spices

Are You Using Turmeric?

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Two picture collage, left photo shows close up of turmeric latte bubbles, right photo shows bright red mug filled with the bright yellow turmeric latte.

See that beautiful bright yellow? That color is from turmeric — one of the main ingredients found in curry powder.

Turmeric is all the rage right now. I’ve been reading lots of articles about it and I’m a recent convert.

There are so many health benefits that it wouldn’t make sense not to use it. A Mind Body Green article by Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary, which includes a recipe, describes a few of the benefits.

Recently turmeric has gained the recognition of the scientific community for its potential for lowering cholesterol, reducing blood sugar in diabetics, relieving arthritis, supporting liver function, improving digestion, reducing menstrual cramps, and reducing inflammation in the colon. Its broad medicinal uses are likely due to its anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antioxidant qualities.

The flavor is quite mild and I’ve been adding it to eggs. I’ve also noticed lots of recipes using it in hot drinks — usually combined with nut milks and spices.

The blog 3191 has a recipe for Spiced Turmeric Milk and Bon Appétit has a recipe for a Hot Turmeric Latte.

I’ve been doing my own versions which are mashups of all of these recipes and depend on the time I have to spend and what I have at home. I’m a fan and looking forward to trying more.

What about you? Are you using it?

Ground Cardamom: Same Spice Different Price

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cardamom podsEvents from last week have me reeling. Little did I know how much this quote that I posted would become relevant to me later that day. My family will never be the same again.

Along with family and friends, we are trying to adjust to a new normal. I never run out of things to blog about, but not much seems to matter right now in comparison. I’m an optimistic person, but it takes a bit of time to recover from a kick to your gut.

If you are the praying kind, then prayers for my family will help. I don’t have much to offer right now in the way of posts except for one thing. The price of ground cardamom is nearly double the price in Stop & Shop than in Market Basket. Why pay $14.99 if  you can pay $7.99?

Before Christmas I ran out. This is the first Christmas where I didn’t really bake. Except for when a cousin came over to visit me, I did bake Chai-Spiced Almond Cookies. Since I had no cardamom, they weren’t really chai-spiced. I used ginger instead. Which was still quite good by the way.

Market Basket is not near where I live, but when I go to my parents’ house, I can choose from a few locations. Since I did some food shopping for my parents at Market Basket, I decided to finally get some cardamom. I used it in my oatmeal this morning. It’s a small thing, but it’s comforting. And that is what I need right now.

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Flickr Photo: Cardamom pods by dollen