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Spice Blends
Spice Blends
"In the beginning, there was James Beard and there was curry
and that was about all."
-- Nora Ephron
Humans have been using spices almost as long as they've been eating. Just as classic recipes evolved, so did spice blends. By making your own mixes, you can adjust flavors to suit your personal needs.
Major Spice Blends
Probably the most widely-recognized spice blend is curry powder. Curries can contain as little as two or three different spices or up to fifty or more. There is no set amount or ingredient list for most spice mixtures. They have evolved based on personal tastes and should always be adjusted to suit your own needs.
Preparation
If you plan on making your own spice blends at home, you will want to invest in an electric spice grinder. Luckily, they are inexpensive. If you should have difficulty finding a spice grinder for some odd reason, you can also use a electric coffee grinder with equal success. You should be able to find either for around $15 and surely under $25. Of course, you can always resort to grinding by hand with a mortar and pestle. Many spice blend recipes will recommend toasting whole spices over high heat in a dry, heavy skillet before grinding them into a powder. This helps to release more flavor from the spices.
Storage
Unless you use a particular spice blend a lot or intend to split up a batch to give as gifts, don't plan on making a huge batch at once. It's best to make smaller batches that can be used within a month's time. Spices lose potency and flavor over time. Light, moisture and heat are the worst enemies of spices, so keep them in a tightly-sealed container in a cool, dark place. Although it may be more convenient, you should not store your spices near your stove or in open racks on the counter.
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