Inspiration

As you may know, HausLogic (the parent company of AllSpice) is a family-owned and run company. Working with your family has its risks and rewards. Luckily for us, the rewards far outweigh the challenges. In our meetings, we catch up, not only on what is happening in the company, but how the grandchildren are doing and where our next vacation will be. We love working together and also traveling together. We are all foodies, so travel often centers around meals and seeking out new flavors.  Recently, Max (the designer of the AllSpice rack, and my brother) and I returned from...

Spice Profile: Galangal, Alpinia Species Galangal is pronounced as guh-lang-guh, scientific name Alpine Species. It is also known as Laos, Siamese and Thai Ginger Types of Galangal There are two principal types of galangal- Greater and Lesser Galangal. Both are cultivated, but greater galangal has been increasing in favor over lesser galangal. Greater Galangal grows larger and taller than lesser Galangal. What is Galangal? Galangal is a rhizome similar to ginger. It has a gingery lemony flavor and is used extensively throughout Southeast Asia  How Can I Use Galangal? Galangal is used throughout Southeast Asia in curries, stews, sambas, satays, soups and sauces....

A native to Southwest Asia, saffron has had many uses such as seasonings, fragrances, perfumes, dye and medicine. In the kitchen, saffron is most commonly used in soups, stews, as well as seafood dishes such as bouillabaisse and paella. It is also a welcome addition to risotto and other rice-based dishes. Because this spice has long held the title of “most expensive spice by weight’, it may not be found commonly in every kitchens’ spice rack. Saffron Pronunciation Saffron is pronounced /ˈsæfrən/ or /ˈsæfrɒn,  scientific name Crocus sativus. Hear the common saffron pronunciation: What is Saffron? Saffron is part of...

What is Fines Herbes? Fines Herbes, which I always want to pronounce Fine-is Erb-is (in my lovely Wisconsin accent) is actually pronounced feen-ZAIRB (with a French accent). As such, it is a combination of herbs that are the mainstay of French cuisine. It is made up of parsley, chives, chervil and tarragon. The actual combination has been of much debate over the years. Some recipes using the name 'aux fines herbes' simply include parsley, while the traditionalists tend to argue that all four ingredients are required. Current food experts offer combinations that include all or only some of the four ingredients, some even removing the parsley. Where...

Cumin, Cuminum cyminum  Widely used in cuisines as varied as Indian, Eastern, Middle Eastern, Mexican, Portuguese and Spanish, cumin is a staple in many cooks’ spice racks and commonly found to be a main ingredient in curry powders, taco seasonings, and masalas. Cumin Pronunciation  Cumin is pronounced in a few different ways (/ˈkjuːmᵻn/ or UK /ˈkʌmᵻn/, US /ˈkuːmᵻn/),  scientific name Cuminum Cyminum. More commonly pronounced “coo-min” or “que-min”. Hear the more common cumin pronunciations:   What is Cumin? The cumin plant grows to approximately 12 to 20 inches in height with multiple, similarly-sized branches sprouting from the stem creating a...