The Zest and Zing of Spices

Istanbul Spice Market

How many times a week to we randomly put a bit of salt, pepper, basil or rosemary onto our food to give it a bit of flavor?  To think of all the spices and flavors that are out there to give rise and pleasure to our taste buds, why do we so often stick with the tired and true?
While we all can't spend a day wandering the spice market in Istanbul, this is an experience that should not be missed in ones lifetime.  The vast aromas and colors tempt the array of senses.  This seems to be a one of a kind place that tempts us to try a new spice, venture out into the mix of spices that come from the east.  I am sure that the great market places of India and China can rival Istanbul....but.  You lose yourself wandering, amazed at the baskets after baskets of curry...Who knew that there were so many?  It has always been my preference to mix my own curry, rather than buying a "curry" from a jar.  What color, what flavor, what aroma do you desire when mixing,

Baskets of Curry

  All of this goes to mind as I start to make my chicken curry....Growing up, curry was never one of my favorite dishes.  As with most people, this is due to an over abundance of Indian restaurants that abound in cities across America.  However, having been married to an Anglo-Indian, at one point in my life, I have experienced a turn around towards curry.  Curry is not a spice that should be bought in a jar and used singularly to flavor a dish.  Rather it is an abundance of spices mixed together to form a "curry".  This is something that all good Indian cooks know.  Being able to look back at the time spent in the kitchen with Andrew stirs of fond memories of out times together.  So as I mix together the tumeric, cumin, cardammon, cloves, cinnamon, fresh ginger and garlic, cayenne pepper and yes, a bit of that curry, I take the time to reflect on past years and where they have brought me in life...And I find that,  as with a good curry, the blend is what it is all about.
So find your spice market, take the time to savor the smells, colors and vibrance of it all, and enjoy!