Cooking tip for dudes: Get Spicy

So I have decided to create a series of posts specifically for men. Really, they will be for anyone who may just want some simple tips but I had the guys in mind when I came up with the idea.

There are a lot of recipes that are labeled "easy" that rely on things like salt and MSG for most of the flavor. Fortunately God gave us a variety of herbs and spices so that we don't have to eat bland food all our lives! The problem with that variety is so much to choose from that it can be intimidating for some people (especially men). It is much easier to just add another cube of bullion than to try and figure out which spice will do the trick. I have discovered that you can get, not only a healthier, but a much better and fresher diet by utilizing the spice rack. The two main points I have about using spices and herbs can be learned by watching movies... cartoons to be exact!

1. The big secret. If you haven't ever seen Kung Fu Panda there is something wrong with you. Watch it now then come back and finish reading this! The secret to using spices is the same secret to the secret ingredient soup. There is no secret. Unlike baking powder you don't need an exact amount. Just don't go too crazy on it. Remember that you can always add more but you can't take any out so go light and add more if you need to.

2. Use your sniffer. On the movie Ratatouille the mouse knows what to add because he smells the food first. In most cases if something smells good, it will taste good. Your sense of smell and sense of taste are so closely related that some people even say that your sense of smell IS part of your taste experience. So when in doubt hold the spice which is in question over your food and smell it. If you gag then it's probably not a good combination. If it smells good then try it.

It helps to know what different spices taste like so go ahead and experiment a little bit. You can always rely on spice mixes such as Italian mix, Mexican mix, or Curry powder for the first few adventures. For a quick reference I'll write up a cheat sheet below to explain the basic taste of some different spices and their (very) generic uses.

ITALIAN:
Oregano — Savory, Bold
Basil — Sweet
Garlic — (You should know what garlic tastes like!)
Savory — Savory, Sweet)
Thyme — Savory
Red Pepper — Spicy
Parsley — Mild herb

MEXICAN:
Cumin — Mildly Spicy, flavor enhancer
Red Pepper — Spicy
Garlic
Chili Powder — Mildly Spicy
Black Pepper
Cilantro — Fresh, Mildly Spicy herb

OTHER:
Mustard Seed — Spicy, Tangy, Good for some Asian dishes
Celery Seed — Savory
Ginger — Sweet, Tangy (Smells a little bit like soap but tastes better. Good for Asian dishes)
Cloves — Sweet, Bold (Goes well in things like honey glazed ham or deserts like pumpkin pie.)
Nutmeg — Sweet (Test it in hot cereal with cinnamon. It might remind you of eggnog or pumpkin pie.)

Is there anything good that I've missed? Good luck with your spicy adventures!