Here's a quick, easy way to enjoy turmeric. Remove from heat as the spices start to release their aroma, stir in a cup of diced boiled potatoes. Add salt to taste and garnish with some chopped fresh cilantro. You can substitute other cooked vegetables for the potatoes. Cooked red kidney beans or cooked garbanzos also work well with this spice mixture.
Turmeric can stain fabrics and other materials, so handle carefully.
Cumin is popular in Indian, Mexican and Middle Eastern cuisines. According to Ayurveda, it is a cooling spice. It is supposed to aid digestion and help flush toxins out of the body. Cumin can be used either as whole seeds or ground, raw or dry-roasted. Powdered dry-roasted cumin is a rich brown in color.