@DoubleD maybe I just need to find a sampler pack, but I'm looking for tips to spice things up.

I currently only have garlic powder. I like pizza and it works. It also works in other things like white rice, especially when mixed in with soy sauce. I also mix the garlic powder with sour cream for when I bake spicy beef patties. There have to be other spices I can reliably fuck with other than garlic. Preferably not sweet.

@ButtWorldsMan
Start with these spices:
Salt, pepper, garlic (dehydrated).
Garlic powder often has salt in it; so, check the ingredients.

Start with dishes you currently like like pizza.
Instead of getting sauce from a jar, get a can of pureed tomatoes, and make your own sauce for the pizza keeping everything else the same. Start by experimenting with differing amounts of pre-mixed Italian seasoning with your garlic, salt, and pepper.

@ButtWorldsMan
Once you have determined the amount of premixed seasoning that you like, get some of each of the component spices: basil, thyme, oregano, rosemary, marjoram. Experiment with different amounts of each to try to replicate the flavour of the premix.

What you're doing is reverse engineering the flavours that you like.

@ButtWorldsMan You can do the same thing with BBQ rubs, steak seasonings, chili spice mixes, etc.

After you acquire an understanding of spice amounts and blends and their interaction with salt, branch out into treatments of spices: infusion with fat, suspension in water, their flavours when caramelized, etc.

@DoubleD I'm not interested in replicating flavor. I'm trying to experiment on what I can add to ready to eat food. White rice is probably versatile enough for me to augment with a variety of spices. I buy the pizza from a local place.

Thanks for answering, but I think I'm just going to have to find a sampler set to have a cheap way to test a variety of flavors.

In summary: i want to add to already hot, edible food. Not cook my own food.

@ButtWorldsMan Ah, okay.
For white rice: try furikake, dehydrated garlic, various sauces like dark soy sauce, BBQs, tonkatsu, types of hot sauces, premixed/jarred curries.

For pizza: dehydrated garlic, italian seasoning.

For burgers: any type of steak seasoning or BBQ rub

For chicken: Go with the spices of the cuisine. If it's TexMex, add taco seasoning mixes in varying quantities. If it's French, go with standard poultry seasoning.

@DoubleD Thanks. TFM will go without superchats, but I'm sure he'll understand. More importantly, he won't even care.

@DoubleD Let's. Fucking. Go.

@ButtWorldsMan By all means, try it. I'll be happy to answer what culinary questions I can for you.

@DoubleD Would you point out which of those is spicy?

@ButtWorldsMan
Certainly spicy: Cayanne, crushed red pepper, chili powder, chipotle pepper
Potentially spicy: curry powder

@DoubleD Thanks, bro. Gonna try stirring some of them into soy sauce to see if it becomes salty n spicy.

@ButtWorldsMan If you're going to try that, do crushed red pepper let it sit overnight.

@DoubleD welp, it was an expensive method, but I managed to find out my tastes by destroying my taste buds for the next day. I basically poured a tiny bit onto a plate and tried each one by one dry. I feel nauseous, but it's for the greater good. I realized I'm a simple man. Garlic, onion, red pepper. I already have soy sauce and buffalo sauce. I'll look into tonkatsu. I just need simple shit. The other flavors are just way too exotic. Italian seasoning is just plain disgusting and minty.

@ButtWorldsMan Now you know: never try spices individually away from food. At least you know what you like, and it will keep your food budget simpler. You aren't afflicted with the curse of desiring a great variety of complex dishes. Garlic, Salt, onion, pepper, red pepper are all great choices. Try a bit of dill on eggs or cumin in chili if you still want to try small things. You might like small additions.

@DoubleD Thanks for the advice. Been fun. Fortunately no vomiting. Currently making Syrniki with raisins and cinnamon powder. Had to throw out 10 of the 24 pieces. I imagine I'll now start pouring water into a small bowl and mixing in curry, etc, into it to create a flavored dip.

@ButtWorldsMan I love a good syrnik in the morning! Did you make your own cheese for them?

@DoubleD I live an urban lifestyle. I just buy farmer's cheese.

@DoubleD Is there a particular type, or brand, of butter you recommend I look into?

@ButtWorldsMan I have no idea what "all purpose seasoning" is. That's not a thing.

@DoubleD might be all-spice

@ButtWorldsMan No, allspice is allspice, and it's similar in colour to nutmeg.

@DoubleD here it is

@ButtWorldsMan It's "all purpose" for European cuisine. Try it on a bit of chicken or pasta with butter and see what happens. Not spicy at all