I teased about this awesome package that I got 
and asked for several testers to help out with product testing. Thank you to the 15 testers to responded! I sent each of them 1-3 samples of tsp spices, and they each cooked with the spice and gave me a short 2 sentence review.
You guys rock.
What is tsp?
tsp spices are organic spices in perfectly measured, freshly sealed, single-use packages. Each tin comes with 12 spice packets - each 1 tsp of the spice. Their products, “packets of pure adventure,” make measuring spoons obsolete and also protect spices from light and air to ensure freshness and the fullest flavor. A reprieve from spice cabinet chaos, these one-teaspoon spice packets are stored in tin cans that look great displayed on the kitchen counter, which makes them a perfect gift for home cooks.
Dried spices lose their potency after 6-12 months and the more light and air that gets exposed to the spice, the shorter the shelf life. Simply put, if you’ve still got that ground ginger in the back of your pantry, inherited from old Aunt Martha, your food is gonna taste like…well…crusty Aunt Martha. Nasty. I love the concept of tsp, because I only open what I need. the rest stays fresh and sealed.
(photo from tsp spices)
Such fancy packaging…are they expensive?
$7-$9 a box (12 tsp per box) - which is about 30% more than I pay for non-organic supermarket spice. However, I’ve learned something this year. Rather than go find the best deal possible, I’ve decided that I want to buy less and splurge on things that are beautiful, lovely to use and good for my family. I want to really savor and enjoy the things I have in my home, especially in the kitchen. Let me tell you, these spices are gorgeous.
Actually, when I first opened the package, I said out loud to Scott, “Damn. All this packaging - so wasteful! What’s the point of organic spices if you’re going to waste earth’s resources for the packaging?”
And of course, Scott replied, “Stop bitching. Reuse the boxes.” So now my boys’ matchbox cars smell like Oregano.
read on….I’m giving some tsp spice tins away!!!
What did I make with the tsp spices?
The most awesome braised chicken ever. Oranges, garlic, and a blend of tsp ginger and coriander.
Ginger, Coriander and Orange Braised Chicken
Inspired by flipping through Nigel Slater’s Appetite
which has been sitting on my desk for the past 2 weeks because I can’t stop looking at it. I love his style of cooking - “a small handful of crabmeat per person” “ginger root - a small lump.” Nigel’s book teaches you how to improvise and create a dish all your own. Forget following recipes word-for-word, he gives you a template and teaches you which flavor combinations work well and when is it done.
Each recipe also has variations at the end. The “Chicken, Garlic and Herbs” recipe (this is the recipe my Ginger, Coriander and Orange Braised Chicken is based on) has options for:
- a buttery finish
- a creamy finish
- use this same recipe to cook lamb with garlic and lemon
- or even pork steaks with apple and creme
Anyways, I highly recommend this book. And hey, if Jamie Oliver says, “Nigel is a genius” then I’m totally sold.
You can substitute skin-on chicken breasts for thigh. Cut back the simmer time just a bit as the breast will cook faster than the bone-in thigh. Best to check it around the 17 minute mark, timing really will depend on how big and thick your breasts are.
6 chicken thighs, skin-on
1 oranges, cut into 8 wedges
6 cloves garlic, smashed with side of cleaver
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground coriander
2 tsp kosher salt
fresh ground pepper
1/2 cup white wine
2 1/2 tsp soy sauce
cilantro to garnish
In a small bowl, combine the ginger, coriander, salt and pepper. Season chicken on both sides with the spice mixture. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes or overnight in the refrigerator. In large dutch oven or deep skillet, heat 1 tbl olive oil on high heat. When hot, place the chicken, skin side down to brown for 1-2 minutes. Turn skin side up. Turn heat to low, throw in garlic and 4 orange sections (give a nice squeeze as you throw them in to get the juice in the pan). Add wine. Cover and simmer on gentle, low heat for 25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken to plate, leaving the sauce in the pan. Remove and discard oranges, and add the remaining fresh orange wedges. Turn heat to medium-high and add soy sauce. Cook for 3 minutes until thickened. Pour on top of chicken, garnish with fresh cilantro.
Free tsp spices
Really! Just for you! tsp is sending me 3 twin packs. So, 3 lucky ducks will get a beautiful set of spices.
How to enter
Just comment below and tell me what is your favorite spice combination? That’s it! If you want to link to one of your recipes, feel free to link away.
Contest is open until Saturday March 1st at 10pm est. I’ll take entries up until then and we’ll pick 3 winners using the nifty random number generator.
That’s it! Good luck!
My tester’s reviews
are on the next page!
February 26th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
I really love Indian spice combinations, especially if the dish contains Garam Masala. Yum Yum!
February 26th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
It feels boring because I cook with it just about every day, but I love oregano, pepper, kosher salt and garlic with inordinate amounts of basil, usually cooked in some way with olive oil. It just works so well with everything!
February 26th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Liquid smoke and Lawry’s seasoning salt…
I kid… I kid..
I think my favorite spice combination would probably be tarragon, marjoram, and lemon zest.
