re: Cookbook?

quote:

---

My reluctance to cook from PP books isn't from intimidation. It's just that I don't have all those spices on hand. I would have to spend $10-15 on spices just to get started.

---

Start with the gumbo,then.It doesn't have all those spices and you can use whole chickens, cutting them up and skinning them yourself.

Have to agree with the others. The spices listed by Tav are indeed the basics and, if you cook, you should have those, on hand. Good investment in the long run. You can buy the "off" brands rather than McCormick or Spice Island etc... You can use regular no name brand paprika if you don't want to buy the hungarian in the can, but it's worth the purchase.