It is hard to put a finger on a favorite taste. But, I know that is quests to eat healthy are aided by spices. They are add flavor without the salt. They can be fresh herbs, dried or freeze dried. The cinnamon added to so many things this season adds sweetness and interest and it is good for you. Basil is a favorite of mine. Garlic, chives and so many more of nature's condiments make good food better and foods that are good for you more palatable. And... ginger is another root that is used in so many ways to the culinary delight of many. Vanilla is comfort.
Did you know that in Bible times, spices were equal to or more precious than gold. The Queen of Sheba brought them to King Solomon. (1 Kings 10:1-3) The wisemen brought frankincense and myrrh to Jesus (Matthew 2:11), spices used for worship and burial. They were rich gifts for a wise king and the King of Kings.
My Sister-in-love Jennifer and nieces, Kenzie and Ciara, started a Thanksgiving Eve tradition a few years ago. Wassail! It is made with apple juice, cranberry juice and spices. Madrigal singers sing about it. As we prep the food and the house... we share the wassail. The aroma fills the house as it steeps on the stove. Without the spices it would be merely mixed fruit juices. Wassail... another reason to love Thanksgiving traditions.
What spices are your favorites. What associations do you make in your head and your heart?
Today, I am grateful for spices. Bring on the Wassail.
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