Inspiration

If you are new the the whole spice blending game, taco seasoning is a great place to start. It is easy, forgiving, and leaves a lot of room for experimentation. The standard ground beef taco seasoning purchased at a grocery store is expensive, bland and contains all sorts of unnecessary junk like sugar, msg and whey.  With the contents of a standard, well-stocked spice rack, you can create several blends to suit different spice tolerances and preferences. The base around which every taco seasoning recipe is built is chili powder, paprika, and cumin. From there, many add onion and garlic...

Scientific Name Ammonium Aluminum Sulfate What is Alum? Alum isn't a spice. It is a family of chemical compounds that contain Aluminum. Alum is sold in the baking and spice sections of grocery stores and is a white powder. What is the History of Alum? The exact history of the alum we use today is difficult to determine because the term Alum has been used for various compounds over the years. However, we know that Alum was being used long before common era. It was mostly used for dying and tanning, but was also used in pottery and as an eastern medicinal...

This recipe is a great one for the home cook who wants to experiment! There are lots of other ingredients that would make great additions to this soup, such as, black beans, sautéed zucchini, roasted red pepper, smoked salmon, shrimp or smoked sausage. Just add them in at the end with the chicken and remaining corn. 3 Tablespoons of Butter or Olive Oil 1 Medium Onion (Finely Diced) 2 Medium Red Potatoes (Diced in 1/2 inch squares) 4 Cloves Garlic or 2 Teaspoon Garlic Powder 1 Minced Canned Chipotle Pepper or 2 Teaspoons Ground Chipotle Pepper 1 Quart Vegetable Stock...

Yesterday, I heard someone say that they believed that every house in Wisconsin had chives planted in the yard somewhere. It's not true, I had to plant my chives with my own two hands. I get where they were going though, my chives are true stalwarts. They are one of the first things to pop up in the spring and they stay green until November. They add a much needed punch of color to dinners of meat and potatoes through the long Wisconsin winter. When I forget to buy onions at the store, they jump at the chance to add a little...

Scientific Name Pimenta dioica What is Allspice? Just to get the basics out of the way, allspice is a unique spice, and not a blend of several, or all, spices. Allspice has a warm and spicy flavor and aroma reminiscent of cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.   What is the History of Allspice? Allspice is native to the Caribbean and Latin America. It was being used by the indigenous people to flavor chocolate and to preserve meats when European explorers arrived. Allspice became so popular in England that it also goes by the name English Spice.   How is Allspice Grown?...