Need some advice???

[Spaztik Muffin]

Any question relating to food preparation or even looking for a good recipe can be asked here and i or someone else will try to help you out

[Erwin Schrödinger]

This is here by no one has used the thread yet? Is the offer still open?

I recently graduated from college, so I have time to cook and stop wasting money on eating out. Unfortunately, my studies in biology, neuroscience, drugs, and so on didn't afford me much culinary experience, and my cooking is as bland as my mother's (I had a sad childhood when it came to home-cooked meals).

What would you suggest as "essential" herbs, spices, etc. in a diet heavy on carbohydrates (simple pasta dishes) and periodic meat (mostly hamburgers)? Also, are there any differences between the five dollar containers of seasonings and those fancy expensive 20+ dollar ones (or any in between)?

I have researched a little online but really, there is only so much you can find out from people simply telling you to put certain things with specific recipes. They make it seem mechanic instead of conceptual.

[Kill]

There is no difference in my opinion. But if you really need some taste and dont know what to use , salt and pepper can go a loooooooong way. As for other spices, I usually just get the all-in-one spices.

[Spaztik Muffin]

with the spice price i dont really find any difference in quality even if you pay more

for pastas and sauces it all depends what you are putting into them as to what works best
tomato based sauces are good with basil generally and cream sauces dont really use herbs,maybe just some bay leaves and chives
again it depends on how you are going about it and what you are putting in there

home made burger patties are a lot of fun to mess around with
if you have good quality mince you can put just salt,pepper,basil,garlic,onion and it will be great

if you go the other option you can put the above ingredients as well as tomato sauce,bbq sauce, worcestershire and tobasco sauce

the most used spice used in kitchens everywhere is just the plain old salt and peeper.
it can really make a huge difference in the flavor a lot in just about anything

[Erwin Schrödinger]

I actually lost this thread. Being the new FA guy for NG, I signed up to about a dozen forums and actually couldn't find this thread and forgot which alliance it was in. Kind of embarrassing.

I have the garlic, but recently discovered there are various kinds of garlic. I have a friend who is good with mushrooms and garlic so I intend to learn that material from him. Looks like I need to get some basil, salt, and pepper.

You mentioned bay leaves and I actually have those. I got them for some ribs my sister made. But I'm having a hard time finding other uses for them. I tried them when boiling potatoes but didn't taste a difference. I'll have to keep experimenting with those.

Thanks for all of your help. Esp. on the prices since now I know not to blow my cash on overpriced goods.

[Spaztik Muffin]

bay leaves dont have a distinct flavor, but if you put it in a sauce while cooking it out(couple hrs) it helps

[Emperor Ling Yao]

does anyone know any chicken or chicken wings recipe if so mail me and if its good i will put you on the Do Not Kill list.
(when i take over the United States Nuclear weapons of mass destruction i am going to kill everyone that is not on the list, i am making earth VIP only)

[AvT]

If i may add to the discussion on spices and herbs.

In my opinion it is best if you manage to source the fresh spices, rather than the discount older ones. For my kitchen, the herbs all come from the plants on the kitchen patio. Dill, Oregano, thyme, sage, coriander, various kinds of basil. Onions are my own produce as well. So is the garlic.

If you are a foodie, i am sure you can find sources near you that have the fresh produce. Farmer's markets are a good place to shop around on weekends. If there is a prepping community in your area, it is a good bet that there are some that grow their own foods and herbs etc in their backyard permaculture forests, and most of those guys also sell to the local restaurants who want organic food. Try talking to those guys.

[Spaztik Muffin]

that is true, nothing beats fresh herbs and most places you can go have them, most of the shit i use is fresh and you can tell straight away if fresh is used