Reddit reviews Herbs & Spices: Over 200 Herbs and Spices, with Recipes for Marinades, Spice Rubs, Oils, and Mor

> I wish I were better at getting the flavor from them.

Maybe this strikes your fancy?

https://www.amazon.com/Herbs-and-Spices-the-cook's-reference-by-Jill-Norman/dp/1465435980/

I've been on the BBQ train for some time now. As a New Orleans native living in Michigan, it's hard to find good smoked meats up here, so you end up having to do it for yourself. And every time we throw a shindig, that's really all that gets requested.

My suggestions are as follows:

Franklin Barbecue
I love this book. It's not a recipe book, although it has a few basic ones in the back. He tells the story of how he came to BBQ, and then breaks down each individual aspect of BBQ process. You'll learn a lot.

Herbs and Spices
This book is really more fun than anything else. It's essentially wikipedia for herbs and spices, but there's so much in it that you can always come back and find something new.

The best advice I can give you is to never stop trying something new. When I first got in to BBQ/Grilling, I went to Amazon and bought a mess-load of books for $1-2 a piece about the basics, recipes, processes, and ideologies. Bobby Flay was my first read. I've strayed away from him now that I have my own style. And that's a phrase you'll here a lot among people. "Style". I wouldn't worry too much about it. Just light a fire and put some meat on it. Worst case scenario. You've got cooked meat.

Try smoking a Turkey with a Cajun rub (that you make, don't use prepackaged Cajun rubs) over hickory or apple wood. Patience and eventually it'll all be second nature too you.

Welcome to the game.

There are two books I highly recommend you check out. One is called "The Flavor Bible" ( https://www.amazon.com/Flavor-Bible-Essential-Creativity-Imaginative-ebook/dp/B001FA0P86/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+flavor+bible&qid=1565833128&s=gateway&sr=8-1 ) and the other is "Herbs and Spices -- The Cook's Reference" ( https://www.amazon.com/Herbs-Spices-Recipes-Marinades-Spice/dp/1465435980/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=herbs+and+spices%2C+the+cook%27s+reference&qid=1565833243&s=gateway&sr=8-3 )

They'll help you learn how all the senses and flavors work together to extract the maximum enjoyment of food.

Also, try recipes from other people! As you become proficient with cooking in general and learn more about flavor combinations, you'll be able to try a recipe and think of ways to improve it and make it your own. Try different and unusual cooking methods. Ignore convention (I made a coconut cream pie on a barbecue smoker recently. It was awesome!) Don't be afraid to mess up, just don't experiment when you're having people over. :)

The main thing is to get in the kitchen and keep the beginning sentence "I wonder how it would taste if I..." in your head.

Have fun!