National Herbs and Spices Day is here!  While this is an “unofficial” holiday celebrated on June 10th each year, there’s absolutely no reason not to take advantage of so many wonderful Wild Oats Organic spices and herbs to choose from!

It’s unclear how National Herbs and Spices Day originated. But what I do know is that it is a great time to stretch your wings a bit and try some new flavors in your cooking.

Herbs and spices are often used interchangeably, but they’re really very different. Herbs are generally the leaves from herbaceous plants like thyme, rosemary and sage. Spices, on the other hand, are culled from the roots, seeds and bark of plants and are usually dried and ground up. Then there’s cilantro… It’s both an herb and a spice! The leaves are generally eaten whole as a garnish. But when dried and ground, cilantro becomes coriander.

Both herbs and spices can brighten and deepen the flavor of almost any dish. Adding herbs to dishes that will simmer or roast will impart brighter flavor. Adding spices to quick cooking dishes will impart deeper, richer — and spicier — flavor.

So step outside the box and add some new herbs and spices to your weekly meals.Try some flavors you’ve been wanting to experiment with, but didn’t dare! Today’s the perfect day to shake things up. Go wild with cayenne pepper on your veggies. Go exotic with cinnamon on your squash or go sultry with cumin in your quinoa. Add some rosemary to your pork loin or oregano to your chicken. There are hundreds of ways to use spices and herbs in your cooking. The only limit is your imagination.

Here are some ideas to help you get started.

Wild Oats Marketplace Organic Dill Weed You might think dill is only used for flavoring pickles, but you’d be wrong! Use dill in tuna salad or to flavor a summer pasta salad. Find more ideas for dill here.

Wild Oats Marketplace Organic Ground Turmeric Turmeric has long been prized for it’s beautiful golden color, but it’s great in scrambled eggs or curries, too. Get some ideas for using turmeric here.

Wild Oats Marketplace Organic Paprika Paprika is most closely associated with deviled eggs, but this often overlooked spice adds warmth and depth to stews and casseroles. Find new ways to use paprika here.