Today’s recipe Mexican Rice alla Rizzuti incorporates the aromatic flavours and ingredients from “South of the border down Mexico way” as the song goes. While I had fun in Acapulco, I was also able to sample first hand the spices of Mexico in the local food. After a spicy Mexican meal you get the urge to do the “Mexican Hat Dance” for hours on end! Spices are what give a dish authentic enhanced flavour and on occasion, a real kick!

Have you ever contemplated what cuisine would taste like without the use of spices? Pretty bland and unexciting I would imagine. At times salt and pepper alone just won’t cut the mustard! Today’s palates are daring and adventurous and we all know that spices and herbs make foods taste superior and also that certain fare are defined by the distinct spices used in that particular culture. Now more than ever, there is a new incentive to spice it up!

Spices can make or break any recipe you endeavor to try. If you fail to remember even one or two spices in a recipe it can alter the end result and you may have missed the mark. You will definitely not receive any accolades from your guests if their appetites have not been satisfied. Let’s hope your visitors don’t rub salt in the wound and refuse your next invitation to a ceremonial dinner! Of course too much hot crushed chili pepper will cause that sharp, biting and burning sensation in your mouth that will make your Uncle Tony seize the pitcher of ice water off the table and gulp it all down just to stop the insides of his mouth to stop burning. When is hot too hot or too pungent? It’s all a matter of personal taste. Of course if you are Calabrese it won’t matter, the hotter the better!

What is considered a spice? Spice is a fragrant vegetable product used for the intention of adding flavour to a dish. Some spices are recognized in the dried seed form like fennel, caraway, poppy seed and mustard seeds. Spices also come in the powdered form as in garlic, onion, paprika, ginger, curry, sage and black pepper just to name a few. The leaves from fresh herb plant parts are dried for flavouring purposes like basil, bay leaves, cilantro, oregano, parsley and marjoram.

Your individual preferences can determine what spices you are likely to stock in your pantry and to make use of at your next meal preparation. There are no hard and fast rules as to which spices you should purchase. Of course, salt and black pepper is a staple for any spice collection and as for the rest of the spices, well that’s entirely up to you.

A common spice mixture is Herbes de Provence typically used in French cuisine from the region of southeastern France. The blend classically contains savory, fennel, basil, thyme and lavender flowers. I am sure you have heard of Five-spice powder used in Chinese cuisine, the principles are based on the Chinese philosophy of balancing the yin and yang in their food. Pumpkin Pie Spice is an American spice blend of powdered cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg and sometimes allspice. It may also be used to add pizzazz in general cooking, but it is largely used as the main ingredient in pumpkin pie of course!

Jerk is a style of cuisine native to Jamaica in which chicken, beef, pork, goat and or fish are dry-rubbed with a hot spice mixture called Jamaican Jerk Spice. Ah there’s the rub! Why not mull over the idea of using other spice rubs available on the market today or make your own unique blend next time you have a craving for some barbequed ribs. Consider using sesame seeds and black sesame seeds to crust your fish fillets for your next fish fry. Spices give fabulous flavour to virtually every aspect of food or drinks and also have commercial uses as well as ingredients in medicine, perfume, incense and soaps.

What is the shelf life of spices? If the colours of your spices or herbs are vivid and the aroma is still very obvious then you know your spices are still fresh for usage. Storage and handling of the spices are also key elements in keeping the spices fresh. Protect them from heat, direct sunlight and moisture. In other words, the worst place to salt away the spice rack is right over the stove as repeated contact to the heat and moisture will accelerate flavour loss in said spices. Of course you can all take this information with a pinch of salt, checking the bottle for a best by date will also ensure the spices are still good enough to utilize.

Spices are also important for health and well being. Yes you read correctly. You may be surprised to know that spices and herbs are extremely rich in antioxidants. You can obtain your next antioxidant fix from dried oregano which has one of the highest antioxidant levels of all the dehydrated herbs. Ground cloves and cinnamon as well as Cayenne, chili powder, paprika are also great sources of antioxidants. I would proclaim that this is great motivation enough to accumulate an assortment of spices and herbs in your pantry thus boosting your immune system and while ultimately spicing up your life!