When it comes to keeping your kitchen clean and organized don’t neglect to spend some time taking care of your spices.  Spices add that special touch to a dish. They help to distinguish one cuisine from another. So make sure your parsley doesn’t taste like garlic and other mishaps.

Buy your spices in small fragrant quantities. Spices sitting for a long time in containers can lose some of their oomph over time. So buy them as you use them.

You can also try grinding your own spice powder with some of the more fragrant spices such as black pepper, nutmeg, ginger, cloves etc. You can grind them with a simple mortar and pestle .

Find a good source for your spices . Try some online sources.

Store your spices away from light. If in glass containers put these in the cupboard. You can also find stainless steel spice containers.

My Top 12 Spices and How I Use Them

1. Basil: I use this in Italian dishes and sauces such as lasagne, and  spaghetti. In the summer I grow this.
2. Bay Leaves: Bay leaves go in soups and also keep my grains bug free.
3. Chili Powder: I use chili powder in chilis, burritos, and the like.
4. Cinnamon: I use this not only for baking but also in some chicken dishes, especially those with a Middle Eastern Flair
5. Garlic: What?! A kitchen without garlic? All meat dishes. I dash garlic on almost every meal. Apart from being tasty it’s a great good for you herb.
6. Ginger: Another spice I use when I want a Middle Eastern Flair
7. Nutmeg: Another spice I use when I want a Middle Eastern Flair
8. Paprika: I add this spice to all my chicken dishes.
9. Parsley: I feel this herb adds and extra freshness to my dishes. It is great in stews and on top of salads. Potatoes, pork dishes. I freeze the fresh and keep a bottle of dried in the pantry.
10. Oregano: Another one for Italian style dishes and chicken dishes. The dried is more fragrant than the fresh.
11. Rosemary: This herb has a strong flavor. Makes a good rosemary potatoes.
12. Thyme: Thyme is great in chicken dishes and also has a very strong flavor.

Specialty Spices I Buy Seasonally or for Special Dishes
Cilantro : In Mexican dishes or just whenever
Saffron: To add color to Middle Eastern and African rice dishes.
Sage: At thanksgiving and in other turkey dishes.
Garam Masala: A spice blend common in the Middle East and India. I love it and use it a lot especially if I'm cooking a dish with rice or couscous.