices' topic. Click the article''s title (shown in bold) to see the associated article.

   Allspice
Allspice, unlike other kinds of spices, does not have a single taste. Rather, it has a taste reminiscent of a combination of three separate spices. These other spices are cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Here are some other interesting facts about this truly unique spice.

   Bay Leaf
Bay leaves (also known as Laurus nobilis) have had a long history both in the kitchen and out of it. This lovely herb shows up in literature, mythology, and in the latest cookbooks. Take a little time to learn some of this fascinating herbs history.

   Bergamot and Borage
The herbs bergamot and borage are both fairly interesting and quite useful in the kitchen. Since it never hurts to learn as much as you can about the ingredients you use in the kitchen, take a little time to learn about these great herbs.

   Best Ways to Store Fresh Herbs
Fresh herbs tend to be better for cooking than dried ones. There is, however, the problem of keeping herbs fresh for as long as possible. There are tips you can try to help fresh herbs last.

   Caraway
Caraway has been around for a very long time and long held a place of honor among the herbs and spices of the world. Take some time and learn a little bit about the history and uses of this fantastic herb.

   Cardamom
Cardamom is an often overlooked and under-rated spice. Surprisingly, this spice has a taste that is similar to ginger, but with a slight twist. If you have ever wondered what cardamom was, or you have simply wanted to know a little bit more about this wonderful spice, then read on.

   Chili Peppers and Paprika
Despite what many people may think chili peppers and paprika are actually part of the same family. While there is a lot of difference in how these items are used in cooking, there is also a lot of ways that they are the same. Learn a bit more about these fantastic ingredients and see how you can use them in your cooking.

   Choosing a Cooking Oil
Different cooking oils do so many different things and so you need to know when to use what cooking oil and what the differences are. Here is some information to help you out!

   Cinnamon and Cassia
If you have ever wondered what cinnamon or cassia were, or you have simply wanted to know a little bit more about these wonderful, bitter sweet spices, then read on. Here you will find some great information about some of the earliest spices known to man.

   Cleaning a Honey Mess
Do you love honey but hate the mess it leaves? Clean it up easier with a few simple tips.

   Cloves
Cloves are one of those spices that seem to be full of contradictions. From it's bloody history, to the unusual color of the plant, the clove is one of the most interesting spices around. If you have ever wanted to know a little bit more about this wonderful spice, then read on.

   Cooking with Fresh Ginger Root
If you love Asian flavors, you're familiar with ginger. Find out how to store it make it last as long as possible.

   Cooking With Garlic
Garlic is one of those tricky ingredients that you need to be careful with when cooking. If you don't use enough, you won't even know that it is there, and end up missing out on a great treat. Use too much though, and you can easily find your meal is overwhelmed with garlic. Cooking with garlic doesn't need to be that difficult though, as long as you follow these simple guidelines.

   Ginger
Ginger is one of the most popular spices in the world. In fact, this long beloved spice has been a mainstay ingredient in cooking, beverages, and medicine everywhere from China, to the United States. If you would like to learn a little more about the history, and some of the uses of this fantastic spice, keep reading.

   Great Taste without Salt
Sometimes salt isn't the healthiest way to go with your cooking, so you need to find ways to season your food without salt. Fortunately there are ways to avoid salt in your seasoning and still have amazing food!

   Mace
Mace is a unique type of spice when compared to others. To learn a little more about this fantastic ingredient, then read on! You will find answers to many of your questions about this wonderful nutmeg relative.

   Making Your Own Spice Blends
What better way to show of your culinary skills than to create your own spice blends? It is remarkably easy to do, and can be quite fun. Here are a few great ideas that you can use to get you started on making your own spice blends.

   Nutmeg
Nutmeg is somewhat of a unique spice. To learn a little more about this fantastic ingredient, then read on! You will find answers to many of your questions about this wonderful relative to the spice mace if you only keep reading.

   Pepper
Pepper is a wonderful spice that has a great bite to it. Unlike many of the other spices, pepper can be used equally well for all three meals. Here is a little information about one of the most commonly used spices around the world.

   Saffron
Crocus satiuusy, or saffron as it is more commonly known, is a wonderful little spice that holds many surprises. While not many people readily know what saffron is used for, it is used more commonly than people realize. Here is a little history and background about his fantastic spice.

   Saving Dry Brown Sugar
How can you keep your brown sugar from drying out? And what can you do to save it if it's already dry? Find out here.

   Spice Racks
Spice racks are a necessity for the truly enthusiastic home chef. Without a properly organized and stocked spice rack, the budding chef can find themselves quickly overwhelmed and wasting time when cooking their latest creation. Here is everything that you need to know in order to make your spice rack the best organized and well stocked that it can possibly be.

   That Wonderful Vanilla Bean
Perhaps one of the most well known and most beloved of spices, Vanilla is an enigma to many people. Sure you can pick it up from just about any grocery store, but where does it come from? What is this spices history? The answers to these, and other questions await you.

   Turmeric
Turmeric is very similar in many ways to its cousin, saffron. Similar in color, texture, and taste, turmeric also has some great qualities that are unique. Here are some rather interested facts about this wonderful spice.

   Using Anise
Anise can be used for a variety of purposes from culinary to medicinal uses. To find out all about the many different uses keep reading.

   Using Garlic
Love garlic? Learn how to use it easier, and find out what to do when you've used too much.

   What is Basil?
Basil, or Ocimum basilicum, can be found in many areas of our everyday lives. In fact, this wonderful little herb has more roles than many people would readily believe. If you would like to learn a little more about this fantastic spice, then keep reading, you won't be dissapoointend.