Community Chat

[gidgetgh]

For those of us who rarely cook, how many spices do you keep on hand?  I made a trip about 4 years ago to the local Penzey's store and loaded up on all sorts of interesting spices.  I ended up throwing them away because I never used any of them.  Wait, I used one, it was some sort of cheese thing you sprinkled on bread to make garlic bread.  I didn't care for it.

Currently in our house we have:

salt

pepper

Oregano

Paprika

Chili Powder

Garlic Powder

Garlic Salt (bought it in Dec for 1 recipe- used 1/4 tsp.)

Cayenne pepper

Dry mustard

That's it.  Those are the only spices we have.  

I wish I enjoyed cooking more than I do, but I just can't seem to muster any enthusiasm for it.

[AngelPuppy1]

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@gidgetgh wrote:

For those of us who rarely cook, how many spices do you keep on hand?  I made a trip about 4 years ago to the local Penzey's store and loaded up on all sorts of interesting spices.  I ended up throwing them away because I never used any of them.  Wait, I used one, it was some sort of cheese thing you sprinkled on bread to make garlic bread.  I didn't care for it.

Currently in our house we have:

salt

pepper

Oregano

Paprika

Chili Powder

Garlic Powder

Garlic Salt (bought it in Dec for 1 recipe- used 1/4 tsp.)

Cayenne pepper

Dry mustard

That's it.  Those are the only spices we have.  

I wish I enjoyed cooking more than I do, but I just can't seem to muster any enthusiasm for it.

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@gidgetgh

Don't feel bad, I don't care much for it either!  I always said when I retire and have more time, maybe I will do it more and enjoy it more since I would be able to take my time and try out new things but I I am still working, so, DH is cooking and he mostly does quick things.  I cut recipes out still when I see something that looks interesting and doesn't seem too hard, but they rarely get tried out!

I keep the usual things:  garlic, dried parsley, lemon pepper, season salt, Italiian seasoning, paprika, bay leaves, oregano, celery seeds, dried onion, etc.  I periodically go through and toss what has expired.

I came from a family where there were a bunch of cooks so I never had to bother with it!  

[lolakimono]

I cook often, but here is a product that the non-cooks might like.  It is from McCormick, Recipe Inspirations.

There are lots of combinations, so you don't get stuck buying herbs/spices for one recipe that you never use up.

[Harpa]

I just threw away a McCormick white pepper yesterday. I tasted it, and it was ok, but the container looked old; I knew it was too old.

But though I rarely cook, I have and still go through a lot of different herbs & spices. There really is an appropriate turnover for the ones I use the most.

[gidgetgh]

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@lolakimono wrote:

I cook often, but here is a product that the non-cooks might like.  It is from McCormick, Recipe Inspirations.

There are lots of combinations, so you don't get stuck buying herbs/spices for one recipe that you never use up.

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@lolakimono- Great idea if you'd actually make the recipe. 

[SaRina]

I don't think anyone can beat me in the "No Spices" department. 

Garlic powder, oregano, basil.

I have salt, but really only use it for gargling a sore throat or soaking my feet, which is seldom. I have cinnamon powder, but never use it. I used to love cinnamon in my coffee.

Thing is... I'm more than a "rarely" cook. I just prefer my food unadorned. :-)

[Mary Bailey]

I use a lot of spices and I cook a lot.

We are empty nesters, what I need to do now is buy the small size of everything - not the giant economy size! I have cabinet of Penzey's, all about half full.  I told DH I'm not buying anything until it's gone.  No more stockpiling.

btw - We are food hoarders, lol! Our pantry & deep freeze runneth over!

[pattypeep]

@gidgetgh Well, without getting up and checking my cupboard, your list looks pretty close to what I have. Basic. I used to like to cook, but when my dh and I married 24 years ago, I quickly learned that he is strictly meat and potatoes, nothing "fancy". That turned boring really fast for me.

[Marp]

I like to cook and even though there is just me I do cook a lot and often experiment with flavors.

I have enough variety of Penzey's spices and seasonings to open my own store.  I often get auntie/sis do you have any _____ calls.

ETA:  I do sometimes think that in general we use so many spices and seasonings in today's cooking that we've forgotten what a particular food really tastes like.  I was reminded of that recently when I pressure cooked chicken breast for my dog and tasted just plain, unadorned chicken. 

[MacDUFF]

I'm not the best cook and don't particularly like to cook.  But, no one has ever starved around me!  I won't even print a hard copy of recipes with ingredients I rarely use or have never even heard of...the chances of me buying a $5 jar of cardamom only to toss it out later are slim to none.