When we sat down to brainstorm our concept, one of the first discussions involved choosing the top spices we would recommend. Bobbi’s cabinet was filled with over 50 spices, but Rebecca and Greg each had about 5. Let’s face it—spices are expensive, especially when you’re on a limited budget. As poor college students, Rebecca and Greg found it hard to justify spending $6 or more on a jar of spice from which they would only use 1/4 teaspoon. They felt frustrated that every recipe they found online seemed to call for a new spice they didn’t have in their pantry.
Our first step was to write up a list of the 10 spices we each used most often. After comparing our lists and debating the choices, we finally settled on 20. They consist of the very basics like salt and pepper, dried herbs like oregano and rosemary, baking spices, and some unusual blends that Greg in particular likes to use.
Some frequently used fresh herbs are not on this list because they don’t hold their flavor well when dried. These would include basil, parsley, cilantro, and tarragon. You can usually find these at the grocery store, or you can grow your own.
We’ve also created our own mixtures with these spices, like Garam Masala, an Indian spice mix used in curries and other dishes. You’ll be surprised how far 20 spices can go.
20 spices:
- Allspice
- Bay leaves
- Cardamom
- Chinese Five Spice Blend
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Cloves
- Coriander
- Cumin
- Curry Powder
- Dill
- Ginger
- Nutmeg
- Oregano
- Paprika
- Pepper
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Rosemary
- Salt
- Thyme
