Spice Profile: Fennel

Leah Sugar

Scientific Name Foeniculum Vulgare What is Fennel? A relative of the bulbous fennel used as a vegetable, fennel herb is a tall, hardy perennial that is used mostly for its seeds. Fennel, like parsley, is a member of the carrot family. What is the History of Fennel? Fennel is native to the Mediterranean and is one of the oldest cultivated plants. Romans ate fennel as a vegetable and it has been used medicinally all over Asia.  How is Fennel Grown? Fennel plants grow easily in many conditions. It is a perennial and will self seed. It can also cross pollinate with dill,...

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Homemade Salad Dressing

Leah Sugar

This is going to sound snobby, but it has been at least 10 years since I have had a bottle of commercial salad dressing in my fridge. I find them messy, expensive and odd tasting. Besides, with salad dressing being so easy to make, I prefer to make my own on the spot.  Of course, everyone knows that a bit of good olive oil and vinegar goes a long way, but truly, all salad dressings are almost as easy! My cheat is to buy the premixed salad dressing seasonings from a quality spice shop (The Spice House in Milwaukee has some...

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Spice Profile: Epazote

Leah Sugar

Scientific Name Chenopodium Ambrosioides What is Epazote? A weed native to Mexico, Epazote leaves add a bitter and bright flavor to Mayan cuisines from Mexico and Guatemala. Used fresh in Mexico, Epazote can be found and used as a dried leaf in the US and Canada. What is the History of Epazote? Epazote has been used for many centuries in Mexican cuisines. It was also used in medicinal purposes to treat worms and parasites as well as digestion issues. How is Epazote Grown? Epazote grows easily and is even considered a weed in some places. It has a stronger flavor...

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Using Dried Peppers

Leah Sugar

When we first started creating the label list for the AllSpice Spice Rack two things struck me. First, how many spices start with the letter C (seriously, 1/3 of my spice rack is spices that start with the letter C-- still haven't figured that one out) and how many dried peppers were in my spice rack. Maybe it is my midwestern pallet, but I rarely thought about using peppers in anything other than chili until I saw the array of options. Peppers can add more than heat to your dishes. They can add color, smokiness, tartness and more. Peppers are...

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Spice Profile: Dill

Leah Sugar

Scientific Name Anethum Graveolens What is Dill? Grown for its feathery fronds and pungent seeds, dill has a bright but warm flavor and aroma that is unmistakable. Dill is used in a wide variety of cuisines as diverse as Scandinavian and Middle Eastern. It is essential to the classic dill pickle and Russian borscht. What is the History of Dill? Dill is native to southern Russia, western Asia and the eastern Mediterranean. It has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes as well as culinary purposes. The first recorded use of dill was in Egypt 5,000 years ago. It was...

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Best Overall Spice Rack

Leah Sugar

Thanks WikiEZVid for naming us the best overall spice rack and spice jars! https://wiki.ezvid.com/best-spice-racks  https://wiki.ezvid.com/best-spice-jars  Thanks Daily Deals Coupon for featuring the 30 Jar Spice Rack! http://www.dailydealscoupon.net/top-deals-to-purchase-in-2018/

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