Or, Spice Up Your Life!
I love spices. What a simple way to dress up your food. Turn something that is otherwise ok and kick it up a notch with a smidge of this or that. Tomato sauce is fabulous with a sprinkle of cumin. Sprinkle coriander on carrot fries, and dip them in a curry ketchup (a habit I picked up in Belgium, it’s a great combo!) I love adding spices in totally unexpected dishes as well, such as chili in chocolate or freshly ground black pepper in shortbread.
I am very thankful for spices. Because we could all use some spice in our lives, right?
As my supply of exotic spices such as cardamom and star anise is currently at home in Maryland, I have been relying heavily on the basis the AP family has, such as cinnamon. No complaints here! I douse anything I can in cinnamon, like pears and apples. Don’t worry, my mom has been putting the cardamom to good use, she told me the other day she baked a pear cake with cardamom. Me want now!
I get my love of spices from my mom. I seem to be in a nostalgia mood lately, and just the word ginger makes me think of Mom. It is her favorite spice, and it is now mine as well. We are unable to resist anything with the tantalizing addition of ginger. My mom literally swoons.
When I buy ginger, I like to imagine people or animals based on the crazy formations. Kind of like with clouds.
This one is kind of like a rhinoceros (see the horn on top of his head) standing up, who for some reason has an extremely large tumor coming out of the bottom of his head. Maybe that’s too big of a stretch?
I recently received an extremely generous package from the Newman’s Own Organics angels. Thanks Sally! It includes cookies galore, pretzels, soy crisps, chocolate, mints, and so many other goodies. You will be seeing many appearances of these treats.
What excited me the most was my beloved ginger in cookie form.
While I am weak at the knees at any cookie with peanut butter or the words double chocolate, I could live with or without oreos. But a ginger oreo? Yes, yes, yes!
See that halo over the Newman mark? So fitting.
What are some of your favorite spices?
5 responses so far ↓
burpexcuzme // November 5, 2009 at 7:48 pm |
Cinnamon rocks ass. And so does paprika. And cumin. And who can forget good ol’ super-expensive saffron?
janetha // November 5, 2009 at 8:41 pm |
i loooove your thankful thing! my sister and her family have been doing this every day so far this month and now that i am visiting her i have been joining in! i have listed photographs, snow, hummus and ice cream
you are so amazing maya! i am thankful for YOU!!
Bekah // November 6, 2009 at 4:29 am |
yay for spices! As a cook, I never take spices for granted. Love em. And I have so much to learn about them too.
Fave spices: cinnamon (course), cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, cayenne, peppppperr to name a few.
Katie // November 6, 2009 at 3:39 pm |
Mmm ginger o’s!! I die.
I love ginger so much, and cinnamon goes on everything in my life. As far as savory spices, I really like cumin. It’s really fantastic with roasted carrots.
Things I Am Thankful For #10 « American Gourmande // November 11, 2009 at 10:08 pm |
[...] #4: Spice [...]