I buy most of my spices fresh by weight from any one of several local stores. The only thing is they all use short round little containers to sell the spices, which were wreaking havoc on my spice shelf (the bottom part of which is visible just above my blog title - there's another little shelf and a small cabinet above that). I was delighted to find a bunch of plastic spice bottles at a paper goods store last week for just a few cents a bottle so I stocked up and have been happily transferring things into these much more manageable containers all week. Since I've got spices on the brain here are 13 of the spices currently stocked in my kitchen. In no particular order they are:
1. Paprika - sweet and hot (I'm Hungarian after all)
2. Cumin
3. "Shata Esh" chili powder - devastatingly hot
4. Cayenne pepper - both crushed and flakes
5. Oregano
6. Marjoram
7. Nutmeg
8. Cinnamon
9. Allspice
10. Dried coriander
11. Baharat - a Middle Eastern spice used in kubbeh. I also really like it in savory puff pastry dishes.
12. Cardamom - both dried and seeds
13. Curry
And of course salt, 3 different kinds of pepper, ginger, garlic powder (not that I use that that much, I greatly prefer fresh garlic), cloves, Mexican spice mix, Cajun spice mix, and a whole host of other stuff, but that would put me way over 13, so just pretend I didn't say anything ;-).
1. Paprika - sweet and hot (I'm Hungarian after all)
2. Cumin
3. "Shata Esh" chili powder - devastatingly hot
4. Cayenne pepper - both crushed and flakes
5. Oregano
6. Marjoram
7. Nutmeg
8. Cinnamon
9. Allspice
10. Dried coriander
11. Baharat - a Middle Eastern spice used in kubbeh. I also really like it in savory puff pastry dishes.
12. Cardamom - both dried and seeds
13. Curry
And of course salt, 3 different kinds of pepper, ginger, garlic powder (not that I use that that much, I greatly prefer fresh garlic), cloves, Mexican spice mix, Cajun spice mix, and a whole host of other stuff, but that would put me way over 13, so just pretend I didn't say anything ;-).
Except for the baharat, we have all the same spices in our kitchen. Happy TT.
ReplyDeleteGreat list, there were one or two that were unfamiliar. I clicked on your blog because I used to live on an island... and not one in a kitchen! :)
ReplyDeleteI never heard of #11. I'll have to do a google search now. LOL
ReplyDeleteI have the Thursday 13 of the Chinese New Year this week. Hope to see you there for a visit.
Thanks for the reminder, I need to update our spice rack this year. It's been much too long for some of them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the glimpse into your cupboard. :)
~X
Well, I have most of them and I tend to either forget them on the shelf or substitute them for something a recipe calls for and get a nasty tasting surprise. The "spicy hot" ones I avoid.
ReplyDeleteWell, you are way more prepared for cooking than I am. My main ingredient is Garlic Salt;) Happy TT and thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeletei use to buy my spices that way too...i wonder why i stopped?!? thanks for the reminder!!
ReplyDeletenew to Thursday Thirteen. poking around other participants, trying to broaden my bloggy horizons.
I've heard you should throw away all your spices and buy new ones once a year. I can't decide if that is sage advice, or someone from the spice industry trying to get me to buy more spices!
ReplyDelete"sage advice"
ReplyDeleteLOL - was the pun intended? If so, it was very well done.
I have a few hard to obtain spices that I keep longer just because I can't replace them, but in general I do find that they lose some of their "oomph" the longer they're around. I'm lucky though that here in Israel fresh spices sold by weight are easily available (and cheap). I buy fairly small quantities and replenish a bit more often.
I only have cinnamon and oregano. Heh!
ReplyDeleteBesides "Allspice" (I don't know what it is) I have all others also in my kitchen.
ReplyDeletemmm, that baharat sounds awesomely yummy!
ReplyDeleteI have heard that there are great spices in Israel. A friend of mine always brings spices back. I wonder why that is.... I buy them in bulk at the markets here. They seem fresh - who knows? Maybe they are from Israel! lol!
ReplyDeleteHappy TT!
I love your spice cardamom... I put this in warm milk at night...it' wonderful.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I saw the subject line and thought, "Only THIRTEEN???? No way!"
ReplyDeleteWe have an entire cupboard full. None of which made it into chicken soup.
Go figure.
I've got tons of spices, too--currently, they're overflowing the two little lazy susans I have them on. Guess I need a 3rd.
ReplyDelete3. "Shata Esh" chili powder - devastatingly hot
ReplyDeleteOhhhhhhhhhhh. Any chance you can send me some of that? If you can combine "devastatingly" with "hot," it is something I simply must have in my kitchen. :-)
I love cumin dishes. Especially good with venison.
ReplyDeleteSure Reiza, e-mail me your address :).
ReplyDeleteUmmmm paprika! I just discovered how wonderful that spice it! I love cooking rice in it! reading all those spices got my mind racing with all different kind of foods that I could make and now I am hungry! :)
ReplyDeleteWe have seven of those in our kitchen. That's not to say they ever get used!
ReplyDeleteI have them all but 3 and 11! Great list!
ReplyDeleteThat reminds me, my spice cupboard is a mess!
ReplyDeleteI feel so bland. Mine cabinet has salt, basil, oregano, and parsley.
ReplyDeleteThe last time I moved we had to put our boxes in storage. One of the rules were no "spices" (probably to keep rodents away). I broke that one. No way was I going to throw away all of my spices. :)
ReplyDeleteA couple were new to me but sounded super interesting! I wish I were more knowledgeable about seasoning and spices. Sounds like some yummy things are made around there!
ReplyDeleteI have never tasted/seen a baharat ever.But maybe it is available here -- I just need to get acquainted with it in the spice market.
ReplyDeleteI love Paprika! I always get such grief because I use more than most people.
ReplyDeleteYum, thinking of the delicious dishes you'd make with these makes my mouth water. Sounds delicious...
ReplyDeletethanks:
T13 #12 | Pictures from the (Virtual) Earth: Thirteen Landscapes
I loooove spicy food.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard of the baharat, perhaps I can find it somewhere over here.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my Dalai lama TT.
11 out of 13 with regular old "chili powder" and ginger!
ReplyDeleteFunny how much kitchens have in common all over the world!!