SPICEography 
Not everyone enjoys cilantro, but for those who do, it is a delightfully bright herb that brings a sharp freshness to food. It has pleasant herbaceous and citrus notes that complement a variety of savory preparations, including raw ones like pico de gallo and ceviche. Cilantro is best known for …
Cacao powder is a healthy way to give your dishes a strong chocolate flavor but not all grocery stores carry it. In addition, its powerful flavor can be an acquired taste. If you want a substitute that provides many or all of cacao powder’s benefits without the drawbacks, consider one …
Dark brown sugar is important for both color and flavor in many recipes. Its flavor is versatile and can complement everything from barbecue rubs for meat to gingerbread. You should certainly do your best to keep some on hand at all times. If you run out of dark brown sugar, …
Meatballs are usually associated with Italian cooking, though there are variants in other countries. American meatballs are somewhat different from the traditional Italian version. For starters, Italian meatballs are not served in a marinara sauce or with spaghetti except to cater to American tourists. Secondly, Italian meatballs can be made …
Agave syrup recently emerged as a trendy sweetener and was promoted as being healthier than sugar. It is an effective sweetener that has a number of valuable benefits, but is it the same as sugar in terms of its flavor? Can be it used as a sugar substitute? The answers …
When people hear the word “cilantro,” most picture the bright green leaves that we see chopped up in salsa or guacamole, and that provide the distinctive citrus-like flavor common throughout Latin American cuisine. For many, cilantro adds a crisp brightness to a dish; however, others think it tastes unpleasantly soapy. …
Oregano and marjoram are two of the staple herbs in every serious cook’s spice cabinet. They both belong to the Origanum genus, which makes marjoram a type of oregano. In some places, “wild marjoram” is one of the names used for oregano. But how similar are oregano and marjoram? And …
Pepper is the most popular spice in the world and was so prized at one point in history that it was actually used as currency. In fact, European explorers were primarily seeking pepper when they found their way to the new world. Both white and black peppers come from the same …