When you buy spices it is important that you know how to keep them fresh in order that they do not lose the aromatic flavour. Oil-rich seeds such as poppy and sesame seeds can either be frozen or refrigerated to keep them fresh. Pine nuts will also benefit from refrigeration as they will get rancid if kept in a warm area. Anything that is red in colour, such as chillies, cayenne pepper, chilli powder and paprika should be refrigerated. Whole herbs and spices last longer than the ground variety, but it is still recommended that you store all herbs and spices in glass, plastic or metal airtight containers to preserve their freshness and protect them from moisture. Most people keep their spices and herbs near to the stove for convenience, but this is actually not good as they can get hot there and also collect moisture from steam when cooking. It is best to store the containers in a cool place away from direct sunlight.

We decided to have a traditional rib dinner on our third night in California so our Golden Corral coupon came in really handy. We were on a coach tour and apart from looking forward to some tasty ribs; we were also desperate for a break from our fellow travellers. Although most of them were pleasant, a few were really grating, such as the very boring man with his shorts, socks and sandals who thought he knew everything there was to know about the trip and his oh so dull wife who didn’t seem to have a sense of humour. We strolled into the diner, sharing a joke at the expense of our new acquaintances and followed a waiter to our table. Oh no, guess who had decided to use their Golden Corral Coupon that night as well! We avoided him like the plague, but he didn’t bother us in the end.