It’s either that or anything paired with rosemary.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Rosemary and garlic. Especially on pork and chicken.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Sesame, ginger, and orange zest/juice/marmalade Yum! The marmalade, ginger, and a dash of sesame oil makes a great, *super* quick marinade for chicken, and you can thin it with soy sauce if you wish. Mmmmm… is it lunchtime yet?
February 26th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
curry, coriander, and a little bit of garam masala
February 26th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
My favorite is cardamom and cinnamon. I make great gf muffins with these spices….pancakes or waffles would be good too!
February 26th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
I like the combo of cinnamon and chocolate in desserts or some chilis and the combo of cumin and cilantro in Mexican dishes! Please enter me!
February 26th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
I love thyme and often combine it with rosemary and garlic.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Ginger + Curry Powder = Crazy Delicious!
February 26th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Coriander and cumin; in hummus
February 26th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Hmmm… Dave’s favorite is nutmeg and chipotle. I might agree.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
I like using cinnamon with a touch of nutmeg in dishes. Not very exciting or groundbreaking, but way better than just cinnamon alone!
February 26th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Too many to choose from! I’m on a Mediterranean kick now, so I’ll go with cumin, mint, lemon, garlic, and paprika. Mix that up with some olive oil, slather on chunks of chicken or lamb, and you’ll be in kebab heaven. Trust me.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Lately I’ve been tossing chili powder and cinnamon into dishes that would typically never call for it, just to see what happens. Now I’m thinking of adding orange zest to that mix just to see if I can make something a little zanier…
My most used combo is still probably the classic rosemary/garlic though. I love rosemary roasted potatoes.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
My favorite is cumin and just about anything.
I’m a cumin fanatic. Cumin with a touch of fennel? To die for. 
February 26th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
my favorite spice combination would have cardamon, cayenne pepper and cumin.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
I think my favourite would have to be cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg or ginger. I just love to bake and that aroma just makes me so happy. Its warming just smelling it.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Rosemary and garlic especially on chicken.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Holy smokes, I gotta try some of these combinations. I love a little bit of cinnimon - I usually sneak it into pancakes and waffles or even cookies to surprise my girlfriend. I’ll have to try adding nutmeg to it, too. Thanks, leanne.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
my favorite combo is ginger with just about anything!
ginger/garlic, ginger/lime, ginger/cilantro, ginger/ginger…
February 26th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
My fave combo: basil, oregano, thyme & marjoram. Another is saffron & curry.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
I love chipotle and cinnamon. Mix in a little chocolate and I’m in heaven!
Love that combo.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
One of my new discoveries is Herbes de Provence. It is a blend of Rosemary, Thyme, Marjoram and Savory. You can almost add it to anything, like soups or stews or even roasts like Chicken, Pork or Veal. It is so complimentary, you can’t go wrong. I use it when I am cooking French, Italian, or even American Bistro.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
I scrapbook on the side so I can see several million uses with those boxes :).
I have to try this chicken recipe. Does the timing differ if I use chicken breats instead of thighs?
Oh and my favorite spice combination is
cloves + cinnamon
February 26th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
I love chocolate (or cocoa powder) and cayenne, whether it’s a savory Mexican mole or cookies with kick.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
List me as boring:
Rosemary and sea salt.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
why waste so much packing material … as if the world doesn’t have enough dealing with recycling and global warming. ok ok so how much packaging does this actually take. It looks cute n all , but we could do without it right. Just buy small amts of spices and keep it well sealed. Hahaha sorry for being such an ass
I love my spices and use a lot of them.
This chicken looks really nice with the orange and spices. Its a must try !!!
Btw even i just posted a wonderful chicken dish.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
I love citrus.spice combos like lemon/pepper, chili/orange, lime/garlic. Nothing too daruing (yet). These spice packages soudn awesome.
February 26th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Garlic and oregano…way overused but I still love it!
February 26th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Lately my favorite combination has been chives, garlic powder and crushed chili peppers. Mainly they get put into my pasta dishes or into the flour right before I make my own no-knead pizza crust, MM! I’ve also been experimenting with this combination and chicken, MMM!!!!
February 26th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
I love curry seasoning. I use it on scrambled tofu, roasted vegs, and curry, of course.
February 26th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
tsp spices is handy. The packaging was cute too. Cardamom and Ginger in masala chai is my favourite combination.
February 26th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
I love cayenne pepper and garam masala on my eggs along with onions and tomatoes..Yummy
February 26th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
I like cumin, oregano, and cayenne…in just about anything!
February 26th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
I like curry and garlic. Yummy….
February 26th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Favorite ever?
Salt and pepper.
February 26th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
I’m a sucker for cumin, cayenne and garlic salt.
February 26th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
hmmm - fave spice combo??
would ground roasted cacao nibs and cardamom (for my turkish coffee of course) count?
really, anything with cardamom is fantastic with me, especially cardamom with cocoa or lime!
February 26th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
My fave is Miracle Blend from the Alden Mill House in Alden, Michigan with a close second being 15 Million Spice from the Frog Leg Inn in Erie, Michigan. Oh, and as soon as I can remember to do so I’m sending you some of each with four others from the Alden Mill House. Why? Well, do I really need a reason?
