I'm totally with you Moneyminded on both issues-rice and spices. Rice is also my weakness, I usually eat 5 meals with rice a month. I am trying to reduce to 3, its hard. I love rice. I use basmati rice, brown rice and sushi rice. I make my own spice. I have a little coffee grinder which i use to grind cumin seed, corriander seed and put a couple of cloves for aroma. I only make enough for about a month and keep it in air tight container in a cool place. The spice remains very fresh like that. Other things I use are fenugreek seed (methi), bay leaves (tej pattha), timur, turmeric, and of course couldn't live without ginger and garlic, not so much crazy about cilantro.