Monday, January 12, 2009

GOAL!

[Insert mental image of me (or the dork of your choice) throwing my arms up like a referee.]

I have my first goal for 2009. This is pretty funny, since I haven't completed either of my goals for 2008 yet, but please bear with me.

The goal: To acquire and cook with a spice starting with every letter of the alphabet.

My spice cabinet has gotten pretty full over the past year, but some letters are still unrepresented and I'd like to rectify that in 2009. With your help.

After the jump, I've typed....wait for it...the alphabet. The bold letters are the ones I don't have spices for. What I ask of you, dear readers (yes, both of you), are your favorite spices beginning with those letters. And, if you've got them, recipes using those spices. Recipes don't need to be vegan for me to use them as a starting point, so please, give me everything you've got.

Actually, why not go ahead and tell me about your favorite spices, even if their letters are already taken? I'm going to be pretty flexible with my alphabetizing anyway (e.g.: Jamaican allspice counts as J, white pepper counts as W and rubbed sage as R because I already have A, P and S taken care of), so if you have something more exciting than thyme for T, let me know about it, please.

As I get my cook on for the next twelve months, I'll update this post with which spice I've used for each letter, and if I feel really motivated, maybe a link to the recipe I used it in.

Thank you and may your coming year kick copious amounts of ass.

Spice List

Anatto (03/11, Creamy Potato Soup with Avocado (Locro) - Vegan Latina tester!)
Basil (shocking, yes? 03/15 Sweet Basil & Corn Pot Pie AKA Pastel de Choclo - Vegan Latina tester!)
Coriander, cumin (01/11, Spicy Red Lentil Soup)
Dill (01/11, Springtime Soup I know it's winter. So sue me!)
Epazote (03/15 Sweet Basil & Corn Pot Pie AKA Pastel de Choclo - Vegan Latina tester! Woohoo! My first new letter!)
F
Ginger (Red Lentil-Cauliflower Curry)
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
Tumeric (01/11, Spicy Red Lentil Soup)
U
V

W
X
Y
Z

4 comments:

Shar said...

Hmm..I'll go through the alpha with my favorites (herbs too) if I can think of them!:

A - Annato Seeds
B - Bay Leaves
C - Caraway Seeds
D - Dill
E - Epazote
F - Fennel Seeds
H - Herbs De Provence
J - Jerk Seasoning
L - Lavender
P - Pink Peppercorns
R - Rose Water
S - Sumac
T - Tumeric
V - Vanilla
Z - Za'atar

emily said...

I second Shar's "za'atar!"

I also love Rosemary.

Anonymous said...

I just found your blog and it's super fun.
A - Adobo

C - Chipotle, Corriander, oh wait, no, Chervil! I love Chervil. Good with veggies and lemons. So many good C's. Oh, Chinese 5 Spice. You could do a month in the Cs.

G- Gumbo File, thickens and flavors soups (ie gumbo :) )

L - Lemongrass, so good with coconut in Thai Dishes

T - gotta do turmeric...just beware how it stains everything you use it on bright yellow

You familiar with Penzeys (http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/shophome.html) They're the best place ever for spices.

Good luck with your 2009 goal. I look forward to watching!

The Saucy Southerner said...

A - Annato Seeds
B - Basil
C - Cumin, Cayenne, Celery Seed (Great for bloody mary mix!), Cilantro, Chives, Cloves

D - Dill, sparingly
E - Ummm...I need one there too.
F - Ditto
G - Garlic, garlic, garlic (Can this be said enough?)

H - Horseradish, Herbes de Provence (I make my own blend because I loathe lavender found in many.)

I - Ummmm....
J - Juniper Berries, Jalapeno
K - Ummmm....
L - Lemongrass, Lemon zest
M - Mustard Seed and powder
N - Nutmeg
O - Oregano, Onion, Orange Peel
P - Peppercorns (all colors), Parsley, Poppy Seed

Q - Ummmm, are there any? *Stumped*
R - Rosemary, rosemary...yeah, and rosemary

S - Sage, Sesame Seed, Saffron, Shallots (I love garlic and onions), Sea Salt, Savory

T - Thyme!!!!!!

U - Ummmm....No, that's not a spice. =D

V - Vanilla (even though I can't eat it)

W - Wasabi (Oh...I want some wasabi peas in the worst way now)

X - Ummm.... =D

Y - No idea.

Z - Zahtar

Wow...I had to put on the thinking cap! =D