February 26th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
garlic, lemon grass and sea salt on roast chicken
February 26th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Cumin, coriander, turmeric and a tiny pinch of cinnamon. Not only does it taste great - the color is beautiful too!
February 26th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
ginger/garlic/cilantro/lime
February 26th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Oh, pretty packages. I love that Nigel Slater book, too.
I love to put thyme and lemon zest on vegetables with a little olive oil and grill them. Freshly toasted and crushed cumin or coriander are also yummy. And mint is a secret ingredient in a lot of things, from salads to meats.
February 26th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Please enter me in the drawing, I’m a sucker for fancy packaging. Don’t ask me how many things I’ve bought because of the fancy boxes. Oh the spice - for me it’s five spice. But if I had to put it on my own, it’s star anise & cinnammon, garlic and onion.
February 26th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
curry,ginger, garlic….OR basil, oregano, cayenne….so many to choose from!
February 26th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Favorite Spice Combination - smoked paprika and salt.
February 26th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Hmmm, that’s a tough one. I would normally choose a sweet combination, but I have really been intrigued by Chinese five spice.
February 26th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
I love cardamom, cinnamon, and nutmeg for sweets and cumin, coriander and Aleppo pepper for savory dishes.
February 26th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Coriander + darn near anything! Particularly if the recipe involves an eggplant…
February 26th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Thyme, garlic, and salt, particularly on chicken. One of my earliest cooking memories (outside of fried eggs) is cooking chicken like that with my father- so, yeah.
February 26th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
My favorite combo?
For savory dishes it has to be rosemary, garlic, and pepper
for sweet dished it is cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger
and I am partial to cardamom and well, anything.
February 26th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Chinese five spice and orange zest…especially on roasted sweet potatoes.
Funny interlude…my first time experimenting with spices was in middle school when I had a leftover box of fried batter (affectionately called Crispies) from Long John Silvers. They are basically just bits of batter that drip off the artificial chicken/fish planks that get fried - and at age 12 I loved them. I thought they would be really good reheated with Cinnamon on them…kind of like a funnel cake I thought. Ugh….I can still taste the combo of fish, cooking oil and cinnamon. Ruined for life.
February 26th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Cardamom, cinnamon, black pepper, allspice, cloves (ginger and nutmeg optional). Put it in your tea, or put it in your pumpkin pie.
February 26th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Your chicken make me want to have supper twice today. My spice combo would definitely be,,,lemon and ginger with balsamic vinegar as a marinade for steak and fresh tuna
February 26th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
JAYDEN, LOVE THE TINS THEME. LOTTSA USES FOR THEM. FAV SPICES??? TOO MANY SPICES, NOT ENOUGH TIME. BUT MY ALL-TIME FAVORITES GO INTO TWO IRANIAN DISHES I MAKE: TA’CHEN AND LUBIA POLO. BOTH HAVE SAFFRON AND TUMERIC. TA’CHEN IS CHICKEN SLOW COOKED WITH ABOUT 25 LG. ONIONS, LOTS OF TUMERIC, SOME BUTTER. THE RESULTING SAUCE/GRAVY IS TO-DIE-FOR. PUT CHICKEN AND SAUCE OVER JASMINE RICE, TOP WITH PLAIN YOGURT ADDING SAFFRON & SOME SUGAR TO YOGURT. SAFFRON INTO THE CHICKEN/SAUCE BEFORE SERVING. THE LUBIA POLO IS COOKED BABY GREEN BEANS WITH HOME CANNED TOMATOES, TUMERIC, LEMON JUICE, TUMERIC AND SAFFRON AND SERVE AS SIDE, REALLY ON TOP OF THE TA’CHEN. R-U-HUNGREE YET? INCREDIBLE EDIBLES!!! I WAS SOOOOOO SAD TO MISS OUT ON THE SAFFRON DRAWING. BUT I AM MOST DESERVING AND DESIRING THE SPICE TINS. THANKS JAYDEN FOR DREAMING UP GREAT THINGS TO BRING US. YOU ARE A BIG INFLUENCE ON YOUR FANS — MORE THEN YOU KNOW. AND I AM GREATLY ENJOYING THE ARTISAN BREAD BOOK–HAD TO BUY THAT!! HAPPY TRAILS TO YA . . . . . .
February 26th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
I dig ras-el hanout, or garam masala, 5 spice is awesome as well, hell any spice is good, rubbed or sprinkled!
February 26th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
One of my favorite spice combinations is curry and ginger. I also love chili powder and cumin together.
February 26th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
I am freaking out at something I recently got my hands on. Jamie Oliver’s cajun spice rub. It’s too good with steaks and co. I also love the Middle Eastern Zartar, however technically it’s more of a herb mix!
February 26th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Yum! Great recipe idea, though I don’t know if 25 minutes counts as a braise. When I think dark-meat chicken braised, I think mole. Shoot…now I want mole!
Favorite spice combo: blend of salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, basil, oregano, parsley, marjoram, rosemary and garlic. Herbs and spices can be fresh or dry.
February 26th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
For a strong chicken-potato curry: fenugreek, cumin and coriander,
For a gentle, tender cookie: cardamom and nutmeg;
I know tend to meander –
Yes, a truly long, drafty keg.
