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The cookbook is now available for purchase! To find out more about it as well as take advantage of special website pricing ($8 off--use discount code U9KGY74Z) visit the Spiced Right e-store at CreateSpace.

We got a glowing review! Check it out at the Chef Talk website.

Articles:

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The Simple, Essential Herb Garden

by Sandra Bowens

Spring into action with an herb garden of your very own. We offer the basic information to get you started, ideas for what to grow plus hints for tending and harvesting what you sow. Herb gardening is fun, it's rewarding, and above all, it's easy. Now get growing! 

Newsflash: 2013 Flavor Forecast

Each year, spice giant McCormick and Company issues a Flavor Forecast that tells us what exciting flavors and trends we can anticipate as the year unfolds. For 2013 traditional flavors collide with innovation, they report. Familiar tastes are combined with unusual ingredients to make up the five trends featured.    
Photo courtesy of FlavorForecast.com 

A Book Review: Healing Spices by Bharat B. Aggarwal, PhD

by Sandra Bowens

These days we have nanotechnology and robots performing surgery yet, on the other end of the spectrum, some scientists are devoting themselves to something far more basic: the herbs and spices that have been around as long as we have. Healing Spices bundles up all that information and hands it to us in an easy to read, and understand, book.

All About Sumac

by Sandra Bowens

As the world becomes a smaller place our spice shelves deepen. Sumac is one spice you may not have heard of yet but you will definitely want to know it. And try it. Why not add this Za'atar-Tomato Appetizer to your next tapas table?  

The Great Garlic Roasting Experiment

by Sandra Bowens

There may be hundreds of ways to use roasted garlic but is there a single best way to make it? Follow along as we try four different recipes for roasting garlic.  We let you in on the advantages and disadvantages to each method so that you can decide which one works best for you.

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Reader Recipe Exchange

by Everybody

Anyone who cooks has created recipes. We want to see your best. This column features special creations from around the world.

This just in: Spice Island's Salad Herbs recipe is revealed.

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  Have you seen it?  Check out the  Reference Desk

A Pinch Of... has been around for more than ten years now. The site has nearly 175 pages so we created this area to help you find your way around. Find quick links to the pages in which you are most interested along with our favorite stuff, where to buy herbs, metric conversions and more!  

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We have answered so many questions over the years that the list below has grown quite long. Now you can browse the Q&A by the category or subject that interests you the most today.
 The general Q&A bank is below and here
or click to Question Quick Find to see the categories.

Ask a Question                           Click here to see all questions.

New questions are posted each Monday.

Q: I live near Pasadena, California in the 91107 area code and I can’t for the life of me replace this wonderful jar of Colman’s of Norwich Classic Mint Sauce that I purchased locally 2-3 yrs ago. I’ve checked & called likely stores that would carry this British grown mint, can’t locate a website containing info to contact for locations where this product is sold. The 250ml jar says produced in Great Britain by Colman’s of Norwich for Unilever UK. Would so appreciate any ideas I have overlooked, being a grandma my computer skills aren’t what I need, to explore & locate another nearby grocery store. I thank you in advance for any suggestions to finding this wonderful mint sauce locally. GG
A: I couldn't find a store in your area but I did notice it is available on Amazon.com. Here's a link: Colman's Classic Mint Sauce 250 ml
Q: Why is garlic sweet sometimes, and sometimes bitter? AH
A: If you are talking just about a fresh clove then I would suspect age. The older the garlic, the less sweet it would be. Some people say that the green sprout that garlic cloves sometimes have is bitter and should be removed but it would also indicate a clove that is less than fresh. Garlic can also become bitter by overcooking. Once it is browned, it's pretty much burnt.
Q: Hello. I have a question about a rosemary plant. We transplanted a small rosemary plant to the front of our yard last fall. It has grown a bit, to over two feet tall. Today I noticed that the tops of its branches are curling down into a 90 degree angle. Is this normal growth, or a problem? Could it be due to over-watering or crowded roots? I have never trimmed the plant, should I start to do so now, at the start of the spring? This is a very special plant to us, planted to commemorate the passing of our dog, who loved to walk through rosemary bushes. Any help you could offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, ER
A: After you wrote I noticed some of the new growth on my own plant was doing the same thing. I also noticed that these branches were probably getting knocked against the barbeque grill by the wind. Perhaps yours are also getting a bit of abuse by the weather. I don't think it indicates any big problems but you certainly couldn't go wrong by giving the plant a trim.
Q: Hi, Can I substitute juniper berries for ground sumac? Or is there another substitution for ground sumac I could use? I am making a dressing for a Middle Eastern dish. Thanks, PV
I suppose juniper berries might provide the sour taste that sumac presents. In her book Spices, Manisha Gambhir Harkins suggests using caraway instead of sumac. Although the flavors are different, she points out, caraway is also a classic Middle Eastern spice. She suggests adding the seeds to the oil when beginning a recipe.
Q: Where can I purchase Lawry’s Chicken and Poultry Rub in the 21215 area? Thanks ACL
A: Looks like Sam's Club carries the "Perfect Blend" seasoning. You can also order it from Amazon.
Q: Thomas Keller's Roquefort and Leek quiche calls for 6 gratings of nutmeg. I live overseas and can't find whole nutmeg; what would be a safe estimate of six gratings? Thank you. PK
A: Interesting way to list an ingredient in a recipe. I got out my nutmeg grater and discovered six gratings is equal to 1/8 of a teaspoon.
Q: How do I substitute Agar power for Agar flakes in a recipe? MC
A: I am not well-versed in using this vegetarian gelatin substitute so I did some research. I'm going to give it a try soon. As with most subjects, two different sources that I found listed two different measurements for using flakes or powder. One said 1 Tablespoon of flakes is equal to 1 teaspoon of powder. The other said 1 Tablespoon would be equal to 2 teaspoons. In light of this, I think I would start with using 1 1/2 teaspoons to equal 1 Tablespoon. In other words, half as much powder to flakes.
Q: Where can I buy McCormick Hot Shot in local supermarkets in Massachusetts? JA
A: If you can't find this product among the other spices at the supermarket, you might ask them to order it for you. I notice that Walmart is selling it online so they may also carry it on the shelves.
Q: Hello, I began growing a small rosemary plant at the end of the summer. It lives on the front porch in a medium sized pot (about 10"), and gets good sunlight. I have used a few sprigs here and there, but it is not growing back and is beginning to look a little thin. What can I do to help it grow back? Thanks! SRS
A: You don't say where you live so it could be that your plant has gone into a slow growing phase because the weather is cool or cold. If your temperatures are low I suspect your plant will resume growing again once it warms up a bit. If you are in a warm climate, you might consider adding a bit of lime to the soil or giving the plant a light dose of fertilizer. Pay attention to watering--not too much but not too little either. Find more tips on the Rosemary Q&A Page.
Q: Online I purchased a large chile ristra from a vendor in Hatch, NM. I had it sprayed so it would be ornamental and not to be consumed. It has hung in my kitchen and I love it. When I dust it seeds fall from it and I worry about my grandkids finding a stray one. Do you know the best way to wash or clean this beautiful ristra? Thank you. JW
A: We have covered cleaning ristras on the Chiles Q&A page. If you can't hold the ristra over a sink, perhaps before you begin cleaning it you could spread out some newspaper or a torn-open paper bag to catch any seeds that might fall.
See all Questions           Find questions by subject
 
