Strickland, age 10, of Tulsa, Okla., for her question:
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPICES AND SEASONINGS?
Before refrigeration or canning, spices were used tomake tainted food taste better. There is very little food value in spices, but they do increase the appetite and some help to stimulate the organs of digestion. Spices should not be used too generously because they can be harmful tothe body.
Many people use the words "spices" and "seasonings" to mean the same thing.
A seasoning can be either salt, a spice or an herb which is used for heightening or improving the flavor of food. Spice is the name given to food seasonings made from certain plants.
Some spices are appreciated for their taste, while others are used for their smell. Among the most common spices are pepper, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, ginger, mustard, mace and cinnamon.
Different spices have very little in common other than their use. They come from parts of a wide variety of spice plants. Cloves, for example, come from the bud of one plant, cinnamon comes from the bark and nutmeg and pepper come from the fruit. Mustard is taken from the seed of one plant, while ginger comes from the root of another. Curry, a popular seasoning which is widely used in India, is made from a combination of different spices.
Spice plants are grown in many parts of the world, with most of them found in tropical countries. The Moluccas, or Spice Islands, are famous as a source for spices.
In home gardens around the world you'll find such favorites as sage, thyme and marjoram. These plants are dried for later use.
Spices play a major part in history. Columbus and other early day explorers sailed across unknown seas with the hope they would be able to find all water routes from European cities to the East, where most of the spices were grown and processed. Merchants made fortunes in the early days of the spice trade.
An herb is a plant that has a fleshy or juicy stem when it is young. Some herbs are used in cooking. Aromatic herbs are classified as spices by most masters in culinary art. They make food tasty and more flavorful and also add interest to most dishes.
Some of the favorite herbs used as seasonings include basil, fennel, horseradish, mint, rosemary, saffron, coriander, sage, marjoram and vanilla.
Many people have home herb gardens. The experts suggest that they be located in sunny spots and that the good soil is well cultivated. When the herbs grow, the leaves can be pounded to a fine powder and then stored in airtight containers for later use.