February 26th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Garlic, onion, coriander, cumin and cloves
February 26th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
My favorite spice combination is orange and cinnamon.
February 26th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Ancho chile, orange zest, nutmeg, cocoa powder — yowza!
February 26th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
I love rosemary and garlic.
February 26th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
lemon, pepper, garlic
oooor
cinnamon and ginger
February 26th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
A little while back, I made some braised lamb ribs/breast. I wasn’t sure what sort of seasoning to use, since I’d never cooked this cut before. I ended up going with a mix of star anise, cumin, mustard seed, dried cayenne chilies, and cinnamon sticks, all added whole to the braising liquid. The result was a surprisingly complex and spicy flavor, delicious over some Basmati rice.
February 26th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
i’m boring myself just by writing this, but i can’t deny it: cinnamon and nutmeg. it’s a party in the mouth and nostrils.
February 26th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Ginger, garlic and citrus.
February 26th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
I love garlic, chili powder and cumin.
February 26th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
I love cumin, garam masala and turmeric!
February 26th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
I love love love the combination of cumin and smoked paprika. I use this spice mixture on chicken. Yum!
February 26th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
I love ground ginger and cinnamon together.
February 26th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
sesame-ginger-lime…..mmmm…
February 26th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
I have to say that damn picture is making me hungry again and I just had lunch!
Nice recipe btw, i will have to try this unconventional and yet curiously asian recipe soon
February 26th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Oooo. I have to say that my favorite spice combination is ginger and cardamom because it can be used in sweet dishes as well as something savory…
February 26th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
I absolutely love to use red pepper flakes, especially with oregano, Italian parsley and chopped fresh basil (I’m on a red pepper flake kick at the moment… it’s going in just about everything).
I’m definitely going to try this recipe. Your roast chicken with sweet plum sauce has become a regular at our house, and everyone LOVES it. I’m sure this will be a hit too!
You rock
February 26th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
My favorite spice combination is ginger, cilantro and Thai chilis.
February 26th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
LOVE the idea of packaged GOOD spices!! My latest thing is citrus and fire, juice and/or zest combined with a chili. Works great with chicken or pork. Cook alot of Italian food and cannot live without fresh nutmeg (try it–it’s amazing!!) Jaden, did you loose power this afternoon in the great Florida power debacle? We did for about an hour in Pinellas.
February 26th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Ancho, chipotle chili powder and granulated garlic sparks up any meat or chicken or fish dish.
February 26th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
I love ginger and garlic. I know garlic isn’t a spice - but I love it anyway. Add this combo to soy sauce and I am in heaven.
February 26th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
It’s a tough one, but I’ve got an Asian food craving tonight, so it’s going to be ginger, sesame, cilantro, green onion and sweet sake for me. Ask me tomorrow and a familiar song might spark a more Mediterranean inspired mixture of parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.
February 26th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
ginger and garlic
February 26th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
cardamom, black pepper and nutmeg.
also vanilla, black pepper and cinnamon
can’t decide.
February 26th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Turmeric, Cayenne, & Ginger on roasted vegetables (always include sweet potatoes and onion).
As for waste — perhaps tsp could provide refills for the tins?
February 26th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Cumin! Spice of the kitchen Gods! I also enjoy just about anything curried. (love your site, the photography is awesome.)
February 26th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Lately I’m addicted to Thai flavor combinations. Lemongrass, Ginger and Curry oh my! Especially Thai Curry soups with coconut milk. Mmmmmmmm.
February 26th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
love cumin and curry. one question, how do you make your curry thick w/o adding thickening agent? I’m wondering if I put in too much liquid?
thanks
February 26th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Beautiful pictures. You are really getting serious with your food styling!
I like to keep things simple - salt, fresh cracked black pepper, and rosemary for filet mignon, as I did in this recipe
http://chezannies.blogspot.com/2007/03/filet-mignon-with-steamed-asparagus.html
February 26th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Classic Italian herbs for me, BASIL, THYME & OREGANO!!!
Thank you so much for the opportunity… Vida x
February 26th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
awesome, awesome pictures, as always! i love black pepper, kosher or sea salt, garlic, and lemon zest combination…it seems to go with anything!
February 26th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Chipotle chili powder, garlic and lime. Or really, Chipotle chili powder with anything and everything.
February 26th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
I love the combination of garlic and rosemary on roast chicken, garlic and chile peppers on shrimp, garlic and black pepper on steak…did I mention I like garlic?
February 26th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Right now, a combination that I am using everywhere is thyme, cinnamon, and coriander. All three, together. In stew. Soup. Braising liquid. Meat pasties. Savory pancakes. In this combination, there is a dimension that blossoms that is bigger than the individual spices themselves….. But, now, reading the comments, I’m gonna hafta try adding orange zest…..
February 26th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Santa Fe red chili pepper and sea salt, with a splash of lime, on everything from black beans to mango’s, cucumbers, avocados and anything barbecued.
February 26th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Cinnamon, Nutmeg, and Mace.
(think persimmon pudding).
Yum.
–L
February 26th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Hyssop, fresh ground pepper and salt (on fresh heirloom tomatoes with oil and homemade vinegar).
