Spice It Up for Springtime!

By Cal Orey
 

UPDATE: It is early April, a time when herbal plants are blooming from the West to East Coast and in between. And fantasies of an indoor garden (basil, thyme, parsley) are on my mind--and I'm going to replenish the dried spices (yes, they can lose their potent flavor after a year or so). Both fresh and dried seasonings are a must-have during the new season when we crave lighter, fresher foods.

Homecooking is Hot...During plague lockdowns to inflation DIY meals are the thing to do and spicing it up makes any dish more flavorful... Meanwhile, Old Bay Seasoning is always in demand as it was during COVID when homecooking was hot and even now when the R word is making us think outside of the can or box! 

Back in 2019, according to McCormick:  Lawrence Kurzius, McCormick's chairman and CEO, that's one product that the company has had to work to keep on supermarket shelves. "Oh my gosh, the demand for Old Bay has been extraordinary, and we've been hard-pressed to keep up with it," Kurzius told Yahoo Finance Live."  Discover all the spices in Old Bay Seasoning, different blends, and how to make your own! Paprika, pepper, and so many others! Also, check out the recipes in The Healing Powers of Herbs & Spices: Timeless Treasures. Yes, McCormick spices are included!

In the past, The Healing Powers of Herbs & Spices author's words made an appearance in Huffington Post -- dishing on the wonders of the flavor and versatility of bay leaves!  The story was picked up by NY Post, NY Daily News, Citibuzz, and many, many more publications! Recently graced with the Bestseller banner for the book on Walmart's website, today in the top 100 bestsellers (health genres) on Amazon; in hundreds of libraries (multiple branches, books on hold or checked out) worldwide! Still on page 1 of bestselling herbs and spices books on Barnes and Noble...  Newsworthy, popular Newsmax is on board with the fresh book, #9! and purchased hundreds of copies (newsmax.com/herbs)! Covered in newspapers to online magazines...  And the year is still young!

 ...we're thrilled about the new offering in the Healing Powers series from bestselling author Cal Orey featuring 50 recipes and A-to-Z guide cataloguing most versatile herbs and spices for flavoring food, as well as preventing and curing illness." -- Woman's World magazine, Book Club: Nonfiction

As in her previous bestselling books, Cal Orey combines groundbreaking research into all these health and weight loss benefits with home cures, cosmetic uses, household hints, dozens of heart-healthy Mediterranean style recipes, legends, nutritional charts, and heartwarming anecdotes. --Tathaastu Magazine, book review

Not only is the book a guide for people who love to cook and bake, but it offers a fun way to learn through legends, stories and many of Orey's experiences derived from both childhood and present times. -- Tahoe Daily Tribune, book review

The Healing Powers of Herbs and Spices: A Complete Guide to Nature's Timeless Treasures. The ninth installment of the Healing Powers series from nutrition writer Orey explores how herbs and dried spices can provide home cures, weight loss benefits, and beauty treatments.  -- Publishers Weekly

... Orey's ninth title in her Healing Powers series is part cookbook, part healthy living reference...After the educational parts and charts, most pages are devoted to nearly 80 recipes for almost every possible eating occasion: jumbo anise biscotti, cayenne spicy salsa, saffron baked custard, spicy meatless shepherd's pie.... An herb a day just might keep the doctor at bay. Includes glossary and resources. --Booklist 

Herbal medicines can be helpful in treating many medical concerns as well as be used to support our health. These natural healing modalities discussed in Orey's refreshing book for  the 21st century well-being  have been part of my integrative family practice for nearly 50 years. -- Elson Haas, MD (ElsonHaasMD.com) is the author of 11 books including Staying Healthy with the Seasons and Staying Healthy with NEW Medicine.

I loved the complexity of it: there are personal stories from the author which bring flavor to the pages, there are a lot of details about the chemistry and the history of the spices and, of course, their benefits for health...

There are folk types of advice mixed in, beauty and home benefits from using herbs and a lot of recipes. -- Reviewer NetGalley

It's very refreshing to come across a book packed with solid, helpful information on healing and wellness that doesn't try to discredit modern medicine. There is absolutely a place for both in our lives, and crucial information is being lost in the delirium of "internet research." -- Reviewer NetGalley