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Cooking with Flavor

Basil
Tomato and egg dishes, stews, soups, salads, sauces, stuffing, fish, poultry, potatoes
Bay leaves
Tomato dishes, fish, meat dishes, stews, soups, pot roasts
Cayenne
Stews, sauces, salad dressings, cheese dishes, meats, fish, Mexican and Asian dishes
Chili powder
Stews, chili, Mexican dishes, tomato sauces, soups
Cinnamon
French toast, fruit and fruit salads, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, squash, puddings, apple desserts, ham, pork chops, applesauce, cakes, cookies, pies, coffee
Cumin
Soups, stews, curries, Mexican, Middle Eastern and Asian dishes
Curry
Egg and cheese dishes, meat dishes, sauces, marinades, lamb, chicken, rice dishes, Indian and Oriental dishes
Garlic, garlic powder
Fish, meat, poultry, potatoes, vegatables, sauces, salads
Nutmeg
Cooked fruits, pies, desserts, baked items, spinich, eggnog, French toast, cakes, gingerbread
Oregano
Chili, Italian dishes, omelets, beef stew, meatloaf, pork, vegetables like brocolli or stewed tomatoes, stuffing
Paprika
Potato dishes, fish, salad dressings, soups, stews, sauces, veal, chicken, tomatoes, stuffing
Parsley
Meat, soups, vegetable dishes, eggs, stews, garnish
Poultry seasoning
Poultry, summer squash
Pumpkin pie spice
In sauce for pork, French toast, yellow vegetables, pumpkin pie (pumpkin pie spice is a mixture of nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and ginger)
Saffron
Rice, Asian, and Spanish dishes

Tips for Using Seasonings

  • Start with a small amount. You can always add more next time but you can not remove it.
  • If cooking for a long time, add seasonings during the last 45 minutes or use part of the seasoning at the beginning of cooking and the rest later in the cooking.

Keeping Your Seasonings Fresh

  • Store in plastic bags, glass jars or stainless-steel containers, not cardboard. Keep in a cool, dry place out of sunlight. Do not keep over the range or near hear.
  • Refrigerating or freezing seasonings keeps them fresh longer.
  • Do your seasonings still have flavor? For whole species, crush a small amount and sniff to see if it smells fresh. Check ground seasonings every 6 months. Sniff to see if they smell fresh.

Buying Seasonings

  • Buy small amounts in the “bulk” section of the grocery stores or co-ops or buy in plastic bags at grocery stores and transfer to an airtight container or plastic bag.
Sources: WI EFNEP/FNP curriculum materials, Family Living Programs, UW-Extension; Missouri Cooperative ;Extension; Community Resource Guid of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians; West Virginia University Extension Service.
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