Comments on: Cheap Vegan: The 3 spices you need to get started http://stayingvegan.com/2010/02/cheap-vegan-the-3-spices-you-need-to-get-started/ Tips and tricks for the rest of your life Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:24:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Flip Flop http://stayingvegan.com/2010/02/cheap-vegan-the-3-spices-you-need-to-get-started/comment-page-1/#comment-2632 Flip Flop Fri, 05 Aug 2011 22:48:18 +0000 http://stayingvegan.com/?p=1052300827#comment-2632 I've gone as far as taking a couple cloves of garlic that were starting to sprout and buzz them in the food processor. Put the processed garlic on a piece of parchment paper and slowly dry in in the oven on low, with the door open a crack once it gets going. When they`re hard and all dry, run the cooled, dry garlic through your coffee grinders and sift it with a wire sieve. What falls through the sieve is your garlic powder, whats left can be run through the grinder again or used as granulated garlic. Blows the packaged stuff out of the water. taste and smell the 2 side by side and the difference is immense. Remember, spices are like coffee. As soon as you grind them, they start to go stale. Whole is the way to go, when possible. Put a dash of 5 or 6 whole spices in a pan on low and grind them when your house starts to smell amazing. I do all my rubs like this. Mustard seed, coriander seed, little piece of a cinnamon stick, some anise seed, cumin seed, a little celery seed, sometimes some fenugreek, a couple white peppercorns and some pink ones if you`re looking for some floral tones. 5 mins in a pan on low and a quick buzz in the grinder. Freshly toasted and ground spices will blow your mind, and they`re way cheaper than what you get in a little jar at the grocery store (and this is coming from a guy that sells the little jars TOO to the grocery stores). Look out! A I’ve gone as far as taking a couple cloves of garlic that were starting to sprout and buzz them in the food processor. Put the processed garlic on a piece of parchment paper and slowly dry in in the oven on low, with the door open a crack once it gets going.

When they`re hard and all dry, run the cooled, dry garlic through your coffee grinders and sift it with a wire sieve. What falls through the sieve is your garlic powder, whats left can be run through the grinder again or used as granulated garlic.

Blows the packaged stuff out of the water. taste and smell the 2 side by side and the difference is immense.

Remember, spices are like coffee. As soon as you grind them, they start to go stale. Whole is the way to go, when possible. Put a dash of 5 or 6 whole spices in a pan on low and grind them when your house starts to smell amazing. I do all my rubs like this. Mustard seed, coriander seed, little piece of a cinnamon stick, some anise seed, cumin seed, a little celery seed, sometimes some fenugreek, a couple white peppercorns and some pink ones if you`re looking for some floral tones. 5 mins in a pan on low and a quick buzz in the grinder.

Freshly toasted and ground spices will blow your mind, and they`re way cheaper than what you get in a little jar at the grocery store (and this is coming from a guy that sells the little jars TOO to the grocery stores).

Look out!

A

]]> By: marcylangworthy http://stayingvegan.com/2010/02/cheap-vegan-the-3-spices-you-need-to-get-started/comment-page-1/#comment-121 marcylangworthy Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:38:44 +0000 http://stayingvegan.com/?p=1052300827#comment-121 Don't forget a high quality sea salt... in moderation of course! A little sea salt can really enhance the flavor of a dish. Cayenne pepper is my bestfriend, along with garlic powder (plus loads of fresh garlic) and gomasio adds a little something, something to asian dishes. But I definitely have to agree- black pepper is a must!<br><br>Happy Cooking! Don't forget a high quality sea salt… in moderation of course! A little sea salt can really enhance the flavor of a dish. Cayenne pepper is my bestfriend, along with garlic powder (plus loads of fresh garlic) and gomasio adds a little something, something to asian dishes. But I definitely have to agree- black pepper is a must!

Happy Cooking!

]]> By: Getting started as a vegan: 3 quick tips http://stayingvegan.com/2010/02/cheap-vegan-the-3-spices-you-need-to-get-started/comment-page-1/#comment-111 Getting started as a vegan: 3 quick tips Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:44:02 +0000 http://stayingvegan.com/?p=1052300827#comment-111 [...] the wider range of staple foods you’ll be buying to create each new meal (see our post on the three spices you need to get started for some help there.) And then there’s the matter of simply trying to remember [...] [...] the wider range of staple foods you’ll be buying to create each new meal (see our post on the three spices you need to get started for some help there.) And then there’s the matter of simply trying to remember [...]

]]> By: Lauren http://stayingvegan.com/2010/02/cheap-vegan-the-3-spices-you-need-to-get-started/comment-page-1/#comment-109 Lauren Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:35:49 +0000 http://stayingvegan.com/?p=1052300827#comment-109 Great posting - too many people use spices as an afterthought in cooking when they can be a healthy taste alternative and really boost the flavor of everything!<br><br>Wanted to let you all know about an easy spice rack for the kitchen cabinet that holds store-bought spices (or your own bottles filled with bulk spices)... it's call the SpiceStack and it makes organizing and using all your spices really easy! Great posting – too many people use spices as an afterthought in cooking when they can be a healthy taste alternative and really boost the flavor of everything!

