Spices, we couldn’t invent our tasty dishes without them, could we?   I think be it a pinch of paprika or a grind of nutmeg spices are essential for a great tasting dish.

Spices are dried parts of aromatic plants like seeds, bark, roots and leaves and are mainly tropical. Spices do not like daylight and should be stored in the dark, in airtight containers in a cook dark cupboard and in small quantities in a home kitchen so you use them up at their best.

Mixed spice is a combination of spices. It contains cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, assia, coriander and caraway seeds. Another spice used is All spice but this is a berry from the pimento plant and alot of people manage to mix these two spices up.

There are a range fo spice jars for you to use to store your range of cooking spices in, which will match with any kitchen.

This John Lewis 16 jar spice rack is a great buy and practical.  It keeps all your important herbs and spices close to hand with this revolving chrome spice rack. Each glass jar holds approximately 85g, each one filled with a different spice. The jars have flip-topped lids for easy pouring and shaking. Herbs included: Basil, Caraway, Cinnamon, Coriander, Cumin seeds, Curry, Marjoram, Mustard, Onion, Oregano, Paprika, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Sea Salt, Thyme. Spice racks make great gifts for anniversaries or even wedding gifts or just for the cook in your family.

 A quick traditional pudding is Spotted Dick Pudding which has mixed spice within it. Try our family favourite. You will need - 150g self raising flour, 75g shredded suet, 1 x 5ml spoon of mixed spice, 50g caster sugar, 75g currants, 25g chopped mixed peel, 1 beaten egg and about 90ml milk.

Simply mix together the dry ingredients then add the egg and milk and stir mixture until it is smooth but gives a dropping consistency from a spoon. Place your mixture in a greased 750ml pudding basin and cover securely with greased foil. Then steam for 2 hours. Turn out and serve with custard and listen for all the ooh’s and arr’s!

Which spice to you use often in your cooking? How are you storing your spices? Let me know what you think to the pudding?