A Pinch of This, a Teaspoon of That Sage dressing. Most everyone who cooks considers a handful of herbs and spices staple ingredients. Add some saffron to that dressing, or cardamom to your bread. Try tarragon, thyme and turmeric in those beans. With just a little know-how and a sense of adventure, you can create original recipes, turn standard fare into an elegant dish, or transform the same old meal into an entirely new one.
Savvy seasoning can make for more healthful recipes, too.
Use them to reduce salt and sugar consumption or make low-fat meals more enticing. Of course, certain herbs and spices are intrinsically good for you. And many people say they eat less of a well-seasoned dish than they do a bland one. So there's plenty of incentive to learn the art of cooking with herbs and spices. All you need are a few guidelines to get started.