February 26th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Thanks to your picture of this yummy dish, it’s hard to think about spices at a time like this.
I could send it in by telling you my favorite spice mixture is whatever you put in this dish, but the truth is that in my house, I love me some herbes de Provence.
February 26th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
favorite spice combo? ginger, cinnamon, cloves. In cookies.
And cocoa, chili powder and chipotle.
February 26th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
my favorite is cinnamon and ginger ;D
My, those spices are fabulous!
February 26th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Hi! I’ve become a loyal lurker on you and your sister’s webpages because of your beautiful, effortless-sounding dishes! i’m a 4th gen cantonese who had to learn how to cook chinese food from cookbooks instead of my mom (grew up on shake n’ bake, broccoli, stuff like that). So I love learning tips from you!
I love your sample offerings and look forward to entering many more of these types of “contests” in the future.
For now, my fav spice combination is that which goes into Chinese “5 spice” (roasted duck! braised meats! yuuum!). Which it looks like (chez) Pim recently posted a way to make your own. I had to bookmark that.
http://www.chezpim.com/blogs/2008/02/five-spice-brai.html
February 26th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Definitely cumin, chili flakes and sea salt! Wonderful rub for fish, chicken…anything!
February 26th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
Oh this is hard. I love so many spices. Namely Oregano,garlic, and mixed peppercorns. I also love to ground chilies,curry,a bit of clove,cardomon, etc to make my own spice blends.
February 26th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Oregano, garlic, salt and pepper…with some white wine, olive oil and fresh lemon juice, you can Souvlaki just about ANYTHING!!!!
That orange braised chicken dish sounds delicious!
February 26th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
1 tbl curry powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp cardamom
1/4 tsp cayenne
February 26th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
I always use these for day to day cooking, and I ENJOY boring people (to death?) LOL:
garlic, shallot, corriander, spring onion, ginger, salt, white pepper
for indonesian cooking, such as satay, perkedel (fried mashed potato cakes), bistik (javanese steak), i love PALA (nutmeg)
but since I love killing people softly by boring them more than nutmeg, i’d stick with the above garlic et al combo. MUHAHAHAHAHA (evil laugh)
February 26th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
I could (almost) live on 4 spices alone:
kosher salt, fresh black pepper, chili powder, and cumin
February 26th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
My favorite Spice is Posh b/c then I’d be close to Becks. Oh, wait, not that kind of spice huh?
February 26th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Cardamom, cinnamon, ginger and allspice (steeped in hot water, lemon & honey added).
February 26th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
That chicken looks great and sounds tasty. Those spices sound really interesting. I would be very interested to find out how they compare to normal spices. Do they have more flavour?
One of my favorite spice combos is: chili, cumin and oregano. I have enjoyed many mexican/texmex dishes that use those spices.
February 26th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
My fav changes depending on the seasons and my moods. Right now it would be a 5-spice
I am so making this chicken dish
Thank-you for sharing
February 26th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
My favorite spice combination is cardamom + anything. I love any spice that works as well in sweets as in savories!
February 26th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Oh gosh, what DON’T I like… this week, anyway, it’s garlic/lemon/rosemary/oregano. Also orange zest/gingerbread/cardamom.
February 26th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
My family loves a combination of sea salt, freshly ground pepper, and finely minced garlic.
February 26th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
thyme, garlic, salt and pepper
add cauliflower and cream
mash
oh my!
February 27th, 2008 at 12:08 am
mmm….pumpkin pie spices (cinnamon, ginger, clove, allspice, nutmeg). Btw, thanks for the review on Nigel Slater’s cookbook. I’m going to have to check it out; I need help learning to improvise. Did the braised chicken taste as good as it looked?
February 27th, 2008 at 12:08 am
mmm so hard! i love oregano, basil, salt, and pepper…rosemary and garlic…or onion, garlic, ginger, star anise…i’d love to win those spices though. bring some spice into my cold michigan winter life…please ;)?
your recipe looks delish jaden…i need to give it a spin. as delicious as soy sauce and coke braised chicken is, i could go for a fresher flavor combo.
February 27th, 2008 at 12:36 am
Grind and mix for an African Curry , yum.
coriander seeds, tumeric, cayenne, ginger, mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds and cinnamon.
Bonus if I win is that I too can have my sons matchbox cars smell spicy.
February 27th, 2008 at 12:38 am
I use garlic everyday and for sure I love it in combination with basil. Another spice I’ve been experimenting with is nutmeg. It sure gives you a little something that you can’t quite put your finger on; it just enhances the flavour. Have used 5-spice powder for years. Recently saw in the asian store they have 13-spice powder..will need to check it out soon!
PICK ME! PICK ME!!
February 27th, 2008 at 12:53 am
I’m a sucker for Rosemary and Thyme on any Seafood, or Rosemary and Basil on any Lamb. Simple, but oh so tasty.
February 27th, 2008 at 12:54 am
ginger garlic and sesame
February 27th, 2008 at 1:32 am
wow your pictures are always so mesmerizing and the descriptions so compelling! I love the idea of the tsp spices.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:32 am
love indian spices. just made chicken marsala this weekend
February 27th, 2008 at 1:36 am
Hmm… so many wonderful possibilities. Right now (appropriate to flu season), I’m on a chicken soup kick with ginger, coriander and fennel with a bit of citrus (lemon or lime).
