(No affiliation other than a very happy customer--fresh spices, in the amounts you wish, VERY reasonably priced if you buy by the ounce in the ziplock bags.) A certain Gypsy is a convert.
Dill seed is great for pickles of all sorts, and in making a creamy dill dressing for cucumber salad when fresh dill isn't available. (I use yogurt and sour cream, but either works alone.)
Bay leaves are great for soups or stews, as long as they are removed before serving. A-hem.
Some of the others are common in German/Scandanavian food--allspice and coriander especially. Sauerbraten uses bay leaves and mustard seeds, along with other things like juniper berries and cloves. If you don't cook those foods, they you may want to skip those.
Also, if herbs are stored at room temperature, especially in a kitchen, most are best consumed within a year or so. Seeds tend to hold up a bit better, but if you've had them for 10 years you may need to use more to taste much. So, you may wish to consider replacing those which are "original" to the set that you wish to try.
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Spices
Date: 2009-06-12 10:17 pm (UTC)http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/penzeyscatalog.html?id=chXSfRfi
(No affiliation other than a very happy customer--fresh spices, in the amounts you wish, VERY reasonably priced if you buy by the ounce in the ziplock bags.) A certain Gypsy is a convert.
Dill seed is great for pickles of all sorts, and in making a creamy dill dressing for cucumber salad when fresh dill isn't available. (I use yogurt and sour cream, but either works alone.)
Bay leaves are great for soups or stews, as long as they are removed before serving. A-hem.
Some of the others are common in German/Scandanavian food--allspice and coriander especially. Sauerbraten uses bay leaves and mustard seeds, along with other things like juniper berries and cloves. If you don't cook those foods, they you may want to skip those.
Also, if herbs are stored at room temperature, especially in a kitchen, most are best consumed within a year or so. Seeds tend to hold up a bit better, but if you've had them for 10 years you may need to use more to taste much. So, you may wish to consider replacing those which are "original" to the set that you wish to try.
Speaking of providing way too much information...