Dare to by Spicy

What almost-calorie-free ingredient can make your home cooking homier and your company cooking more exotic? Clue: Search your spice shelves - or your herb garden.

Then open a jar of cumin, close your eyes, and enjoy the aroma of a busy open-air market in Iran. Sniff an earthy basil leaf, crushed between your fingers, and remember that pesto you savored in Sicily. Let the scents of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves remind you of holiday baking time when you were a child.

The magic of herbs and spices can unleash your culinary creativity without wrecking your budget. Even the most expensive ones are economical. Saffron is the world's most costly spice, because a pound of it is made of the stigmas of 75,000 crocus flowers. But you only need a bit of it, so you can probably afford even saffron once in a while.

It's exciting to try recipes that call for unfamiliar herbs and spices, but creating your own special dish is even more rewarding. Use a recipe similar to your own creation as a guide to the amount of a spice or herb to use. Or you can simply start with a small amount of an herb or spice, knowing that it's easy to add more than to take away.

The following recipe is not complicated, but if you've been timid about using herbs and spices, it could be your breakthrough experience!

Fruit Salad with Curried Dressing

1 cup plain yogurt*

½ teaspoon curry powder

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon sugar

dash of salt

1 tablespoon orange juice

lettuce leaves

6 cups cut-up mixed fresh fruits

In a small bowl, combine yogurt, curry powder, cinnamon, sugar, salt and orange juice. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

At serving time, line a large platter with lettuce. Top with fruits arranged in a decorative pattern and pour dressing over fruits.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings.

* If you prefer a sweeter taste, use vanilla yogurt.

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