Spice Food With Aromatic Flavorings

Culinary Spice Essentials

Spice food flavorings have been used by the Indian Subcontinent since being sold through the trade industry at the earliest 2000 BCE. include black pepper, cinnamon herbs cultivated in East Asia. Historians believe that nutmeg originates from the Banda Islands located in Southeast Asia was later introduced in Europe in the 6 century BCE.  Today spice food flavorings are used in a variety of food preparation methods to enhance the taste of any cuisine.

Culinary Spices and herbs are now used to flavor foods enriching entrees, side dishes, desserts with aromatic flavors create a foundation for many recipes. A spice is fruit, bark, buds, seeds or other plant substance used for coloring or flavoring foods.  Spices are also used in medicine, perfume, cosmetics, or religious rituals. Spices are distinguished from herbs which are the stems, leaves, flowers of plants used to flavor or garnish foods.

Bouquet Garni Spice & Herbs

Other seasonings are made from a mix of spices in combination homemade seasoning blends create distinct flavors seasons to your preferences. A bouquet garni is a bundle of herbs and spices combined together in a square piece of cheesecloth tied with twine.

A bouquet garni is a bundle of herbs, spices blends added to soups, stocks, casseroles is used to infuse liquid or brine enhancing the flavor of food. There is no standard recipe for a bouquet garni but most french recipes include thyme, bay leaf, and parsley. Depending on the recipe it may also include a mix of spices of 2 bay leaves, fresh parsley, a few sprigs of thyme, a few peppercorns giving any dish aroma and flavor.

Star Anise is a spice derived from both the pod and seed of the plant used in cooking containing a sweet poignant flavor commonly used in savory dishes paired well with beef, poultry, citrus, onions, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger powder.  It should be used in small quantities.

5 Star All Spice Recipe

• ¼ cup ground cinnamon
• 5 tablespoons fennel seed
• 5 tablespoons peppercorns
• 5 tablespoons whole cloves
• ¼ cup whole anise pods

Grind cinnamon, fennel, nutmeg, dry ginger powder in a spice mill or mortar and pestle into ground powder. The 5 Star Spice combination can be used as a dry rub or marinade adding delicious flavors to your recipes.

Health Benefits of Spice

Spice up your life with delicious flavors that provide health benefits due to naturally occurring plant compounds phytochemicals work in harmony with antioxidants protecting cells from free radical damage.  Studies suggest spices and herbs including sage, rosemary, oregano are fantastic antioxidants with high content of phenolic acid reduces inflammation in the body.

Store Dried Spice

Store spices food flavorings in a cool dry place out of direct light to retain freshness in easy to use containers.  A 12 glass jar revolving spice rack organizer keeps spices fresh and sits on countertop surfaces or placed inside a cabinet for storage without taking up too much space. The tops are easy to open and put out the contents easily available for any recipe.

The contemporary herb, spice rack carousel provides quick access to all of your favorite flavors in the kitchen keeping all your seasoning bottles within reach perfectly suited for any kitchen.  Top 5 spices you need for your pantry is garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, cinnamon, salt, pepper to start with.

Hot Apple Cider Spice

Hot Apple Cider Spice is always a favorite fall beverage often served to guests during the holidays. Combine 16 cups of apple cider to a large 6 quart stainless steel pot with 3 tablespoons of sugar free maple syrup. Place the dry ingredients in the center of a square of cheesecloth, 2 cinnamon sticks, 10 strips of fresh orange peel, 5 strips of fresh lemon peel.

Tie the cheesecloth with twine.  Add the bundle of dry ingredients to the liquid. Bring the liquid up to a simmer. Remove from the heat off allowing the spice's food flavorings to infuse into the liquid for 5-10 minutes. Remove the spice bundle from the liquid Serve hot apple spice beverages in glass mugs with one cinnamon stick topped with low fat sugar free whip cream sprinkled with a pinch of cinnamon sugar for a delicious spiced beverage.  

Cheers!

Patricia Lynn

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