Best Spice Merchants

The key is to have at least a little liquid for the bay to infuse and heat to get the process going.If you're not sure you know what bay really tastes or smells like, a good experiment to try sometime is to put a few bay leaves in a cup of boiling water.

The names for Cumie in other languages; DG writer Adina Dosan tells me thatin Romania, where she comes from, caraway is 'chimen' and Cumin isorthern or wild) Cumin" in southern areas (where Cumin would be a native) and Cumin having a name liway" in northern...

But of you want your potpourri's fragrance to last, don't forget to include a fixative something that will hold and preserve the scent. It looks more attractive than it sounds, almost like nuts or wood chips.

The leaves, which resemble the needles of an evergreen, are deep green on the top and silvery on the bottom. Among the many blessings of today's cooks and bakers is the ease with which we obtain and use these delicious seasonings.

(There are 453 grams in one pound.)Saffron is usually sold by the gram or by the quarter-ounce. However, its subtle earthy flavor can be masked by strong flavorings such as chili peppers.Saffron remains underutilized and underappreciated by the majority...

Try adding a few bits to your coffee filter basket, teacup, or potpourri. Cinnamon oil is extracted from both the leaves and from the bark to be used in many products, recipies, and craft projects.

Days and weeks later, the wound was dry and apparently healed. You may even try powdering your newly sown seed trays as a preventive for damping off. Of course, I had to try this for myself to see if there was anything to it.

We all know 'sesame seeds' from the McDonald's Big Mac ad :"Two all beef patties on a sesame seed bun". Sprinkle some on baked dishes and breads. Many are familiar with the phrase "Open, Sesame" from Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.

This is the first year I have ever had an artificial Christmas tree and the house just doesn't smell like Christmas. Grate your own Nutmeg (they even sell Nutmeg in a little grater now), use whole Cloves and whole Cinnamon.

This is particularly pretty when you will be serving the mulled beverage at a party.I don't think I ever make the mixture exactly the same way twice, but this is my basic recipe:Place the cinnamon sticks and nutmegs in a heavy plastic freezer bag.

Grind just enough to break the pepper skins into flakes and not a powder. Then, you may already have experienced how most peoplemay give you a wide-eyed, blank stare, as they politely try to say, "No, thank you." When it comes to growing hot peppers,...

But it is such a simple process to scent sucrose, why not add a personal touch-while saving some cash and make your own? To make your own scented sugar, you need a clean glass jar.As there will be no heat processing later, I prefer to sanitize my jars...

Commercially, saffron is used to dye textiles and finds applications in manufacture of incense, cosmetics and perfumes. So, select your spice provider cautiously. In the U.S., saffron has a Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status.An acre of land produces...

Actually, I just liked the smell of some things, and for awhile spices were at the top of my list.The first time I reluctantly visited the dentist, well actually I might have been kicking and screaming, he used a medicine to numb the area of my tooth...

The large and economical containers of ground cinnamon available at big box stores will work just fine. In fact, I once incorporated some high grade cinnamon and discovered the additional cinnamon oil made the craft dough difficult to work with.

Of course, the sugar lobby disagrees with the figure, but whatever the correct number is, we're undoubtedly eating more sugar than we did in our grandparents' time. The stuff we Americans use to make holiday treats is ALL extracted from sugar cane; the...

As Saint-Pierre is located on the coast, the sun soon becomes scorching so the market starts rather early, the first stalls are ready by 5 o'clock in the morning, an hour before sunrise.

I truly must have been a difficult child, or my mother must have had the patience of a saint because I was so particular about what I ate, I know cooking for me must have been a real chore.

Their website states that under the right conditions Cardamom can grow 5 to 10 feet tall, but generally will stay small in more temperate climates. A rhizomatous tender perennial, cardamom is a tropical plant hardy in zones 8 though 11.

As with all foods involving honey, it should not be given to infants, as sometimes honey may contain the spores responsible for infant botulism.Herb-infused honey is easy to make, and some methods don't even require cooking.

I realize this is a ton of serious information about one exotic plant, but isn't it interesting that it might someday become a major medical miracle? It really has no side effects, except it is thought to cause minimal hair loss if used in great quantities.

Columbus actually stumbled across the Americas by accident, when they got in his way as he was seeking a new spice route to the East Indies! It wasn't until after Cortez invaded Mexico, however, that Europe "discovered" vanilla and chocolate.

Even the blossoms in spring added to its dried leaves make a delicious sweet tea. There is very little scientific data available to validate any claims that the spicebush has any true value medicinally, but it does serve cooks well as a spice.

My Granny Ninna had made me a bonnet to wear. My dad's cousins and their parents lived on the left side of the holler.My cousins were all girls, the oldest one was near my parents' age, and the youngest was only eight or nine years older than I was.

Peppers also contain beneficial nutrients, including carotene and antioxidants. Chile with a capital "C" is a country in South America.Piments sur les facades and Piments - France - Espelette - Pyrenees-Atlantiques (64) - 2005-08-05 taken by Pinpin courtesy...

Other flavorings to try include dried thyme or sage, grated lemon or orange rind, or ground cinnamon. Cook over low heat for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring the nuts continuously to coat them evenly and prevent burning.

This year, I intended to thriftily use up and give away my “stash” of jam before next strawberry season or at least before Florida citrus and marmalade season this winter. I did cut up a lot of tomatoes (no less than 2 to 3 pounds) and cook them for...