February 27th, 2008 at 1:59 am
mmmmm, I’m a spice freak! Since going to Senegal I’ve been craving coriander with garlic, onion salt, white pepper, and cayenne pepper. Oh man, my mouth is literally watering, I’m so cooking Senegalese tomorrow!
February 27th, 2008 at 2:00 am
My favorite flavors is garlic, rosemary, and thyme.
February 27th, 2008 at 2:10 am
garlic, celery salt and onion it’s my basic but I’m always trying many new things. ..
*U*
February 27th, 2008 at 3:52 am
My favorite two spices are ginger and garlic
February 27th, 2008 at 4:01 am
Chinese 5-spice!
February 27th, 2008 at 7:23 am
definitely ginger, red chili flakes, some sesame oil or seed, and some orange juice. i know that all of those aren’t spices, but hell, it is delicious. put it on chicken, rice, you name it.
February 27th, 2008 at 7:45 am
My faves are cumin and cinnamon (not together, usually). But it seems like the addition of either just makes whatever you are cooking better.
Spices I’d like to try more are nutmeg and marjoram.
February 27th, 2008 at 9:06 am
My faves are thyme with onion and garlic powder. I also like using cumin and coriander on lamb.
February 27th, 2008 at 9:09 am
garlic, ginger, and spring onion — with soy sauce and sesame oil
February 27th, 2008 at 9:33 am
I’m crazy for ginger, but Garam Masala is my new favorite.
February 27th, 2008 at 9:41 am
I love the combo of lemon grass & kiefer lime leaves in a dish… especially if the dish contains coconut milk.
My other fave combo is kosher salt and fresh cracked black pepper… I like to call it a “classic” (as opposed to ordinary).
February 27th, 2008 at 9:44 am
I love ginger, citrus, and fleur de sel.
February 27th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Definitely cumin, coriander, curry, and ginger. One of my go-to recipes is cumin coriander beef patties with yogurt sauce & roasted curry potatoes. MMM, delicious, but your house will smell like curry for at least a week!
February 27th, 2008 at 10:22 am
I’d have to say my favorite is: garlic, cumin, white pepper, and oregano.
February 27th, 2008 at 10:32 am
chilies, lemon grass, kaffir lime leaves, ginger, tom yum paste,
sugar, lime juice, cilantro leaves, fish sauce
just add some chicken and mushrooms and coconut milk and you have one of the best soups ever - learned at Jaden’s class in Brandon. YUM!
February 27th, 2008 at 10:37 am
My favourite combination is oregano and garlic.
February 27th, 2008 at 10:38 am
I love Herbes de Provence.
And the combination of oregano, chili powder, freshly ground salt & pepper and olive oil (as marinade for baked ricotta)… hmm
February 27th, 2008 at 10:44 am
Now that’s a toughie…but cumin comes first in the list , followed cloely by cinnamon, cardamom, garam masala
February 27th, 2008 at 10:50 am
My basic staple is garlic powder and onion powder. From there anything else can be added!
February 27th, 2008 at 11:02 am
pick on favorite combination? ugh. This is not possible (I’m probably the only one who loves Everything Is Illluminated, but it’s my favorite line from the movie).
Anyway, it depends on my mood and the weather. I love ginger, garlic and any citrus. Garaham Marsala is one of my favorites, but not a favorite of my family so I’ve cut back a bit (just a bit) on it’s use.
As a “cajun” (well, I married one anyway), garlic, red pepper, salt, pepper, thyme, rosemary, basil and LOUISIANA bay leaf (the short fat leaves, not the long skinny California leaves) are in a great many of the dishes I cook.
I’ve been on a southwest kick - lots of cumin, chili powder and garlic.
Oh, and star anise and ginger. I love the smell of star anise “toasting” in a dry skillet. I use a lot of Chinese 5-spice mix too.
February 27th, 2008 at 11:12 am
I love the combination of cumin and cinnamon in savory dishes. Yum!
February 27th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Sesame, ginger, soy, garlic, and hot peppers.
February 27th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Fennel plus basil
February 27th, 2008 at 11:48 am
I’m a ginger girl. Ginger and garlic. Ginger and orange. Ginger and peanut. You name it. I’ll try it.
February 27th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Ancho Chili, Ginger, Cardamom, Cayenne Pepper, Cumin and Nutmeg. Anything Hot and Sweet like ME!!!!
February 27th, 2008 at 11:51 am
And Jaden, I am just using your Rosemary and Marjoram with my Chicken that I am roasting for dinner. The smell is fantastic. A little fresh ground Pepper and Sea Salt, some Ground Mustard and Nutmeg!! Can’t wait.
February 27th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Garlic + Chili Powder + Cumin + Paprika = lots of great TexMex and Middle Easter meals! I would be happy with any combination to try out!
February 27th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Garlic and dill, especially in yogurt with cucumbers. Oh, now that’s what I want for lunch.