Other Foodie Sites: see all links...
Grass Fed Beef
Great meals start with great ingredients. Montana-based La Cense Beef is a company you can count on for great taste.
The Original Orlando
At long last the popular Orlando Vanilla from Mexico is available on the web!
Great Grapeseed Oil
Seasoned dipping oils are only one of the high-quality, all-natural products from Wildtree. Order online or host a tasting party for your friends.
Quaint but Current
Whether you need an ounce or a pound of seasonings, you can get it at the Spice and Tea Exchange. Check the website for a shop in your neighborhood or order online.
Spoons as American Art
Visit the Chester P. Basil website for a wonderful array of wooden tools for the kitchen. You'll find everything from the basic spoon to spreaders and tongs and peppermills.
A Passion for the Fruit
Bring the flavor of Hawaiian passion fruit to your kitchen with the wide variety of tasty treats available from Aunty Lilikoi. Visit the website to see a photo of the coveted Napa Valley Mustard Festival trophy. The Passion Fruit Wasabi Mustard is a real winner.
The End of Clumps
Dry Spice prevents caking and clumping of spices with a tiny canister of silica gel. Keep your spices, and your teas and vitamins, fresher longer. FDA approved for use with food.
Useful Gifts with Style
Sterling silver is always a welcome gift. Silvergroves.com offers a variety of useful items like salt shakers and peppermills or oil and vinegar sets. Make it even more special with their engraving service. 
The Fine Art of Pasta
Chances are good you have never had pasta as tasty as that from Pappardelle's. A true artisan product that's bursting with the fresh taste of veggies, herbs and even chocolate!

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"I stick to asparagus which still seems to inspire gentle thought." --Charles Lamb

 


 
 




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Books we like...

The Flavor Bible: The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity, Based on the Wisdom of America's Most Imaginative Chefs

At last, the answer to the age old question of what goes with what. Thousands of ingredients are listed and cross-referenced making this book part reference, part cookbook.

 

 Mollie Katzen's Sunlight Cafe

Spice up your life with breakfast anytime of the day. Hundreds of recipes with a vegetarian slant that taste great morning, noon or night.  See aPinchOf.com's review of this book.  

 


Simply Vanilla: Recipes for Everyday Use

There is more to this luscious spice than just dessert. Learn the secrets to enhancing all of your dishes with a little something extra.

The Complete Chile Pepper Book: A Gardener's Guide to Choosing, Growing, Preserving, and Cooking Here's the latest from chile aficionado Dave DeWitt complete with information for a spicy garden. It covers 100 chiles and offers 85 recipes to put them work.  

 

  The Herb Gardener: A Guide for All Seasons  Here are the answers to all of your questions arranged season by season. Fully illustrated, this growing guide covers 64 different herbs.

 

  Madhur Jaffrey's Quick & Easy Indian Cooking  Madhur Jaffrey, everybody's favorite Indian chef, shows us how to prepare authentic foods fast.

 

 
 The Mistress of Spices: A Novel
 
An exotic novel that's so much fun! The unpredictable, likable mistress will keep you turning pages until the end when you'll wish for more. See aPinchOf.com's review of this book.

 

  Baked Explorations: Classic American Desserts Reinvented
These darlings of the blogosphere take on classic desserts in their own quirky style.

 

  Edible Landscaping  Rosalind Creasy knows all about using food plants to round out your yard. She pioneered the idea 25 years ago. This updated edition includes 300 inspiring photographs.

 

 

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