Herbs and spices you love and hate

**Palooka** · 01-20-2010, 06:28 AM

Rosemary is one I just can't deal with. I've done the roasted potatoes with rosemary and it's overrated.

Several ways.

I know there is a love/hate out there for Cilantro but I find the stuff absolutely yummy.

Oh and Basil rocks my socks.

I need to cut back on salt big time too. I don't think I've ever bought much of Mrs. Dash stuff. Anyone have a yummy favorite?

**pat in east texas** · 01-20-2010, 06:52 AM

Another basil lover here. And oregano. DH hates rosemary, and it seems to be in every recipe out there. I just omit it.

**frugal-fannie** · 01-20-2010, 06:56 AM

I dislike cilantro. But after many years of eating salsa am finding it not so bitter, it is almost to tolerable now. I love curry,rosemary, star anise and 5 spice powder are my favorites along with bay leaves and different pepper spices.

**Palooka** · 01-20-2010, 07:07 AM

Originally Posted by frugal-fannie

I dislike cilantro. But after many years of eating salsa am finding it not so bitter, it is almost to tolerable now. I love curry,rosemary, star anise and 5 spice powder are my favorites along with bay leaves and different pepper spices.

What is star anise and 5 spice powder?

I've never cooked much with bay leaves but I should because I know it makes everything better. It's like I'm to cheap to buy it because you have to throw it away.

**Rebookie** · 01-20-2010, 07:42 AM

I love all Italian herbs Rosemary, basil, sage, Thyme, but I hate cilantro!

Herbs de Provence is my go to spice on most everything! Chicken, Potatoes, fish, everything!

**Grainlady** · 01-20-2010, 08:05 AM

Likes:

-Basil - fresh basil and tomatoes - it doesn't get any better. I always grow them together. Dried basil in a favorite summertime recipe - Zucchini Caponata I serve with homemade pita bread.

-Parsley (flat leaf and curly) - This is one I grow indoors and out. It's an inexpensive fresh vegetable you can add to so many dishes. Especially important in the winter when there's little nutrition to be found in grocery store produce. I also use a lot of dried parsley. It's easy to toss into meat loaf and other ground meat mixtures.

-Chives - Also grown indoors and out. I use chives instead of onions in many dishes.

-Thyme - Grown indoors and out. One of my favorite ways to prepare potatoes is to boil small (new or grade B) potatoes, cut in quarters. Drain and add butter, chives, parsley and thyme. Make extra and cube and fry them a day or two later.

-Rosemary - I use it in a few favorite dishes, but I don't use nearly as much as most recipes call for. I find it's much better used fresh, than dried.

-Bay Leaves - A must in Brown Stew and some homemade soups.

-Dill Weed/Seed - A favorite used is in Dill Bread. It's another herb I grow. Add it to homemade sauerkraut.

-Fox Point - a Penzeys Spices blend that works well in breads and burger buns as well as sprinkled on vegetables, made into a dip for vegetables, a dash on scrambled eggs, and a dusting on chicken. (A combination of: salt, shallots, chives, garlic, onion, and green peppercorns.)

-SPIKE - Another blend. I find it at the health food store. We use it on chicken, in mashed potatoes, and it's an important seasoning in the bean burgers stacked in the freezer (my favorite go-to freezer food for a quick vegetarian meal).

-Cumin - I make a black bean/tomato salad that is seasoned with cumin that we eat a lot in the summer.

-A number of Dipping Seasonings. Mixtures that I add to olive oil and dip bread or pitas in it.

-Crushed Red Peppers - Not just for a pizza topping. Great added to Asian Green Beans and other vegetable dishes.

-Sage - Another garden herb. I use fresh and dried sage in a lot of poultry dishes, as well as dressing.

-Caraway Seeds - a must for Rye Bread. In fact, the flavor people associate with rye bread isn't from rye flour, it's the caraway. You can add caraway seeds to white bread and you'll think it's rye bread... I often mill the seeds in a spice/coffee mill and add it to breads instead of using whole seeds. I think I get more flavor from less seeds that way.

