SPICEography 
Parsley is best known as a garnish that can make even the simplest dishes look attractive and fancy. Perhaps less known is the fact that it is actually a versatile herb with a distinctive flavor and a range of uses. Like most herbs, parsley is available in both dried and …
Sage is best known for its role in Thanksgiving dinner, where it is used to flavor the turkey and sometimes the stuffing as well. The fact that it works well with turkey does not mean that its use is limited to that one role. Its rich flavor is an excellent …
Saffron is easily the world’s most expensive spice. In fact, throughout history, unscrupulous merchants have falsified it. In the Middle Ages, the problem of saffron adulteration was serious enough that those found guilty of committing it were executed. Even though the names sound similar, safflower is not a relative of …
The herb safflower is known for its bright yellow flowers, the petals of which are used both for dying fabrics and as a spice in Latin American, Eastern European, and Middle Eastern dishes. The seeds are also used to make oil that is regarded as heart healthy. The dried safflower …
Mahlab is the spice made from the ground pit of a wild cherry that is used to flavor numerous Greek and Middle Eastern pastries. It is one of those flavors that is largely unfamiliar to western taste buds. If you are in the US, you may have a hard time …
Gochugaru is the term for Korean red pepper flakes. The traditional form of the spices consists of sun-dried red chili peppers that have been ground coarsely. The final texture is somewhere between those of regular pepper flakes and fine powders like cayenne or paprika. On the scale of Korean history, …
Mustard powder is also known as ground mustard or dry mustard. It is the ground seeds of the mustard plant, and you can use it to make a host of savory dishes. Mustard powder provides food with a pungent, tangy burst of acidity and a mild heat that can cut …
Apple butter and peanut butter are both used on bread and are popular in the US, and that’s about where the similarity ends. Let’s compare these two spreads to see how different they really are. How does apple butter differ from peanut butter? Apple butter and peanut butter are made …