Where good food, books & art come together in Texomaland
Turmeric is the root of a perennial plant belonging to the ginger family of plants. Native to China and Indonesia, it is produced today in China, Indonesia, Haiti and Jamaica. Most recipes call for powdered turmeric. It’s medicinal taste mellows with the addition of …
This recipe for shrimp is one of my favorites. It is so very tasty, and also quick to prepare. It is perfect for busy weeknights when gathering around the table is in the evening’s program. Enjoy! Need something quick and elegant to fix for …
They will all have a list they just cannot do without in their kitchen. Each list would be slightly different. One thing for sure, there would be many crossovers of seasonings that all would agree on.
These are the ten spices I give as wedding gifts, graduation gifts and any gift appropriate with helping a novice cook get started right:
Don’t just sprinkle it on your potato salad. Generously spoon it into soups, stews and sauces to add an earthy depth to any dish.
In addition to fresh onions in your recipes, a teaspoon of this concentrated onion flavor will boost the taste of your favorite dishes.
Fresh-ground black pepper has a slightly fruity taste and aroma that adds a flavorful tingle to any dish. Once you start grinding it fresh, you will never go back to buying pre-ground pepper again.
Whether fresh, powdered or crystallized, ginger is a great addition to meat and bean recipes. Added with other aromatics such as onions and garlic, half a teaspoon of ginger powder boosts vegetable dishes to a higher level.
Nothing else adds such a delicate hint of onion flavor to soups, sauces, vegetable and egg dishes like onion (tubular) chives.
Just a pinch is all you need as a “secret ingredient” for tomato based dishes. Use to flavor tomato soup, Irish stew or spaghetti sauce. It also marries well with the natural flavors of meats.
Once you start grating nutmeg as needed, you will never go back to using pre-ground powders. Use freshly-grated nutmeg on top of pies and other baked goods. But, don’t stop there. Stir into hot beverages, and sprinkle on yellow and white vegetables.
With all the good press today regarding turmeric’s health benefits, let’s not forget what a great addition it is to your spice rack. The medicinal-tasting quality of turmeric’s flavor marries well with other spices and the natural flavors of meat and vegetables.
Stirred into cream sauces, or blended with flour for breading fried foods, mustard powder will add zing to your favorite dishes. Try in potato or macaroni salad; or chicken or ham salad.
Salt that is harvested directly from the sea and salt marshes is free of the harsh characteristics that regular table salt possesses after it has been flushed out of the ground, boiled and bleached. Unprocessed mined salt such as Himalayan Pink Mineral or Murry River Pink are also more flavorful because of their inherent mineral makeup.