A Busy Cook's Guide to Spices: How to Introduce New Flavors to Everyday Meals

An easy-to-use cookbook focusing on which spice to use with specific foods, whether meat, starch or vegetable. Get numerous ideas on how to enhance the 10-20 standard meals you prepare by using any of the more than 100 different flavorings listed. Most recipes are designed for quick preparation without changing your shopping habits. Create new taste sensations through the better knowledge and use of spices. Avoid running to the store by using one of the many handy substitution lists. Prepare foods in healthier ways. Know what to look for when buying produce and meats. Mix your own spice blend for Chinese, Italian, Southwestern, Cajun or Thai dishes and know how to make a spice blend for soups, veggies, beans, curry, seafood and more. You can even pick a wine to accompany your newly spiced blend, whether red or white. Handy Equivalency Charts help with measuring, baking and size conversions. From Apples to Zucchini each Food Page contains a list of flavorings that go well with that food, along with how to cook it and preparations ideas. From Allspice to Vanilla each Flavor Page describes the taste, how the spice should be used, other flavors to mix with it, its form and color and some history about the spice. Special Charts in the spice section include: Matching Foods and Flavorings with Beer, Nut Varieties, Chile Peppers and Hotness Rating, Making Herbed Vinegars, and Cooking with Wine. Special Charts in the Food section include: Bean Varieties-Soaking and No Soaking, Cheese Varieties and Pairing Cheese with Beverages and Fruit, Mexican Foods Defined, Mushroom, Pasta, Seafood, Soup and Salad Varieties and how to season them. From Catherine S. Vodrey, Convivium: "Ms. Murdock combines an encyclopedic knowledge of herbs and spices with recipes, substitutions and a plain speaking voice. I haven't seen this useful a cookbook in a long time and highly recommend it.".…