Looking to cook something new? Give our Spice of the Month Club a try with a free sample of the spice, recipes for a main course and smaller dish or dessert to fit your needs or diet, and learn a little about the spice.

Juniper Berries
January
This month we're bringing in the new year with a piney, resinous flavor that has a pop of tart: juniper berries! These “berries” are actually the cones of the juniper bush and bring a citrusy and sharp flavor to dishes. A particular German favorite, a well-known Alsatian dish, choucroute garnie, contains sauerkraut with sausage and potatoes, seasoned with pepper and juniper berries. 

Recipes this month will include-
Entrée: Lamb, Kale, and Sweet Potato Chili 
Side: German Braised Red Cabbage (Rotkohl)

Lavender
February
Relax this month with a floral flavor usually found in sweets and scents: lavender. This member of the mint family is a perennial found throughout Europe and Asia. Known for its floral, herbal, and sweet notes as “the herb of love,” English lavender is most often used for cooking and pairs well with savory herbs and sweet flavors.

Recipes this month will include-
Entrée: Lemon and Lavender Chicken
Side: Lavender Roasted Fingerling Potatoes

Fennel Seeds
March
This month we're featuring a Mediterranean plant you might see growing this time of year: fennel! This bulbous vegetable in the carrot family has delicious anise-flavored seeds that can be cooked down into a licorice-flavored syrup or paired with savory dishes like seafood or pork to add an earthy, sweet taste.

Recipes this month will include-
Entrée: Fennel and Coriander Crusted Salmon with Fennel Citrus Salad
Side: Vegan Shepherd’s Pie

Allspice
April
This April Fool’s Day, we feature a berry posing as an entire blend of spices: allspice. The pickled and dried fruit from the Myrtle family is famous in Jamaican jerk seasoning and Mexican mole as native to the Americas but can be found in European and Middle Eastern savory dishes like corned beef, pickled herring, and baharat. Allspice’s flavor profile is complex and warming with a savory and peppery aftertaste. Add it toward the start of the cooking process to maximize its flavor in any dish.

Recipes this month will include-
Entrée: Authentic Jamaican Jerk Chicken
Side: Classic Pickled Beets

Spice of the Month kits can be picked up February 1-7 during the Library's regular hours at our Morgan Memorial and North Suffolk locations. Kits available on a first come, first served basis. No registration required.