Essential Spices and Herbs: Discover Them, Understand Them, Enjoy Them Paperback – August 31, 2015

I cook a lot, at home and like to make meals that are flavorfull and aromatic, and I have been cooking home meals for YEARS for 4 kids, and us adults, and we all love different tastes and smells when it comes to food!I was able to buy this book at a reduced price in return for my honest, unbiased opinion and I am finding it extremely useful. I especially like having it in paperback so that it can sit on the counter in my kitchen for easy use when I need some inspiration.I already grow basil and mint and some vegetables etc in the summer, but have an entire cabinet full of hers and spices that I really aught to utilize more! This book gives a lot of basic information on the herbs and spices and then intermitently gives recipes, too!I like the recipe for Shrimp Cocktail, which i'd never have expected to find in this book! Russian Borscht is another good one, too! Saffron pistachio ice cream is one I am dying to try out and even though the weather is about to get cold, I don't think I could wait to give it a whirl!Some really surprising finds in this book, and actually I think it is up there in my top 5 cooking related books that I currently own, and I can see it getting a LOT of use in my home.Some pretty photos and some added bonus health benefit facts throughout the book that just flipping through it while chilling out on the couch can make me hungry!I definitely recommend it if you can get yourself a copy! I have revisited this one over and over since it arrived and I am itching to put some of these recipies into action.A real delight.

This book is full of life! We use spices every single day. But where do they come from and what other ways can you use them? This book does a beautiful job of explaining just that. It gives you a brief but informative look into the background and birthplace of some of the most well known, and unique, spices and herbs from around the world. I love it because I love to cook. Cooking isn't for everyone. But in my house, cooking is everything. And the food needs to taste amazing to give that memorable experience.My husband, who is a chef, loves this book. We looked through it together and were impressed with the spices origins and the many uses for them. We have even found a few that we can't wait to pick up and be on the look out for. We are always looking for new and exciting recipes and this book eases you into the big broad world of spices and herbs. And boy, there is a BIG list of them. The recipes are informative and the photos are beautiful. It really gives you a rustic,comforting feel to it. It's like a dictionary of all things yum. But life is full of adventures. And we intend on exploring it. One bite at a timeI received this product for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. My opinions are my own

Very informative on herbs and spices . Okay book hv read better, but good for the price. 4 stars because I have read better books on the subject

Curious about different species and their benefits? Do you want to know what spices go well with what types of meat or dishes? Then this is for you!

As an organizational perfectionist myself, I'm very impressed with the layout of this book. There are three sections (spices, herbs, and blends). Each spice/herb/blend has a 2-page description covering history, harvest info, usage info, regional use, compliments, flavor profile, AND pairings. I am so impressed with the clear and concise organization of information, as well as the detail and knowledge put in. When you turn the page, each spice/herb/blend has two recipes (do wish there was pictures of them, as a visual person, but I realize that is unrealistic for printing - I can always Google a photo.) There are also TWO indexes, one for recipes, and the general index. I couldn't have dreamed up anything better than what I was looking for. I am so excited to let this book elevate my cooking skill and knowledge, and know it will get many years of love!

I think the info about each spice was adequate for my purposes as a cook who loves what spice can do, I especially liked the lists of what spices they can pair well with and the foods they complement. I liked the recipes, too; it gives an idea of how they are used in a real kitchen. Recipes are heavy on chicken which is a great food; would have liked a few more with beef or lamb. I've played around with spice mixes and thought I knew them all. There were new ones to me which I'm eager to try! Overall, excellent.

I got the Essential Spices and Herbs book to learn about them and healthier and tastier ways of cooking for my family. Chapter 1 includes The Magic of Spices and Herbs the need to know spices and herbs. Chapter 2 is all about the Spices it shows in depth explanations of each one, where to purchase it, recipes to use them with My favorite and versatile spice is Cinnamon and Vanilla we can use them in so many things. Chapter three is about Herbs with recipes, shopping lists, descriptions and photos of each. Chapter 4 is about blends of spices with photos, recipes and a shopping list. This book will really help you get started to being a creative chef and trying out your own recipes in your at home kitchen or restaurant. Creativity is real important in cooking. An overview of the healing powers of key herbs and spicesOver 100 delicious, easy-to-prepare recipes10 essential spice mixes to quickly add flavor to any dishA guide to spice and herb combinations by cuisine to celebrate global flavorsInformative tips for buying and storing spices and herbsI got this book for free in exchange for my unbiased review