What are your favorite herbs / spices ?

[Korn]

What are your favorite spices?

Before I add the poll itself, please list your favorite spices (unless someone else listed them already)...

[RedWellies]

Just spices or herbs too? I found this if it helps?

[harpy]

Turmeric, cinammon, cardamom, coriander (seeds), cayenne pepper, paprika, black pepper.

[applepie]

cinnamon, ginger, allspice, saffron, paprika, coriander.

[harpy]

Oh yes, that is how you spell "cinnamon" isn't it?

Thought of another couple: carraway (or do I mean "caraway"?) seeds, fennel seeds

[herbwormwood]

Red chilli, cumin.

[Yogini]

You mean there are seasonings other than garlic?

[Roxy]

cinnamon, nutmeg, tumeric, mace

[vegcurry]

garlic, chilli, ginger, coriander

[piggy]

cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, chilli, coriander, garlic, white pepper, black pepper, cloves

[cedarblue]

mmm all of the above plus picante pimenton - its a hot, smokey paprika type spice. (barts spices range)

[Korn]

Just spices or herbs too?

Herbs too + other stuff primarily used for taste - like coriander/bay/curry leaves, garlic and chili.

[Risker]

In that case I'll add basil, oregano and parsley

[Tigerlily]

The ones I personally use often:
Cumin, black pepper, garlic, and basil.

The ones my mother, who happens to be a better cook than me, uses often:
Cumin, allspice, cinnamon, garlic, black pepper, bay leaves, dried mint, and cardamom.

[Mahk]

Szechuan pepper (corn). I'm not 100% sure of that spelling and have trouble finding this in stores so I usually substitute normal crushed red pepper (the kind often found in shakers in pizzerias). I love hot, hot, hot food. I think in an earlier life I was a dragon. (Just kidding, I don't believe in reincarnation, just to set the record straight, but I do believe in ancient dragons. No, not like the present day Komodo dragon, I'm talkin' giant, jetliner-sized flying reptilian beasts. Perhaps you call them by their more common name: pterodactyls) Does anyone know where to find this pepper in the Boston area? TIA

[harpy]

Thyme, oregano, parsley (not dried), basil (ditto), rosemary and sage sometimes.

[piggy]

Herbs too + other stuff primarily used for taste - like coriander/bay/curry leaves, garlic and chili.

oh, add basil, oreganum, rosemary, all fresh and marjoram

[RedWellies]

Basil and garlic for me!

[Smoothie]

i'll add vanilla, lemongrass and star anis

[pavotrouge]

Herbs: basil, lemongrass, fresh mint

spices: coriander, fennel and mustard seeds, cumin, chilli, green pepper (whole)... really a lot, just bought a variety of Indian spices I haven't used before yesterday...

[aubergine]

My favourite has gotta be Cumin Where is he these days?

I also like Coriander, Basil, Turmeric, Chili... Maybe all herbs and spices?

[herbwormwood]

Herbs too + other stuff primarily used for taste - like coriander/bay/curry leaves, garlic and chili.

I also like a spice mix called garam masala, which I buy ready mixed. Herbs: I like basil best and I eat loads of pesto. I also like mint.

[maya]

Curry
Garam masala
tumeric
ginger

[Cherry]

herbs: thyme, basil, oregano
spices: vanilla, ginger, cumin, coriander

[auntierozzi]

I'm trying to get hold of ajwain, I think that it is also lovage. It is often an ingrediant in poppadums. I really like that.
CedarBlue, I love that picante pimenton too. Do you have a favourite dish that you use it in? I like it in rice.
I love all the those already mentioned. I also use nutmeg pretty often.

[rantipole]

I use a wide range of spices and love most of them (not anise or anything similar, though). The ones I use most are turmeric, garlic, ginger (the best!), basil, cayenne, and coriander. I buy a lot of things that have cinammon in them, but I don't cook or bake with it often myself.

Cheers,
rant

[Roxy]

I'm adding basil, rosemary and garlic.

[Mahk]

Oh, I forgot to add one we all use, like it or not, daily. When people ask me "what do you eat?" I sometimes answer, "Of the three forms of matter, animal, vegetable, or mineral, I only eat the last two". Puzzled, they often then ask, "What mineral do you eat?" I answer, "salt".

[absentmindedfan]

Herbs - basil, oregano, coriander
Spices - nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger

And chilli and black pepper and garlic if they count

[vegcurry]

I'm trying to get hold of ajwain, I think that it is also lovage. It is often an ingrediant in poppadums. I really like that.
CedarBlue, I love that picante pimenton too. Do you have a favourite dish that you use it in? I like it in rice.
I love all the those already mentioned. I also use nutmeg pretty often.

"Ajwain is often confused with lovage seed; even some dictionaries mistakenly state that ajwain comes from the lovage plant." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajwain

[RedWellies]

Are we getting the poll, Korn?

[Korn]

Thanks for the reminder!
I made a list now. Please check if there are any last comments before I open the poll...

[RedWellies]

Only if you post on my "going grey" poll.....

[Tigerlily]

Korn, you have Kaffir Lime leaves in twice. Once with curry leaves and once on it's own.

Also what about ground coriander? Maybe have coriander seeds/powder?

[Korn]

Thanks, Tigerlily!

The poll is open now.

[Tigerlily]

Voted.

[RedWellies]

Me too...fresh basil and fresh garlic.

I think it would be easier if the names were alphabetical though!

[Risker]

I voted for 5 since they're the ones I use most frequently.

[emmapresley]

cumin..fresh basil..mmm..cinammon..i instantly forgot what i voted for..

asafoetida i like because of/in spite of it's slightly manky smell

black pepper is indispensible....omg and garlic..loads of it

[hazelbunny]

OMG! Someone likes asafoetida! It smells so bad it has to be double wrapped. Still I suppose it must make interesting food...

I like all the usual stuff really, mainly the ones that have a lot of votes. I keep meaning to do a cookery course or something, cos I definately need to expand my repetoire.

[twinkle]

hee, I'm the only person who's voted for marjoram so far!

I also like general mixed spice (like sweet spice mix for cakes). Maybe I should have mentioned that before the poll went up! :Oops:

[Gorilla]

i think mixed spice and allspice are the same thing aren't they?

[twinkle]

As far as I know Allspice is actually just one spice...

eta - yup!

[Gorilla]

oh ok, i always thought it was the same thing. you learn something new every day i guess!

[hollybee]

Nobody else likes white pepper?

[Risker]

Nobody else likes white pepper?

I would put that down to black pepper being generally more available than white.

[DancingWillow]

fresh garlic is the winner so far...i hope all of us vegans carry a box of mints speaking of which, i recently found organic, free trade mints...i love them.

[herbwormwood]

As far as I know Allspice is actually just one spice...

eta - yup!

Allspice is a pod like thing I put in my pickled beetroot recipe. I don't know what other use it has.
Maybe I should study this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allspice

[Jasmine]

I like garlic and ginger the best! A lot of the others are good too.

[pavotrouge]

My new fave is ginger!