Happily Ever After Cafe discussion

So what ONE spice or seasoning (other than salt and pepper) would you find it difficult to live without?

For me, personally, I'll have to go with garlic. I love garlic so I guess I'm not a vampire ☺

But I'll put garlic in just about anything.

I agree with garlic but since it's been mentioned I will say onions…I add garlic and onions to everything. Italian spice is one I couldn't give up.

I love onions, too. Maybe not quite as much as garlic but real close.

Trader Joe's "Everyday Seasoning Grinder" is so good. I add it to eggs, cottage cheese, into mayo to spice up a sandwich, etc.

Technically it's multiple ingredients though... (sea salt, mustard seeds, black peppercorns, coriander, onion, garlic, paprika, and chili pepper)

Hmmm, may have to check that one out, Rachel.

Me too

Garlic! I also love adobo seasonings if I'm making anything Mexican.

I try not to use salt so the Trader Joe's one might not work for me.

Onions, bell peppers, and garlic.

thyme...love it. dill weed is another surprise flavour that does the trick.

Oh, yes. Love fresh thyme and fresh basil. They are, like, totally different herbs from their dried counterparts.

Ooh, and rosemary.

Hubby keeps wanting to do an herb garden. Maybe someday ☺

Pamela(AllHoney) wrote: "Hubby keeps wanting to do an herb garden. Maybe someday ☺"

Couldn't live without my herb garden. Love going out in early morning and picking the herbs fresh. I could't do without my garlic, onions, and probably basil. I, too, love a touch of fresh dill in many dishes.

I make 3 different spice blends from scratch - - one is taco seasoning (which is SO much cheaper than buying those little packets!), another is Emeril's Cajun seasoning (I have the recipe), and the 3rd is my own blend of salt, pepper, celery salt, garlic powder and onion powder. If anyone wants the recipes, PM me, and I'll send them. I've actually made shrink-wrapped gift baskets for Christmas gifts.

Can't wait to be back in my own home so I can have an herb garden again! I love fresh basil, oregano, parsley and thyme.

Fresh Mint for Iced Tea

I have my herb garden in a large planter right on my deck outside of my kitchen door. It is oval, heavy drainable plastic and holds enough basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano, parsley, and a bit of chive to last all summer. In the fall, I bring it in and it lasts a bit longer in the kitchen. In Ontario, most of the herbs are annuals so they die off for the winter anyway.

I don't have much of a herb garden. I've been having trouble with basil, but right now I have three plants going okay. Someone told me bigger pots and lots of water. I do have rosemary... I think anyone can grow rosemary! LOL! I also have thyme, but I have to baby it.

I had bad luck with my rosemary in pots. I planted it in the ground and now it's doing great.
I buy one of those christmas tree shaped rosemary plants each year and then plant it in the yard after the holidays.

Sadly, I'm the type who can kill even a cactus. :(

☼sunny☼ wrote: "I have my herb garden in a large planter right on my deck outside of my kitchen door. It is oval, heavy drainable plastic and holds enough basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano, parsley, and a bit of ch..."

This is an awesome way to raise herbs. Before the end of the growing season, I harvest some of my herbs and dry them in a dehydrator for winter use. Still beats the store bottle stuff!

Great idea Sandra. Fresh herb all winter is a dream.

Pamela, that is the same with me, so that is why I leave it out on the deck for God and the weatherman to look after. herbs are pretty hardy and do well.

Lisa Kay, I have both lemon thyme that has a bit of lemon flavour and scent and regular thyme. Wouldn't be without it.

☼sunny☼ wrote: "Great idea Sandra. Fresh herb all winter is a dream.

Pamela, that is the same with me, so that is why I leave it out on the deck for God and the weatherman to look after. herbs are pretty hardy ..."

You're so right, Sunny. Most herbs are so forgiving...a little water and some sunshine and they'll flourish. Another favorite herb for me is sage...have to have it for Thanksgiving turkey 'n dressing!

I want an herb garden. But I don't want to tend it,

Trust me, a pot with good soil, a bunch of starter herb plants from your garden center and it's done...now that is with Ontario sun and rain, not Florida so you may have to put it in a shady spot and water it when you remember to.