Also! Random spice mistake leads to interesting food: Our local market lets you buy small bits of spice (a teaspoon here, a tablespoon there) from the spice area, and you take them home in small baggies. I lost the label for one, and ended up putting a teaspoon of garam Masala into my chocolate chip cookies instead of the cinnamon/clove mixture I usually use (yes, my cookies are weird to begin with).
My family couldn’t get enough of them, and now I’ve been using it in other things… it’s tasty in banana bread.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Hmmm. It’s a tossup between garlic/ginger/red pepper flakes and cardamom/cinnamon/star anise/cloves
February 27th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Rosemary is definitely my current favorite spice… HOWEVER… Chinese 5-Spice powder is my absolute go-to for when I’m cooking anything even remotely along the lines of asian cuisine.
Btw… love your blog… I bought the LowellEGO light after your post about it… the pics using different lighting/flash/etc really sold me.
Thanks!!
February 27th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Garlic, lemon and red pepper, or basil, oregano & savory, or savory & thyme, or savory & lemon thyme … or salt! Salt with anything. Mmmmm.
Also, I think that savory and sage are so underused as to practically be criminal.
February 27th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Chinese 5-spice powder! ginger, star anise, cassia, cloves, and cinnamon. this recipe looks great, I will try it this weekend!
February 27th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
I’m pretty boring when it comes to spices. A little salt & rosemary. Lately I’ve been loving fresh citrus zests.
February 27th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Lemon pepper & dill on broiled salmon
Garlic, basil & chipotle pepper in pasta
and now that I’ve read the blog I’m going to try chipotle & nutmeg!
February 27th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
My favorites spices…hmm, there are just so many wonderful possibilities! I love spicy things in a sweet dish, like chili with cinnamon and nutmeg. Or anything savory with garlic, onion, parsley, rosemary, and citrus flavors. I hate to buy premixed seasonings because it’s so much fun to just throw stuff together and see what happens. I only have 1 spice that I really don’t appreciate: rosemary. For some reason, it just is too strong a flavor in the dishes I’ve used it in.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
I like garlic and curry.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Rosemary and garlic, especially with lamb.
February 27th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Rosemary with lemon zest and garlic is delicious on chicken or veal or lamb or really any time of meat, mmm. But my favourite at the moment is thyme mixed with just a bit of salt and pepper and maybe some garlic on any type of vegetable. Particularly squash! Freakin’ delicious. Nutmeg goes really well with squash too, and add a little nutmeg and dill together in this white chicken stew I’ve made and I think I’ve died and gone to heaven. Spices rock!
February 27th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
YUMMY!
February 27th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Oh I’m silly… sorry for the accidental double, I was so excited about the spices that I glazed over the rest of the instructions… guess I excite easily…
Anyways… I’d have to say cayenne and cardamom… good for meat rubs
February 27th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Paprika and Black Pepper as part of a salt rub
February 27th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
I think basil, thyme, and lemon zest are yummy on chicken.
February 27th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Garlic,basil , oregano & of course sea salt & fresh ground pepper.
February 27th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
garlic and ginger
(but don’t tell marjoram and lemon)
Or rosemary, garlic and lemon, or . . . .
February 27th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Oooohhhh…my favorite spice combination is Garam Masala!
February 27th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Sesame, Ginger, and Garlic!
February 27th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
I love to cook with garlic, curry, cinnamon , European Style Peppercorns, and lemon-pepper. But not all at the same time.
Sprinkle Lemon-pepper on your chicken, then roll in self-rising flour then fry it. This is soooo goood!!!
February 27th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
I love spice! I like to use curry, garlic and pepper to fry my rice. Hmm…
February 27th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Mmm…pumpkin pie spice!
February 27th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
I LOVE Cilantro, particularly in fresh salsa, but also in soups as well. Also I use paprika a lot. A week ago I made a Wienerschnitzel with a little more paprika than usual….. simply amazing.
February 27th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
I love rosemary plain or combined with lemon or garlic or thyme or all together with pork or chicken or potatoes……this is making me hungry.
February 27th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
I love chocolate cinnamon combos or chocolate and cayenne or chile powder. Love sweet with heat.
By the way love your blog, the salty steak article got me hooked!!!!!!!
Have gotten so many great ideas reading your blogs!!!
Thank you Thank you
February 27th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
I love a Santa Maria Seasoning (from Santa Maria, California). It is a great blend of garlic and pepper, and a few other things. There is nothing better than some of this seasoning on a great piece of tri-tip steak.
February 27th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
I love garlic, ginger, and sesame! YUM. Powerful combination that packs a punch.
February 27th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
You’re such a ginormous influence on this community. I think you should get commision for tsp!!!
February 27th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
I made your Ginger, Coriander and Orange Braised Chicken tonight and it was AWESOME! Thanks for the recipe… I’ll def make this again
February 28th, 2008 at 12:09 am
Our favorite is homemade Blue Smoke Magic Dust with the recipe from blue smoke restaurant. It’s tasty on any meat or poultry and even eggs sometimes!!!
February 28th, 2008 at 12:25 am
I love freshly ground nutmeg with just about everything. My friends have figured out it is my secret ingredient in everything. I especially love it in black bean recipes with cumin.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:48 am
Maple flavored buttertarts with just a drop of Root beer extract. Spanish or Greek scones, espresso brownies. And Mom told me not to play with my food. Mother would approve.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:56 am
I love curry and cayenne pepper. The spicer the better!
