Any cook will tell you that the key to delicious meals is spice. Whether it's spaghetti sauce or stir-fry, stew or steak, salad or tacos, the spices, combined properly in the right proportion, are what make the meal unique and exciting. But for the home cook, the world of spices and herbs can be daunting, with hundreds of individual spices and herbs, along with tons of special combinations that bring out the flavour of specific foods. Master chef and baker Leslie Bilderback has unlocked the key to this dazzling world of flavour in her book, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Spices & Herbs. With over 150 of the most popular spices and herbs described and easy-to-follow instructions on how to use them, store them, and combine with food and other spices, this is the most complete compendium of herbs and spices available on the market today.