Imitating Annie Dillard

Every time I enter my house, a peculiar smell attracts me. Its the smell of herbs and spices we use in our cooking. The strong smell reminds me of home in India. I can imagine the small box where the spices are kept. It is a small round box with several small bowls arranged in a flower-like arrangement. Every bowl has a different spice: chilli powder, turmeric, coriander powder, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, salt and garam masala (brown powder). Every spice has its own texture and taste. Salt is white in color and free flowing; chilli powder is red in color and it is a fine powder made of grounded chillies. Similarly, turmeric is a fine yellow powder that has healing properties and coriander is fine green powder made of dried coriander leaves that were ground. Cumin and mustard seeds have completely different texture and shape. Mustard seeds are small round black seeds while cumin seeds are small spindle-shaped brown seeds. Garam Masala is the tastiest and spiciest of all spices and it is brown in color. It adds the best flavor to the food. The box also contains one small silver tea spoon to be used while making food. Such is the arrangement of all the spice box whose contents help in making some of the healthiest and most flavorful food!