Yes, there are some unusual spices for a number of the recipes. I have no idea where to get nasturtiums for the Nasturtium Butter (especially since nasturtiums are annuals). But, there are some that do not ... such as the Barbecue Pulled Chicken. It is made from ingredients usually already in your cabinet, and it tastes fabulous! There are numerous recipes for different kinds of chili. Some use dry beans and some use canned beans. One even uses nothing but vegetables. So, there are a number of usable recipes (some easier than others). The portions are generous for 2 people, which is great for the empty-nesters. Most of the recipes use the fattier thigh meat instead of leaner breast meat (the author obviously prefers thigh meat). I just go ahead and use breast meat, and the recipes have worked out great. There are recipes for making your own chicken broth and turkey broth using wings. I'm not sure the author realizes that, due to their popularity, wings are priced higher than breast meat! Not an economical solution; but, it is a solution for those who can't have the high sodium and sugar found in commercially prepared broths. So far, I'm really enjoying recipes that are NOT centered around another can of condensed soup. There is no nutritional information given for any of the recipes.