I've been there many times when it's time to cook and I don't have a recipe in mind. Fortunately, I have quite a spice collection to help me through the process. I'm sharing with you some spices that I always have on hand.
There are just some spices that I use most often and I must have on hand. Stocking your pantry with these flavors will help to build flavors into your recipes.
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Cayenne
Red Pepper Flakes
Cumin
Salt-free Blends
Smoked Paprika
Low-Sodium Versions of Popular All-Purpose Blends (Lowry/Old Bay)
Oregano
Thyme
Rosemary
Salt & Pepper
Coriander
White Pepper
Cinnamon
Many of these spices are aromatic which means that they give off a fragrant aroma while flavoring the meals. These aromas help me to decide which spices I want to use at the time. When creating new recipes or trying to jazz up an old favorite, you will often find me smelling spices to determine which one I want to use.
If you don't know how something tastes, smelling it is the next best thing next to actually tasting it.
These are just some of my most used spices. Of course, there are so many ways to combine them and pair them with other spices to give you flavors that you will love. These are great basic and building spices. Lots of cuisines use these spices. Stock up on these and you'll be set.