-All the baking spices - cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg (buy whole nutmegs and grate your own)...

-Lemon Pepper- I use a lot of lemon pepper in stir-fry.

-Pumpkin Pie and Apple Pie Spices

Dislike:
Cilantro - I think it must be one of those flavors you have to grow-up with.

**Palooka** · 01-20-2010, 08:32 AM

GL, I have to agree with a lot you posted. I was going to post how much I love crushed red pepper flakes. Basil and tomatoes fresh is sooo yummy together.

Dill, chives and cumin I love.

Never heard of Fox Point.

I used to put lemon pepper on green beans and thought is was good.

**frugal-fannie** · 01-20-2010, 08:37 AM

Originally Posted by Palooka

What is star anise and 5 spice powder?

I've never cooked much with bay leaves but I should because I know it makes everything better. It's like I'm to cheap to buy it because you have to throw it away.

Star anise is a licorice flavored spice and I get it at the chinese store along with the 5 spice which is a blend that is great with beef dishes.
Bay leaves I buy dried at the Mexican store and they sell them cheap a large bag for $1. I want to grow one. I have my own sage, chives growing already.

**Palooka** · 01-20-2010, 08:45 AM

Originally Posted by frugal-fannie

Star anise is a licorice flavored spice and I get it at the chinese store along with the 5 spice which is a blend that is great with beef dishes.
Bay leaves I buy dried at the Mexican store and they sell them cheap a large bag for $1. I want to grow one. I have my own sage, chives growing already.

Yum, licorice flavor. Great deal on the bay leaves!

I would love to learn how to grow spices and herbs. Can't you grow them inside your house?

**frugal-fannie** · 01-20-2010, 08:49 AM

Originally Posted by Palooka

Yum, licorice flavor. Great deal on the bay leaves!

I would love to learn how to grow spices and herbs. Can't you grow them inside your house?

You could, I have the sage growing outside and it is about 2.5 feet tall with beautiful purple flowers.

**Palooka** · 01-20-2010, 09:17 AM

Originally Posted by frugal-fannie

You could, I have the sage growing outside and it is about 2.5 feet tall with beautiful purple flowers.

Very cool! I remember seeing that info commercial with these lights and shelves growing all the herbs inside. I would love that but it was very expensive.

**JerryG** · 01-20-2010, 11:27 AM

I'm a big fan of spices and herbs. I grow what I can and freeze the surplus. I've found the Hispanic markets to be a great resource. The only spice that comes to mind, that I don't care for is curry. Doesn't appeal to me at all, but maybe it's just been the dishes I've had it in.

I'm wary of mint. I only like it in sweet dishes and not in savory.

**frugalwarrior2** · 01-20-2010, 11:35 AM

I often cook w/garlic,dill,parsley,chives, and cilantro
I avoid Rosemary,oregano,thyme,marjoram and basil. Oregano can double me over.
DH-freaks out over fennel. I put a lot in meatloaf when we were younger. I thought I did him in.!! And he eats most anything.

**Grainlady** · 01-20-2010, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by Palooka

Very cool! I remember seeing that info commercial with these lights and shelves growing all the herbs inside. I would love that but it was very expensive.

If you have a sunny south window where you can place a pot of herbs, you can easily grow a number of them indoors without a special electronic growing light or a hydroponic AeroGarden.

I usually dig-up a portion from what's grown outdoors, re-pot, and bring it indoors late fall. I prefer herbs that don't get tall or out-of-control, and a small enough amount I can keep it harvested. I have thyme, chives and parsley in an 8-inch terracotta pot.

**nancycg56** · 01-20-2010, 12:15 PM

Dill and garlic are my faves by far ~ nothing better than dill chicken salad ~ yummy!

I HATE cilantro ~ it tastes like soap to me. If it's really disguised in salsa I can live with it but I won't eat much.

Rosemary is not my fave either but I can stand it better than cilantro. I have a big rosemary bush out front ~ why, I don't know since I don't eat it, LOL!