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

Images Courtesy of Shutterstock

Spice Up Your Life With Delicious Flavors And Health Benefits

Health Benefits of Spice
Spices are packed with health benefits due to naturally occurring plant compounds phytochemicals that work in harmony with antioxidants. The seeds from spices can be linked to the reduction of chronic disease promoting good health naturally using organic seasonings for a verity of reasons.    

Herbs and spices have both medicinal and culinary purposes for centuries.  Research from the National Libary of Medicine indicates dietary plant polyphenol compounds are known to contribute to the reduction of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes.  (1.)

Polyphenol rich foods including green tea, fruits, vegetables, spices, and herbs are typically well known for their high antioxidant properties protecting the body from free radical from injuring body cells, tissues, organs, and processes.  Consuming more organic foods can help the body reduce inflammation boosting the metabolism and may help prevent some diseases.
   
Spices is a plant substance derived from fruit, bark, seeds, and roots primarily used as a flavoring, or preservative for common foods.  Historians believe the spice trade was developed in South Asia and the Middle East in early 2000 BCE with black pepper and cinnamon spice. Spices have been used for centuries used in medician, cosmetics, perfume production or as a vegetable.

Earliest records of spice came from ancient Egypt, Indian and Chinese cultures dating back to 1550 BCE used spice from medicinal purposes.  
India contributes 75% of global spice production due to the high demand of the product in today's market.

Spice for Medicinal & Culinary Use
Today spices are commonly used in cooking to increase the flavor of sweet or savory dishes tend to be low in calories. Spices have a strong flavor used in small quantities in combination to create unique taste to any recipe.  Seeds are typically made from seeds containing high portions of good fats, protein, and carbohydrates.   

Most spices and herbs contain high amounts of micronutrients and substantial antioxidant activity especially flavonoids naturally occurring plant pigments found in fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices that are good for you.  Benefits attributed to flavonoids reduce the risk of certain diseases including cancer, heart disease, stroke, and asthma.     

Studies indicate plant phenols found in spices contain phenolic compounds antioxidant and antimicrobial properties which are known to optimize preventive activity against infectious disease, inflammation, allergies, and degenerative disease.  Plant phenols are strong antioxidants that may prevent oxidative damage to DNA protein and lipids that play a role in chronic disease including cardiovascular disease and cancer.    

Spices are commonly used for medicinal purposes due to the high antioxidant levels and have proven to be effective in healing. Used in large quantities spices contribute to a considerable amount of micronutrients and minerals including calcium, iron, and magnesium, copper, manganese, selenium, and zinc.  

The health benefits of eating spices are enormous as part of a complimentary diet plan that includes whole foods, organic fruits and vegetables, and lean proteins. (2.)

Healthy & Delicious Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a spice harvested from the bark of specific tree species from the Cinnamomum evergreen tree and shrubs grown in many areas around the world.  Cinnamon is commonly used as an additive in cuisine as a flavoring to many popular savory and sweet dishes as an aromatic condiment. It is used in popular cereals, snacks and tea and other traditional foods sold to consumers.

The flavor and aroma of cinnamon is a derivative of essential oils from the bark, comprised of 11% water, 53% dietary fiber, 4% protein.  In 100 gram amount of ground cinnamon is considered a rich source of vitamin K 30% DV, Iron 64% DV, and calcium 100% of the daily value.  

According to clinical trials, dietary cinnamon spice lowered LDL cholesterol and triglycerides concluding that it has the potential to be a useful complementary therapy in managing type 2 diabetes as part of integrative medicine as a healthy approach to personal care. (3.) 

Types of Spice

• Allspice
• Cumin
• Ginger
• Cloves
• Celery seed
• Pepper
• Cardamon
• Cinnamon
• Coriander
• Fennel
• Garlic
• Nutmeg
• Fennel
• StareAnise 

Cumin Health Benefits 
Cumin is a flowering plant native to the Middle East territory stretching to East Inda.  The seeds within the fruit of the plant are dried and used in cuisine in many cultures around the world consumed in ground or whole form.

The spent cumin had a carbohydrate value of 23% DV, Fat 10%, protein 19%, including essential vitamins, thiamine, niacin, and riboflavin.  Cumin has potential use in health food formulas due to the high nutritional composition and digestibility and may prevent food born illness.  (4.)

Cumin 100 gram amount can provide high amounts of monounsaturated fats MUFA's, dietary fiber, protein, vitamin E, vitamin B including dietary minerals manganese, iron, and magnesium. It can use whole or ground in recipes adding aroma and flavor to stews, soups and another cuisine.  Consuming cumin as a spice promotes digestion, increases antioxidant levels, and may improve blood sugar control.

Turmeric Powerful Antioxidant 
Benefits of turmeric are enormous for losing weight and increasing energy levels.  Turmeric is a plant related to ginger and is the key ingredient in many Asin sweet and savory dishes adding a slightly bitter flavor to foods and aroma.  The compounds are referred to as curcuminoids the most important part curcumin that main active ingredient in turmeric. 

High doses of turmeric taken for long periods of time may cause gastrointestinal discomfort however it is considered safe and effective taken for short periods of time.

Historically turmeric has been used by Ayurvedic medicine primarily in South Asia to treat certain conditions including pain, breathing complications, fatigue, and rheumatism. 

Toady turmeric is still being used to complement integrated health for treating colon cancer, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, prostate cancer, weight loss, rheumatoid arthritis pain, and swelling.  Turmeric spice is currently being studied for the health benefits it may provide to increase energy and boost natural healing powers.  

Powerful anti-inflammatory has been used for centuries to treat colds, infections, liver disease and treat osteoarthritis.  Consuming foods high in antioxidants can help protect the body from free radical damage in the body.  Primarily studies found curcuminoids have powerful anti-inflammatory effects has received continued interest in the medical and scientific world.

Benefit from natural alternatives using Turmeric  BioPrine supplements that may be beneficial for various health conditions.  Increase energy and mental clarity while improving focus and mood using turmeric to brighten skin tone and aid in sleep.  Click Here to watch the free video about the benefits of turmeric.
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Cheers!
Patricia Lynn

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