February 28th, 2008 at 2:13 am
Ginger and garlic and lime/lemon - lots of all.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:37 am
Generous amount of five spice powder on pork belly slices. Then, roasted. Perfect.
February 28th, 2008 at 3:23 am
red chili powder + coriander + ginger + garlic… those tsp spices are sooo cute!
February 28th, 2008 at 3:41 am
lemongrass, ginger, garlic… yumyumyum!
February 28th, 2008 at 8:37 am
I love the combination of cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon =D !
February 28th, 2008 at 9:10 am
I’m going through a cumin, smoked paprika, and garlic phase right now
February 28th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Right now I’m loving lemon zest, garlic, parmesan and salt (tossed with some panko bread crumbs and toasted makes for a yummy, crunchy topping for sauteed curly kale)!
But ginger/lime/soy combo is an all-the-time fave.
February 28th, 2008 at 11:15 am
I absolutely love cinnamon, clove and orange. These spices seem awesome!
February 28th, 2008 at 11:26 am
i love, love, love smoked paprika lately, especially with garlic and a little saffron!
i could see ginger being particularly worthwhile to buy in individual packages — it loses its flavor so quickly once opened, and i always end up over- or under-gingering recipes because i try to compensate for a lack of freshness with extra volume.
February 28th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Dill and Mint. Dill and Mint!!!!
I actually discovered this combination recently while lightly roasting some salmon filets, but have also used it with several kinds of shellfish (specifically shrimp… shrimp loves dill), and could definitely see myself creating a dill/mint vegetable dip of some kind.
-Mike
February 28th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
cumin and paprika. mmm
February 28th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
I use fresh herbs and aromatics (rosemary, ginger, garlic, mint, etc) more often than I use spices. Plain Jane though it is, I can’t do without freshly ground black pepper in all kinds of cooking. I love the toasty perfume of cumin, especially when there’s a little citrus kick in the dish to brighten it up. I like smoked paprika, especially in a bean-y soup with bacon or pancetta.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Love dill and garlic.
February 28th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
I really love them all. Favorite combinations right now are tarragon, thyme , allspice, salt and black pepper as a dry rub for pork. Im getting so hungry reading all these posts!
February 28th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Khorma spices, especially the cardamom.
February 28th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
I think cinnamon and chile rocks!
February 28th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
My favorite combo is what goes into spice cookies - ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Smells amazing while baking and tastes even better.
February 28th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Ginger & Garlic. Essentials for all stir-fried / cooked vegetables. Sometimes ginger alone, sometimes garlic alone, most times both!
February 28th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Wow..ok here is my fav combo - ginger and garlic
February 28th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
I like marjoram a lot and have just run out. Combined w/sea salt & pepper.
Also cinnamon, nutmeg, chocolate.
Garlic, pepper, lemon.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Cumin, coriander, sea salt, and pepper
February 28th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
I like the citrus touch to this dish combined with coriander and ginger. My favorites would be ginger and cinnamon!
February 29th, 2008 at 3:47 am
I’m not sure this quite counts as a “spice combination” per se, but the other day we tried a combination of fresh ground lemon pepper, garlic salt, olive oil, and sesame ginger dressing. The experiment made a surprisingly tasty chicken marinade (smelled great while it was on the grill too, but really, what doesn’t?).
February 29th, 2008 at 8:43 am
Fenugreek, Coriander, Cumin
February 29th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Tarragon, cinnamon, and pepper.
February 29th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Oh my goodness, Jaden…this chicken looks amazing!!! I’m faving it for later.
February 29th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Definetly Garlic and Dill. YUMMY
February 29th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Oh! I forgot to enter the contest! lol I don’t know if I’m eligible, since I live far, far away, but one of my favorite spice combos is coriander, cumin and cinnamon. (hee 3 c’s lol)…The spices *are* simply gorgeous, too.
February 29th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
I like coriander, cinnamon, chilly, salt pepper, chunks of grapefruit, orange zest, little white wine over duck
I’ll have to make it for diner this week
February 29th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
I have so many spices already, but none of them come packaged this purrrrty! The most I’ve ever won was $ 20 from a lotto ticket, so my my luck is pretty lame.
If I were on a deserted island with only two spices available to me it would have to be the simple, holy grail of salt & peppa.
If I could be at liberty to have choose two more combinations, it would have to be……um…….gosh! I can’t choose! I’d just take what was given to me .
February 29th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
chicken - with garlic, rosemary and oregano. I looooove those spices!
February 29th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Herbes de Provence in bulk at our coop. Italian seasoning mix is also very good.
February 29th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
I love the combination of ginger, garlic and cardamom
Pork with five spice powder
chicken with garlic and ginger
and fish with ginger, scallions and tons of white pepper.
February 29th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
That is some fancy packaging for spices! I’m probably more of a Basil or Parsley person, but I on the last dish I made for my husband’s lunch, I used Ginger and Curry.
Do you have an orange tree? That photo just makes me want to suck the juice out of one of those orange slices!