- Basil – is commonly used fresh, and is added at the last moment, as cooking quickly destroys the flavor. When fresh the herb can be kept for a short time in water, or plastic bags in the refrigerator, as well as for longer periods in the freezer, (blanch quickly & store immediately in your freezer). The dried herb loses most of its flavor, and what flavor remain tastes with a weak flavor.
Studies of the health benefits of the essential oils found in basil have established that compounds in basil oil have potent antioxidant, antiviral, and antimicrobial properties, and the potential for use in treating cancer. It was traditionally used for supplementary treatment of stress, asthma and diabetes in India. In other world medicine, it is used for treating pimples on the face.
Use basil in everything!
- Oregano – this herb is used across the globe and is an important culinary herb, used for the flavor of its leaves, which can be more flavorful when dried than fresh. Fresh oregano may be strong enough to almost numb the tongue.
Health benefits and uses for oregano are an antiseptic, as well as a cure for stomach and respiratory ailments. Oregano is also high in antioxidant activity.
Use oregano to in your pasta sauce, add flavor to a salad, top off a pizza or roasted, fried or grilled vegetables, meat and fish.
- Cinnamon –is a sweet, aromatic, pungent spice that comes as a stick or ground. Its flavor is due to an aromatic essential oil found in the plant. This oil is prepared by roughly pounding the bark, macerating it, and then quickly distilling. It is used in baking as a condiment and flavoring.
Cinnamon has been proposed for use as an insect repellent, although it remains untested. Cinnamon leaf oil has been found to be very effective in killing mosquito larvae. Some studies also prose it can be effect against some versions of HIV, Herpes as well as containing antiviral properties. Others have shown there may some parts of the cinnamon plant which inhibits development of Alzheimer’s. Recent studies have also shown that cinnamon may be able to represent an experimental chemo preventive dietary factor targeting colorectal carcinogenesis and anti-melanoma activity have been observed in human cell cultures.
Use cinnamon in many desserts recipes, such as apple pie, donuts, cakes, puddings, buns as well as spicy candies, hot drinks, and liqueurs. Cinnamon can also be used in pickling. Cinnamon bark is one of the few spices that can be consumed directly.
- Chili powder – is the ground, dried fruit of one or more varieties of chili pepper. It is used as a spice to add piquancy and flavor to dishes.
Used in many different cuisines, including Tex-Mex, Indian, Chinese and Thai to bring heat and added spice to any dish.