For a beginner cook, it is really important to know what goes well together and how much or little to put in. I love to watch The Food Network and so many chefs use spices and seasonings that I have no clue about so when I started I wanted to go with the basics that I knew I could handle. By handle I mean that it would be easy for me to mix in those flavors without going awry. For example, I cannot even imagine using tumeric because it is such a foreign spice that I am not familiar with other than having the pleasure of eating it, thanks to my mom.

Here are some basic spices/herbs that you could work with:

Basil
Oregano
Salt
Pepper
Paprika
Parsley

If you have been following my blog you will know those are ingredients I use a lot in my cooking because they go well together, in my opinion.

What else is really great is a spice rack because it saves you money in the long run since you will have both the containers, a storage place, and a plethora of new ingredients to try when you feel daring and want to cook with something new.

-The Mermaid Chef