I’m a single man with Asperger’s Syndrome and I recently started learning to cook things on my own to keep from getting overloaded by the abundance of chemicals in today’s pre-processed foods. Most recipes I find are loaded with things I shouldn’t have so I’m trying to create my own. I’m trying to stick to an all-organic diet but I’m having problems figuring out which fresh herbs to use for what taste. Everything I make is either bland or tastes terrible. Is there a chart somewhere that could tell me what to use for different dishes?

~Fresh Out of Ideas

Dear Fresh Out,

First of all let me say kudos to you for learning to cook your way to a healthier life. After you’ve gotten the hang of the ‘scratch game’ you’ll find that it’s also the tastier way to go.

You’re in luck! There are, in fact, charts that suggest various herbs for assorted dishes and outcomes. Most large named cookbooks, such as Better Homes & Gardens, Betty Crocker, and Joy of Cooking put out such charts and usually includes them in their books. Online you can find a variety of herb sites, such as Garden Ablaze, that also post these charts, free of charge.

If you’re really serious about learning to cook from scratch I would also recommend checking out the McCormick Spices website and FoodTV.com. At these sites you’ll find easy to understand and use advice and hints on various herbs and how to get the most out of them.