Health

Grilling Healthy with Summer BBQ Spices

June is upon us and the weather forecast is sending us days of sunshine. Memorial Day, Father’s Day and summertime — the outdoor grill is the icon of good times. Where there’s a grill there’s fire and coals. And those delivers the heat and smoke giving us those delectible, crispy outer bits of vegetables and meats loaded with that [...]

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The Fantastic 5: Antioxidant Spice Heroes or How to Keep That Pesky “Eat Healthy” Resolution!

Okay, let’s see a show of hands. How many of us included the perennial “eat healthier” in our New Year’s resolutions? Yeah, my hand is up too. How many of us are still going strong in that category? Hmmm…thought so. We need help! High five! Being here on Spice Sherpa means you’re one step closer to keeping that pesky healthy [...]

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Book Review: The Spice Merchant’s Daughter: Recipes & Simple Spice Blends for the American Kitchen

“It was the aroma. The exotic scent of spices: rich, alluring, and almost magical. A scent that would sometimes overpower the freshness in the air and sometimes subtly mingle with it to create a tantalizing bouquet. A scent that would always bring me back to my childhood.” Author: Christina Arokiasamy Such is the introduction to [...]

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Candy Corn Cookies With Natural Coloring

About a week ago Food News Journal posted a link to the most adorable cookie recipe on the blog by Baked Bree. I knew immediately that I’d be making the recipe. But as I scrolled through the comments, one in particular caught my attention. We don’t do artificial colors in our house because they have a [...]

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3 Spices for Beautiful Skin

Beauty may only be skin deep but don’t underestimate the importance of that top layer. Did you realize your skin is your largest organ? As such it has a tremendous responsibility; it protects you from the environment, helps regulate your internal temperature, and sends you signals if something isn’t going quite right inside your body. We’re all familiar [...]

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Vanilla Villains: Your Guide to The Bad Guys

In my last post, I shared how to make authentic, homemade vanilla extract. What ensued was a lively discussion over the confusion about the color of vanilla (check out the comments and chime in). People were surprised that vanilla was steeped in vodka and not bourbon. Vanilla beans are NOT steeped in bourbon. When you purchase authentic Bourbon [...]

Question Answered: Are Dried Rose Petals from the Garden OK As Spice?

“As rich and purposeless as is the rose: Thy simple doom is to be beautiful.” –Stephen Phillips, Marpessa With a scent that defines love, petals whose softness rivals that of infant skin, and a persnickety nature that requires constant attention from their masters: roses have enchanted humans for hundreds of years. Wouldn’t it make [...]

5 Cool Spices for a Hot Day & A 30-Second Taste Test

It’s hot outside. And humid. It’s the kind of weather that defines summer. The single most important quest for everyone is how to stay cool. Fans, swimming pools, shade—anything that can take a few degrees off your body feels like bliss. Did you know you can eat your way to a cooler body temperature? There are [...]

Spicy Summer Hair

Lavender and hair? There’s a connection and it starts in winter. From hip-looking beanies to soft-lined aviators to funky tuks with the little tassles on top: when the cold flows, hats rule. But that’s so two months ago and summer items are a whole different breed. Warm weather beckons you to let your hair down and feel [...]

Question Answered: Ideas for Salt Substitutes?

Q: I’m wondering if you have any spice combinations to reduce the need for salt – which is increasingly being touted as extra bad for us. I’ve tried ‘Mrs. Dash’ but didn’t care for it. I’ve also used the lavender mix from France and I’m wondering if you have any other ideas. A: “Instead [...]