Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Bulk spices from the local health food store are the way to go.Buy a small amount and they are incredibly cheap and tend to be very fresh.
Dried spices are not fresh. They're dried. Once they've been dried they have already lost some of their potency, and continue to lose it over time. I had a neighbor who insisted that dillweed was a lovely silvery green - until I brought her some fresh sprigs and she discovered they're actually more of an emerald green. The only dillweed she'd ever seen came from a McCormack's jar.
What about chopping and freezing them while still fresh? Would that be a better idea than drying?
I don't dry them and prefer the freezing method.
I have few jars of frozen herbs in the freezer. It seems to me that they taste much better than dried.
Sure, they taste better than dried. No doubt about it. But they can't compare to the taste of fresh, in most cases. Flash-frozen in hermetically sealed bags will taste even better than household freezer-frozen in jars. You eliminate freezer burn that way. But most people don't keep cryo tanks in their kitchens
Dried spices are not fresh. They're dried. Once they've been dried they have already lost some of their potency, and continue to lose it over time. I had a neighbor who insisted that dillweed was a lovely silvery green - until I brought her some fresh sprigs and she discovered they're actually more of an emerald green. The only dillweed she'd ever seen came from a McCormack's jar.
You are correct about the fresh dill, there is nothing like it at all. The fragrance and taste is amazing, I use it in quite a few dishes.
I am lucky that the Indian markets near me sell a bunch for $1.00.
Dried dill does not even come close. I wouldn't waste my money buying it at all.
Dried spices are not fresh. They're dried. Once they've been dried they have already lost some of their potency, and continue to lose it over time. I had a neighbor who insisted that dillweed was a lovely silvery green - until I brought her some fresh sprigs and she discovered they're actually more of an emerald green. The only dillweed she'd ever seen came from a McCormack's jar.
the only way I will ever use dill is fresh. Other spices it depends, but dill have to be fresh. I think though, what the poster might have meant was, the spices in bulk, though dried might last longer than what you buy in the store. I have found this to be true.. We use a Mennonite (spelling) store and their dried herbs and spices do last longer and are much cheaper.
Now, as for what is cheap for a meal: I am inclined to go with the $5 for 4 people for the entree. I like Melissa, on the food network: $10, four people: that is including the side dish and a light dessert.
I think onions, and carrots are a way to make meals stretch for cheap. And add healthy veggies as well. Eggs are always cheap. I can make an awesome fried rice, and spaghetti carbonara, that tastes like heaven.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