Yes, I put my rosemary in a wooden box years - decades - ago out under my kitchen "garden" window. The wood rotten through to the soil, so it is really growing in the ground. I'd probably kill it too, but it gets it moisture from the air.

I went to use it around Thanksgiving, after my new kitchen was put in. I hadn't cooked in a while, since my kitchen was defunct. Anyway, I couldn't figure out why it had some sort of white stuff all over it. Turned out it was the new house paint - "desert sand" - from being next to the house. I had a heck of a time finding some without paint on it. LOL!

Your poor rosemary!

Pamela, I'll do it...one day. :)

And Sunny, I'm renaming you Pamela...

Abigail wrote: "I want an herb garden. But I don't want to tend it,"

Abigail wrote: "I want an herb garden. But I don't want to tend it,"

Very little tending to do with most herbs. Just stick 'em in a pot of dirt 'n water once in awhile. I just put more in yesterday...oregano, thyme, sage, basil, dill, and some different mint.

All right... I'm closer to being convinced...

Just choose one thing...most herbs are available for purchase in little pots now and very reasonable...buy one you like to use often and stick it in a flower pot. I think you'll be surprised how easy it is. If you don't have a deck or porch, a window sill might do.

I think you are brave with the mint Sandra. It grows like a weed and soon takes over every square inch.

You've got that right! I try to isolate it in one of the beds in my yard. When it creeps out, I whack it with the weedeater. Anyone can grow that one...just be careful where you put it!

We have wild onions growing all over our yard here. I haven't eaten any but you can smell them.

Can't say I've ever eaten the wild variety but we grow a huge raised bed of the domesticated kind...usually Texas Sweets and Candy Apple Reds...really good. My garlic and cabbage share that bed with the onions.

I have a thai basil in my windowsill that I love to pick off a couple leaves for my sandwich. Also this Hanalei Grind from Hawaii I put on everything :)

Tyler wrote: "I have a thai basil in my windowsill that I love to pick off a couple leaves for my sandwich. Also this Hanalei Grind from Hawaii I put on everything :)"

I've been hearing about that one, Tyler. I'll have to give it a try.

Ooh, it sounds good. And salt isn't the first ingredient, yay'

Tyler wrote: "I have a thai basil in my windowsill that I love to pick off a couple leaves for my sandwich. Also this Hanalei Grind from Hawaii I put on everything :)"

Yes M'am...right there on the windowsill! I'll have to check out the Hanalei Grind.

wow - looks AWESOME! must try when I get back to the States.

if it's a spice, then it's cloves.. omg, cloves just.. yum!

now if it's a seasoning... its a hard toss between basil and garlic.

I have never cooked with cloves. Shame on me!

gaspspspsps... lol. its actually not everyone's cup of tea, but I do so love to add a small amount of clove to maybe the graham cracker crust to a cheesecake, some yogurt or maybe in my granola mix. Chai tea is insanely good with a sprinkle, and with a delicious brownie recipe for a hint of spice. I'm a fall/autumn flavor nut.

Oh! Love cloves.

Hmmm. Cloves.

I love cumen I put it in everything ( not the seeds )

That is one I underuse Joeera. What tastes the best with it's use... generally... stews?

I use it all the time. Cumin goes well in a trio of spices: coriander, turmeric, and cumin. I sauté the “holy trinity” of cooking (mirepoix: onions, bell peppers, and celery in roughly equal quantities) with these three as the base for a lot of my meals.

Here is a simple, but delicious dish with which to start:

Dice 1 large onion (white or yellow)
Cut up 1 bell pepper (color of your choice; I love yellow)
Dice a couple stalks of celery
If you want more veggies, add some broccoli florets or zucchini slices - about a cup?
Salt and sauté until onions just begin to turn translucent
Add 1 teaspoon each: cumin, coriander, turmeric and stir until spices heated
Add two cups vegetable broth
1 can chickpeas (rinsed & drained)
5 - 6 tablespoons of peanut butter, until dissolved/heated

Put over rice or rice/lentils, or consume by itself.

Can you fix it without the chickpeas? I hate chickpeas.

Sure. You'd still get the protein from the peanut butter.