Spice is all around us

According to Wikipedia, a spice is a dried seed, fruit, root, bark, leaf, or vegetative substance used in nutritionally insignificant quantities as a food additive for the purpose of flavor, color, or as a preservative that kills harmful bacteria or prevents their growth.  

In the kitchen, we distinguish spices from herbs.  Herbs, those leafy, green plant parts used for flavoring like basil or oregano are often used fresh, and chopped into smaller pieces.  Spices, conversely, are dried and often ground or grated into a powder.  Small seeds, such as fennel and mustard seeds, are used both whole and powdered.

Kitchen herbs and spices enhance flavors and complete recipes.   But there is also a dark cabinet corner graveyard of exotic spices in those oh-so ambitious recipes- you remember that $50 per ounce we bought and haven’t used since? Do you even remember the recipes? 

But spice is also defined as “to make more interesting – as in ‘adding spice’.”  And so, spices (and herbs) in our lives, extend way beyond our kitchens. 

We use herbs in our bedrooms as potpourri to give them pleasant scents, we use herbs and oils in the bath to make our skin soft, attractive and youthful, or we use herbs and spices as aphrodisiacs and performance enhancers.  When was the last time you were “spicy”?

We ‘spice’ up our conversations – “I went to the movie and dinner on Friday, I had a good time. “ becomes “I saw this incredible movie Friday night – the action was explosive, there wasn’t a minute that I wasn’t on the edge of my seat!  And the star was hotter than roasted Bhut Jolokia Peppers!”  Wow, must be hot – what kind of pepper is that? 

We spice up our appearance.  You’re walking out the door and take that last look in the mirror before meeting your public and it’s either “smoking – chipotle hot” or “damn – need to try again.”  No matter how intelligent, funny and or successful you are  - first impressions are crucial because people judge us before they know us– and everyone wants to stand out.  So, we spice up our appearance.  No, I’m not recommending shaking salt and pepper in our hair, it means that we add that special flourish – the blue shirt that brings out the sparkle in our eyes; the gold chain that accents our collarbone; the jeans that … and don’t forget the perfect shoe - a Christian Louboutin red sole is like Tongkat Ali.  Ouch - What?!

I love spice – spice in my food, life, love and environment.  I created The Saluda Spice Co. www.saludaspice.com to offer my unique and delicious spice blends, meal starters and life embellishments to people who love the spice of life but don’t have time or the confidence to create complex recipes. The difference between tasty and delicious is in the perfect spice blend.  Check back regularly for my Spicy ride through life.  I will have menu suggestions, easy to follow recipes, entertaining ideas, shopping finds and much more that just might, Spice up your life!