How to Use Herbs & Spices?

Below are tips on how to use your favorite herbs and spices, how to store them so they stay fresh and if you have a garden and love growing your own herbs - when to pick and how to dry them. 

TIPS:

1.      Cooking spices for too long may result in too strong flavours.

2.      For long-cooking dishes, such as soups and stews, try adding your herbs and spices an hour or less before serving. For best results try crushing the herbs before adding to your dish.

3.      For shorter cooking dishes try adding dry spices earlier in cooking. Fresh spices and herbs should be added towards the end of cooking.

4.      Unless the recipe specifically calls for it, don't use more than three herbs and spices in any one dish. Some Indian Recipes are an exception to the rule, as they often calls for 10 or more different spices in one curry dish. Unless it is a curry, you are planning of cooking

5.      Try replacing herbs and spices called for in recipes with something different such as Marjoram instead of Oregano, Savory instead of Thyme, Cilantro, instead of Parsley, Anise seed instead of Fennel. Mixing herbs and spices will provide you with a new art in food preparation by allowing you to create a variety of exciting seasoned dishes.

These simple tips on using your herbs and spices will help you  create a recipe that will be one of a kind