by Glory Lennon

Created on: May 04, 2009   Last Updated: May 13, 2009

Great spices to keep on hand.

Anyone who can wield a frying pan should know food is only as good as the seasonings used to liven it up. Therefore it would behoove the chief cook in the family to look into and stock the cupboard with wonderful spices for the expressed purpose of making food taste even better. Let us take a look at great spices to keep on hand.

Garlic.

Whether your menu is geared towards Italian, Mexican, Chinese or regular American fare, garlic can and should be used often. You can't make a decent lasagna, tacos, mixed vegetable stir-fry or even meatloaf without it. Garlic is readily available in either granulated or powder form and is the easiest way to incorporate it in all foods. Fresh is always best but cloves of garlic can be a pain to handle. You can buy garlic already minced preserved in either water or oil making it so much easier for the busy cook. You should use it on everything from beef, chops, pork, chicken, turkey burgers, casseroles or rice dishes. To top it all off, as an antioxidant with antibiotic properties garlic is extraordinarily good for you.

Onions.

Though possibly not thought of as a spice in its natural form the onion, very much like its cousin garlic, is best fresh. But for convenience it also comes in granulated and powder form. The general rule is wherever garlic is used it's safe to say onion can be too. Onion also has the same health benefits as garlic and has been proven to fight off nasty infections of the throat and ensures overall health. You don't even have to mention how good a grilled burger is smothered with caramelized onions. Add onions to meatloaf and casseroles, too.

Cinnamon.

The lackluster oatmeal is made better tasting and better for you with cinnamon. Did you know cinnamon helps regulate blood sugar levels? Not only is cinnamon great in spice cakes, fruit pies, granola bars and applesauce but it's good for you too. Ground cinnamon is available everywhere spices are sold. Cinnamon sticks can be used to flavor everything from applesauce, rice puddings and custards. You can even make a vibrant tea by steeping a cinnamon stick in hot water. If you have a wood burning stove try setting a kettle of water on it during winter with a few cinnamon sticks. It will humidify the winter dry home and also serve as an air freshener.

Ginger.

In stir-fries minced ginger can give quite a kick to normally drab food. Ginger also comes in powder form for use in baked goods and for a tummy-soothing tea. Ginger, in case you didn't know, has been used for centuries for nausea, morning sickness, extreme dizziness (vertigo), sea sickness and upset bellies.

Oregano.

Anyone who has made meatballs and spaghetti, baked ziti, pizza or tomato sauce knows the importance of oregano. But it is a must in Mexican, Greek and Carribean dishes as well. Oregano is easy to grow in the garden but you can buy it already dried and crushed for easy sprinkling onto any meat, chicken, pork, turkey, veal dish and casseroles.

Black/Red Pepper.

With salt black pepper is the one most people cannot do without and for good reason. It has a great flavor and a bit of a kick. For a health benefit try red pepper which helps lessen the "cold-hands-and-feet" syndrome. It also makes you happy. Endorphins are released with hot red pepper making you happy.

These are just a few spices you must keep on hand. Stock up now and eat happy.

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