We spend all winter dreaming of those long, lazy summer days. June arrives and…kapow! Swimming, biking, soccer, riding, BBQ, end of school-year activities, summer camps, festivals…it’s crazy! Yet, it’s all fun and somehow, those relaxed, lazy moments do weave themselves throughout the day. So here’s the situation: in order to enjoy more of those long, [...]
Good morning sleepyhead! What’s waiting for you on the breakfast table? Spices? Why not? Increasingly, more studies are revealing the healthy benefits of spices. Plus a little change-up in morning food lineup for some a.m. motivation is always welcome. Here are 3 new ways to eat your spices in the morning. One is sheer indulgence. One [...]
Buried. That about sums it up for most of the country these past few weeks. What are you supposed to do when there is this much snow? You play in it!! Spinning the freestyle way (I tried to embed the video but all I can give you is the link. Sorry.) You cozy up by the [...]
It’s January–time for lists, predictions, forecasts, and resolutions. It’s going to be a busy year so let’s get to it. Here’s the big news. Spices, in general, are one of the trends. The US Department of Agriculture reports that the consumption of spices in the United States has grown three times as fast as the population over the past several [...]
Attention to anyone who loves guilty pleasures, the best of class, a lifestyle punctuated with the occasional top shelf luxuries and lusciousness of knowing you have the best. Here are 4 spices that are the Lamborghini’s, Dom Perignon, Prada, and 5 karat diamonds of the spice shelf; in other words, the world’s 4 most luxurious spices. [...]
Spiced ales, spiced nuts, spice cake, sugarplums, gingerbread…the holidays are practically synonomous with spices. Whether your kitchen inspiration is limited to these seasonal celebrations or you’re a full-time, dedicated foodie: spices are the key ingredients to many holiday dishes. Dry roasting your spices is a simple but often overlooked way to bring extraordinary flavor to your cooking. The gentle heat used [...]
Have you met nigella? Chances are yes, but the spice was probably traveling incognito. Charnushka. Black cumin. Black onion seeds. Black Sesame seeds. This spice goes by many different names which is too bad because it really merits its own pedestal. The seeds are black as midnight with a distinct edge running across one side. In their [...]
If the title sounds like something out of Pirates of the Caribbean, there is good reason. September 19 (today) is National Talk Like A Pirate Day. The action is worldwide, I had to get Spice Sherpa in on the fun. Here are 3 things to get you going for the day. Ye be warned–thar be no [...]
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 [...]
Vanilla is a such a staple of our spice cupboards we hardly give it a second thought. It’s time to change that. The best tasting desserts use top quality ingredients. When it comes to vanilla that’s an expensive statement. Did you realize that you can make your own vanilla extract? It’s beyond simple. You need a [...]
Free Tea from Twinings 
The Spiceries Oatmeal Cookies
5 Cool Spices for a Hot Day & A 30-Second Taste Test
