Favorite spices????

What are your favorite, all-around spices?

I use paprika, cumin, mint, lemon zest, garlic, rosemary, thyme and oregano on a daily basis.

What are your favorites and how do you use them?

I'm looking for new seasoning ideas!

Old bay, cumin, cajun seasoning, fresh ground pepper, garlic salt, italian seasoning, dried parsley, celery seed, and onion powder :)

Garlic, Onion Salt, Cumin, Chili Powder, Red Pepper, Black Pepper, Basil, Oregano and Rosemary

Oh man, the spice cabinet is my friend!

Spices: cumin, red pepper flakes, cinnamon, paprika, freshly cracked black pepper

Herbs: basil, cilantro, parsley, rosemary, mint, tyme

um...does chocolate count as a spice?

Just kidding.

I love using curry as a base. Cinnamon is surprisingly good in savory dishes.

Of course it counts!! Everyone should have a little cocoa in thier cabinet!

Try putting cinnamon in some lentils or fava beans. I love cinnamon on lamb, it's great added to lemon and garlic....it gives an interesting flavor that leaves people guessing.

I use a lot of the ones mentioned above, but my most favorite is fresh tarragon - dried will do in a pinch as long as it's not too old

Celery Salt on seafood.

Dill, Rosemary, salt & pepper on grilled steak or lamb

Cardamom, just for its smell!

First off Penzeys Penzeys Penzeys

Let me say that I can not say enough.  Really Penzeys has without question been the best single supplier of anything I have ever delt with.

Penzeys curry powders have become indespencable, specially the Sate (all srambled eggs and sates) and Balti (roast meats).

Pizza seasoning

Smoked Spanish Paprika  I'm still learn about this, it is such a strong flavor but soooo good, work well on chicken.

Then all the standards too.

Thanks mfchill, I'm become really interested in exotic spices and eally want to learn how to use them!!

kind of on topic, but i have read that the chemicals in spicy food boost your metabolism by up to 50% for 3 hrs. While that might seem a little much, it does make sense that the chemicals that make things spicy will rev up you metabolism somewhat and hey, every little bit counts, right? So throw some hot peppers on that sandwich and be liberal with that chili powder!

Aaand.. if you throw all those great metabolism boosting hot spices on your food...   you wont miss the salt...

(yah right..  Ill miss the salt till I die..   ** pouts ** )

Spices... Well, I'm weird in that I abhor black pepper. But then I'm fairly normal in that I love salt. (I remember eating it straight as a kid -- like pouring it into my hand and liking it off, repeatedly. What was wrong with my mother? She'd just watch me do it!)

As for spices I use now... cinnamon and nutmeg for like oatmeal and toast and stuff. When making veggie soup I put in plenty of oregano, thyme, sage, parsley, garlic salt (not too much), basil, and the nifty sodium-free chicken bouillon I found (to make up for the garlic salt).

That's about it, spice-wise, for me. I'm not all that adventurous!

I have sweet basil, oregano, mint, cilantro, parsely, lemon balm, and thyme in my garden.  I use all except the mint and lemon balm in Italian or Mexican foods and/or on fish (tarragon, too!).  The mint and lemon balm go in green tea or water.  :)

I also like to use cumin, coriander, onion powder, and and chili powder when making beans.  I love cinnamon and nutmeg in my oatmeal, and am fond of garam masala and curry powders in veggie dishes, morrocan stew, and stirfries.  Garlic, of course, is also a favorite as is mustard.  Mmm. . . garlic . . . I'm getting hungry!  :D

Aside from freshly ground black pepper, and not in any particular order - fresh herbs from my garden: parsley, basil, tarragon, chives, thyme and mint.  In the spice cabinet: cumin, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, Old Bay, paprika, rosemary, crushed red pepper, ginger, nutmeg, corriander, garam masala.  Lots more, but not very often.

Pepper, Mrs. Dash (table blend, original blend, and the sun-dried tomato herb blend), chili powder!!, cinnamon, minced onion, bay leaves, basil, Italian herb blends, and..........more pepper. Hahaha.

mmm, Spike is delish!! It's a blend of different spices. I use it for chicken & just about anything else! They also have a salt substitute kind which is just as good. You can find it in some stores but I have best luck at health food stores.

sometimes I think I could live on garlic, take a bath in it, use it as perfume, roooooll in it.  Totally love the stuff, and I use it more than just about anything else.  Wonder if that's why I'm short on getting dates? =)

Rosemary is a close second along with basil and oregano and onion.  I use onion in everything!  Curry is wonderful, too and I use a lot of cumin as well! 

Good stuff, I say!

Cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice (for winter squash)

Basil, oregano, and garlic (for a myriad of things)

My list is really long, so I'll summarize - I grow fresh herbs and freeze them for winter.  I love hot spicy flavors, so I have all those spices. I also use the aromatic spices like cinnamon and ginger.  Love fresh ginger root!!! Garlic is a must!!!

The two spices I simply love are Garim Masala and Mrs Dash - !!

Always add the garim to my rice as it boils - love the smell and taste! Use Mrs Dash on veggies and fish.