Wanted to let you all know about an easy spice rack for the kitchen cabinet that holds store-bought spices (or your own bottles filled with bulk spices)… it's call the SpiceStack and it makes organizing and using all your spices really easy!

]]> By: angela_thrust http://stayingvegan.com/2010/02/cheap-vegan-the-3-spices-you-need-to-get-started/comment-page-1/#comment-103 angela_thrust Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:41:00 +0000 http://stayingvegan.com/?p=1052300827#comment-103 That settles it! This year I'll keep my eyes peeled for a used coffee grinder! That settles it! This year I'll keep my eyes peeled for a used coffee grinder!

]]> By: Sfri http://stayingvegan.com/2010/02/cheap-vegan-the-3-spices-you-need-to-get-started/comment-page-1/#comment-96 Sfri Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:03:11 +0000 http://stayingvegan.com/?p=1052300827#comment-96 Great article... I had no idea you could buy spices in bulk at a store, anyone know which ones? I've never seen this. If I had to pick 3 essentials, I'd say black pepper, garlic powder and onion powder. I seem to use those in everything even if I add something else. I am a garlic freak, and onion goes great with garlic. Not to say these would replace the real things, as I often add these in addition to fresh garlic and onion; the flavors are different, and I appreciate both. <br> I'm also getting into cumin, but not familiar with it enough to put it in the top 3. Great article… I had no idea you could buy spices in bulk at a store, anyone know which ones? I've never seen this. If I had to pick 3 essentials, I'd say black pepper, garlic powder and onion powder. I seem to use those in everything even if I add something else. I am a garlic freak, and onion goes great with garlic. Not to say these would replace the real things, as I often add these in addition to fresh garlic and onion; the flavors are different, and I appreciate both.
I'm also getting into cumin, but not familiar with it enough to put it in the top 3.

]]> By: Shadia http://stayingvegan.com/2010/02/cheap-vegan-the-3-spices-you-need-to-get-started/comment-page-1/#comment-93 Shadia Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:46:13 +0000 http://stayingvegan.com/?p=1052300827#comment-93 Garlic powder. Cumin, and Mint. Oh and a bottle of lemon juice. This is because I am very of middle eastern foods. Garlic powder. Cumin, and Mint. Oh and a bottle of lemon juice. This is because I am very of middle eastern foods.

]]> By: Eco-Vegan Gal http://stayingvegan.com/2010/02/cheap-vegan-the-3-spices-you-need-to-get-started/comment-page-1/#comment-92 Eco-Vegan Gal Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:03:35 +0000 http://stayingvegan.com/?p=1052300827#comment-92 Thanks for posting this. Often when I make a recipe I realize I don't have the necessary spices, but then I forget the necessities I should buy when I'm at the store. Also, it is so cool that you can buy spices in bulk, because sometimes you just need a little. Thanks for posting this. Often when I make a recipe I realize I don't have the necessary spices, but then I forget the necessities I should buy when I'm at the store. Also, it is so cool that you can buy spices in bulk, because sometimes you just need a little.

]]> By: Patabugen http://stayingvegan.com/2010/02/cheap-vegan-the-3-spices-you-need-to-get-started/comment-page-1/#comment-91 Patabugen Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:12:45 +0000 http://stayingvegan.com/?p=1052300827#comment-91 Thyme is my #1, closly followed by Dill. Thyme is fansmasmic with either Mushrooms or anything else. Dill is great wth Cucumber (in a Salad with some soya yoghart).<br><br>But aside from those I rarely use much more than Black Pepper, I've not found anything which makes me like Tofu other than Cumin though... any suggestions? Thyme is my #1, closly followed by Dill. Thyme is fansmasmic with either Mushrooms or anything else. Dill is great wth Cucumber (in a Salad with some soya yoghart).

But aside from those I rarely use much more than Black Pepper, I've not found anything which makes me like Tofu other than Cumin though… any suggestions?

]]> By: PonderingWillow http://stayingvegan.com/2010/02/cheap-vegan-the-3-spices-you-need-to-get-started/comment-page-1/#comment-90 PonderingWillow Sun, 28 Feb 2010 10:13:05 +0000 http://stayingvegan.com/?p=1052300827#comment-90 Whole spices are originally what I bought my coffee grinder for, but then I started grinding coffee beans every morning. Seeing as I don't want my coffee to taste like cumin I should really get another grinder.... (My mortar and pestle is just waaay two tedious for the cumin seeds now...) The grinders are super cheap new as well, as mine set me back 10 whole dollars.<br><br>If you mount a magnet strip on your kitchen wall and get a bunch of empty baby food containers off freecycle you have a pretty classy spice rack (once you take the labels off the jars).<br><br><a href="http://www.poopbetter.com" rel="nofollow">Be consistent.</a><br><br>pew pew Whole spices are originally what I bought my coffee grinder for, but then I started grinding coffee beans every morning. Seeing as I don't want my coffee to taste like cumin I should really get another grinder…. (My mortar and pestle is just waaay two tedious for the cumin seeds now…) The grinders are super cheap new as well, as mine set me back 10 whole dollars.

If you mount a magnet strip on your kitchen wall and get a bunch of empty baby food containers off freecycle you have a pretty classy spice rack (once you take the labels off the jars).

Be consistent.

pew pew

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