Herbs & Spices

We all know that having the right herbs and spices are key ingredients for a great meal. Herbs and Spices that will take your home cooking to chef style cooking. We love fresh herbs and as a result, we plant as much as we can in our backyard in Georgia. But we just cannot plant them all. Whenever there is a surplus on the market, we buy as much as we can and freeze them in Ziploc bags. They are just as good when ready to use. However, not all herbs are good for freezing, especially if you like to garnish your finished meal. You would not want to garnish with frozen parsley- that is a no-no. So, when freezing be selective about what is good for freezing.

Always label and date your Ziploc packages so you know what is in each package and its freezer life.

Rugerks Dried Thyme

Fresh Herbs vs Dried Herbs

We do not always have access to fresh herbs although it is the first preference when cooking because of the natural flavor it gives your food. Therefore, dried herbs are a great substitute when cooking – See Rugerks™ Some great dried herbs are thyme, dill, rosemary and they retain great flavor over time. The trick about dried herbs which you may never know is that dried herbs are more concentrated than fresh herbs. I typically will pick fresh thyme from my backyard for my dishes. If you are out of fresh herbs use 1tsp dried herb to substitute 1tsp fresh herbs. You can use in moderation based on your taste buds.

Spices

Where do our spices come from? Well, spices come from all over the world, but they are originally derived from trees, plants, seeds, roots, and some from the bark of trees. You must have heard the saying “ginger root” which comes the flowering plant, indigenous to China and grown in India – Ginger. Most people think the word spice is relative only to seasonings that are hot. However, spices are a blend of mixed different flavors or simple by themselves.

For example, ginger, turmeric, anise, pimento, cumin and just to name a few. Spices are more potent when finely grind, less when crushed, and use whole for mild to subtle effect. We recommend buying small quantities of ground spice. Store in a cool and dry place for the best result and flavor; discard after two years. You will be cooking so them spices should be long gone and be replaced.

Grab a few spices from our spice shop and post pictures of your finished dishes.

Rugerks Spices