Favorite spices

So I want everyone to share in the comments what their favorite spices are. You can share some for sweet dishes, some for savory. I'll start.

Savory:

• I am addicted to basil. I've said it. There.
• I've recently rediscovered paprika. I forgot that it is good for more than a garnish on deviled eggs. Tried it on some sweet potato fries today and it was delish (yes, I said delish--I'm bringing that one back from the 90s).
  
• Basic Mrs. Dash. So it's not just one spice...but I think it's amazing that there's so much goodness and no salt, and I never add salt when I've used Mrs. Dash, so that's got to be a good sign for someone like me who adds exorbitant amounts of salt to some of my food.

Sweet:

• Nutmeg.
• Vanilla bean.
• Butter.

Ok, so I know butter isn't a spice. But it's yummy. And I don't even blink when I make butter balls, one of my favorite cookies, that have two sticks of butter in them.

2 things

1. We need to get a title for this blog already.
2. I forgot the 2nd thing.

If you're on a diet...

Stop reading.

For all the rest of us liberated women (who know we're going to die because of the things we eat but we say we don't care as we smear butter on everything we make), here's a recipe I tried today from The Pioneer Woman's Web site. It was really, really yummy. I love strawberry shortcake, and this is like strawberry shortcake on steroids. So enjoy, and I'll see you when we're getting stints in our major arteries the same weekend.

Strawberry Shortcake Cake

Yummy, easy honey nut chicken

To be honest, I didn't have any nuts, so I did mustard in the egg/honey mixture instead, but this was super moist and soooo easy. Eric and I liked it, and it was really short prep time and dinner was ready in less than an hour. I'll just post the link so you can change the serving size if you need to.

Baked Honey Nut Chicken.

Stuffed Mushrooms

My friend made these for a girls night we had a couple of weeks ago and they were so good, plus sooo easy.

1 pound sage sausage
1 package cream cheese
mushrooms

Brown sausage, mix with cream cheese and stuff in mushrooms. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Enjoy!

Kitchen Gadget

Hey everyone, I'm looking to purchase a wok sometime in the near future. I've been looking around on the net and wanted to know if any of you have recommendations. In a way I'd like an electric one, though many people complain they don't get hot enough to truly sear the food. I have come across one that many reviews claim that gets hotter than other electric woks. Or do I just go with the traditional stainless steel stovetop wok? Remember, I'm not working on a gas fire stove here, so on an electric stovetop it still might be hard to get it up to the higher heat...maybe?

I have no idea.

What do you think?

Apple Cinnamon Bran Muffins

(I got this from my friend Melynie)

Mix and set aside to cool:

4 c All bran cereal

2 c boiling water

Cream together in large bowl:

1 c vegetable oil (or substitute applesauce)

2 1/2 c honey

4 eggs

Add and mix well:

2 T baking soda

2 t salt

4 c buttermilk

cooled bran mixture

7 c whole wheat flour

4 T cinnamon

4 1/2 c finely chopped, peeled apples

2 1/2 t nutmeg2 1/2 t cloves

Yield: 13 cups batter

Bake at 350 degrees for about 20-25 min.