Yep, you read me right! Well, if you read French, that is. If not, then you may have read me wrong. I really don't know. I'll translate for you. What that means, literally, is "Devil's Shit." And it's part of our spice lineup for this weekend.

Ok, so either you're laughing, wincing, or clicking off this blog, right?

One of the spices in a couple of the recipes for this weekend is called asafetida (though I've also seen it spelled asafoetida). Information and photo taken from Wikipedia.

According to Wiki, asafetida is also commonly known as Devil's Dung (in the civilized U.S.), Stinking Gum, Asant, Food Of The Gods, Hing, Hilteet and Giant Fennel. Ok, which of these phrases does not belong?

Aaaaanyway, it is apparently an herbacious perennial plant, that has a foul raw smell but when cooked has a smooth flavor, reminiscent of leeks. I'd like to know who the first person was that decided to pick something that smelled bad enough to be called "Devil's Dung" and cook and EAT it. What was the thought process there, I wonder?

Moving on. The article also goes on to say, "Its odor is so strong that it must be stored in airtight containers; otherwise the aroma, which is nauseating in quantities, will contaminate other spices stored nearby." It is said to add aroma and flavor and .. especially for certain few of you on my friends list (you know who you are!) - REDUCE FLATULENCE!

It's got a bunch of other beneficial health-related qualities. If you'd like to read more about it, please view the link to the Wikipedia page.

Another spice we've got on our list is Nigella. Isn't it just beautiful? Again, info and pic from Wiki. The common names for this spice are Devil-in-a-bush and Love-in-the-mist. Apparently the two are interchangeable, but without harkening back to CCD classes and discussion of Eve and the snake, I'm not exactly sure how. I guess it all depends upon who you ask.

Apparently it is also called Black Cumin and we loooove cumin, so I'm excited about this one. It's supposed to taste similar to oregano, with the bitterness of mustard seeds. Mmmmm.

Now, you may notice a common theme here, because Nigella also is reported to reduce flatulence! Of course, it's also supposed to repel insects, similar to the effect of mothballs. So, y'know. Gotta take the good with the bad, there.

Again, please go to Wikipedia to learn more about Nigella.

All I can tell you is, once we're done cooking with them, I'm gonna shoot 'em in the studio and hopefully sell 'em as stock. How many pictures of Devil's Dung have YOU seen floating around out there?