Cooking
Look what I got! These are each spice mixes from Penzey's sent to me by a friend who knows me well. For years I have enjoyed the Penzey's catalog, which is full of information about the herbs and spices they sell and recipes to boot. But better than the catalog is actually visiting a Penzey's store, something I did for the first time this Summer on my birthday with my sister in Portland.
Spice stores are wonderful places filled with endless jars and bags to tempt you. At Penzey's there isn't anything that you can't get a whiff of at the store. Walking around you experience what real fresh spices are all about. Too often spices are purchased at the supermarket where they are overpriced and not very pungent. Then we take them home where they languish until they lose all color, scent and flavor.
I buy some spices from bulk bins at Rainbow Grocery, a few exotic peppers from The Occasional Gourmet, especially my favorite the hard to find Marash pepper and a Ras el Hanout from Yum! because I find Paul's blend the best in tagines. But after shopping at Penzey's I purchased several items I hadn't had in stock in quite a while, if ever. Which did I purchase? I'll share my list.
The toasted onion is great for those times when you wish you had sauteed more onion than you did. Just toss in a spoon or two of the stuff and soups or stews take on more sweet oniony flavor. The Balti seasoning mix comes with a recipe right on the front of the package and is great for making an Indian dinner that is not a curry. The Vietnamese cinnamon is the strongest I've ever found and inspired endless breakfasts of cinnamon toast. The ginger was also very pungent and prompted me to experiment with gingerbread cookies.
How will I use my new spice mixes? I'm not sure yet, but I will have fun finding out!
UPDATE: Wow! I mixed the Singapore spice with butter and rubbed it under the skin of a chicken then roasted it. It was terrific, a great solution when fresh herbs are scarce. The chicken tasted lemony with subtle hints of ginger and pepper.
FOOD + SPICES
- Still Hungry?
When I was growing up, my parents would take me and my sister to all sorts of restaurants. We were much less of a food fixated society back then, but exotic food could be found in the Bay Area if you looked for it. In the suburbs there wasn't much...
- Big Flavors Revealed
The first seasoning is cassia chunks, I bought some at Penzey's during my trip to Oregon. I liked the idea of using it in mulled wine or in chai. In the U.S. the spice labeled "cinnamon" is usually cassia. As for the second seasoning, I have a...
- Za'atar Spice Mix Recipe
When I find a new ingredient I am intrigued. So it's not unusual for me to buy something I have absolutely no idea what to do with. Lately I have have been drawn to the Middle Eastern ingredients I've discovered in a fresh produce market. Last...
- The Occasional Gourmet Spices
Cinnamon toast makes a wonderful comfort food. It's only bread, cinnamon, sugar and butter but it sure smells good. If there are just a couple of spices to always have on hand, cinnamon is one. Cinnamon is found in a variety of cuisines--Mexican,...
- 10 Minute Sesame Noodles Recipe
Condiments. I can't get enough of them. In our fridge we have no fewer than five mustards, six jams, seven Asian sauces, and various chutneys, Indian pickles, salsas, HP brown sauce, relish, horseradish sauce and ketchup. You name it, it's probably...
Cooking
Penzey's Spices
Look what I got! These are each spice mixes from Penzey's sent to me by a friend who knows me well. For years I have enjoyed the Penzey's catalog, which is full of information about the herbs and spices they sell and recipes to boot. But better than the catalog is actually visiting a Penzey's store, something I did for the first time this Summer on my birthday with my sister in Portland.
Spice stores are wonderful places filled with endless jars and bags to tempt you. At Penzey's there isn't anything that you can't get a whiff of at the store. Walking around you experience what real fresh spices are all about. Too often spices are purchased at the supermarket where they are overpriced and not very pungent. Then we take them home where they languish until they lose all color, scent and flavor.
I buy some spices from bulk bins at Rainbow Grocery, a few exotic peppers from The Occasional Gourmet, especially my favorite the hard to find Marash pepper and a Ras el Hanout from Yum! because I find Paul's blend the best in tagines. But after shopping at Penzey's I purchased several items I hadn't had in stock in quite a while, if ever. Which did I purchase? I'll share my list.
The toasted onion is great for those times when you wish you had sauteed more onion than you did. Just toss in a spoon or two of the stuff and soups or stews take on more sweet oniony flavor. The Balti seasoning mix comes with a recipe right on the front of the package and is great for making an Indian dinner that is not a curry. The Vietnamese cinnamon is the strongest I've ever found and inspired endless breakfasts of cinnamon toast. The ginger was also very pungent and prompted me to experiment with gingerbread cookies.
How will I use my new spice mixes? I'm not sure yet, but I will have fun finding out!
UPDATE: Wow! I mixed the Singapore spice with butter and rubbed it under the skin of a chicken then roasted it. It was terrific, a great solution when fresh herbs are scarce. The chicken tasted lemony with subtle hints of ginger and pepper.
FOOD + SPICES
- Still Hungry?
When I was growing up, my parents would take me and my sister to all sorts of restaurants. We were much less of a food fixated society back then, but exotic food could be found in the Bay Area if you looked for it. In the suburbs there wasn't much...
- Big Flavors Revealed
The first seasoning is cassia chunks, I bought some at Penzey's during my trip to Oregon. I liked the idea of using it in mulled wine or in chai. In the U.S. the spice labeled "cinnamon" is usually cassia. As for the second seasoning, I have a...
- Za'atar Spice Mix Recipe
When I find a new ingredient I am intrigued. So it's not unusual for me to buy something I have absolutely no idea what to do with. Lately I have have been drawn to the Middle Eastern ingredients I've discovered in a fresh produce market. Last...
- The Occasional Gourmet Spices
Cinnamon toast makes a wonderful comfort food. It's only bread, cinnamon, sugar and butter but it sure smells good. If there are just a couple of spices to always have on hand, cinnamon is one. Cinnamon is found in a variety of cuisines--Mexican,...
- 10 Minute Sesame Noodles Recipe
Condiments. I can't get enough of them. In our fridge we have no fewer than five mustards, six jams, seven Asian sauces, and various chutneys, Indian pickles, salsas, HP brown sauce, relish, horseradish sauce and ketchup. You name it, it's probably...