Spice Nook: Ginger

I've been tempted to reflect on Ginger in this post. I just got over some stomach virus and enduring it was awful.... until I added some ginger. I don't think I have to do much convincing on ginger being very beneficial. We've heard through the years from almost everyone.

Ginger, or Ginger root is of the plant Zingiber. It has been cultivated in Southern Asia for thousands of years and is now grows in places like the Caribbean. It has been used for promoting good health for thousands of years by ancient medicine and is still respected today for its healthy properties.

Ginger can be consumed in many ways from boiled in water, to cooked with food, and even chewed on. It also comes powdered and can easily be sprinkled on anything, however in this state the benefits are far less compared to fresh ginger.
Ginger, when consumed raw, produces a hot taste, and when pickled the natural sweetness can be enjoyed.

Here are some benefits of consuming ginger:

• Shown to fight cancer cells, especially ovarian cancer
• Aids in respiratory health
• Improves absorption of essential nutrients into the body
• Helps to clear mucus from sinuses
• Aids in fighting motion sickness, nausea and vomiting 
• Promotes good digestion
• Reduces flatulence 
• Acts as an anti-inflammatory and aids in joint and muscle pain
• Has been proven to strengthen the immune system which in turn helps flight other potential illnesses

I like to buy fresh ginger from the market. I wash it really well and then stick it in a zip lock bag and pop it in the freezer. I am one to grate my ginger for everything from my teas to dinner dishes, and I find that it's much easier to grate from frozen. 

A tip!

If you're feeling under the weather due to a stomach virus or have very bad nausea, here's A tip! Boil 1 cup water, add 1 tsp fresh grated ginger and 1 tsp honey. Mix well and let a Camomile tea bag steep for a few minutes. Drink this 2-3 times a day when ill. It will ease the sickness and aid in proper digestion. 

Baba Ghanouj

At some point in ones life, theyve heard that funny word Baba Ghanouj. After the initial giggle, they realise it's actually a delicious dip made of roasted eggplant, roasted garlic and spices.

Here is a very simple recipe for this delicious dip.


Ingredients
1 medium sized Eggplant
1 head of Garlic
2 tbsp Tahini paste
2 tbsp Lemon juice
2 tbsp Olive oil
1 tsp Salt

Place the eggplant and head of garlic (chop the top off) in a 375F oven and let roast  for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for at least 30 minutes.


When the eggplant has cooled, peel the skin off and cut off the top. Squish out the delicious roasted garlic as well.

Place the eggplant and garlic in a small food processor and add the tahini, lemon juice, olive oil and salt. Pulse for 1 minute, and tada! Garnish with pine nuts or pomegranate seeds and parsley or thyme and olive oil. Today I topped with olive oil and a sprinkle of paprika and black pepper.  You can enjoy with pita bread, veggie sticks or even as a side dish like I did with dinner. Enjoy!

Easy Cabbage Rolls

CABBAGE! One of my favourite vegetables. I use it to make coleslaw or chop em for a stir fry... it's the best! (Up there anyway - can't beat the noble potato!)

I grew up eating cabbage rolls, Arab style, with ground beef, all spice, garlic and LOTS of lemon. This recipe however calls for tomato sauce and different spices and it turns out soft because it simmers low and slow. I even have a veg option you can enjoy as well.

Ingredients

1 head of Cabbage (small)

1 cup  Chicken or Veg broth

2 cups Tomato sauce

6 Garlic cloves

Stuffing

4 cups ground Turkey (or Beef)

3/4 cup Rice

1/4 cup Onion minced

3 tbsp Olive oil

1 tbsp Garlic powder

1 tsp Black pepper

1 tsp Salt

1 tsp Sage (optional)

OR

1 cup Artichoke hearts chopped

1 cup Cherry tomatoes halved

2 cup Mushrooms sliced

3/4 cup Rice

1/4 cup Onion minced

3 tbsp Olive oil

1 tbsp Garlic powder
1 tbsp Chilli flakes

1/4 tsp Turmeric 

1 tsp Black pepper

1 tsp Salt

Bring 4L of water to a boil, and place head of cabbage (core facing up) into the water. To make this easier on you, carefully spear the round core of the cabbage head with a fork or knife to make sure you can keep it in the water without using your hand to hold it down (it gets hot!) I use my hands because I'm stubborn. Use a knife to cut the top of each leaf, and slowly peel away when it becomes soft and pliable.

Set the cabbage leaves aside so they can cool down. Turn the oven on for 350C. 

In a large bowl, mix together the ingredients for whichever stuffing you want (see above). Get in there with your hands and combine all ingredients. Form into ovals and place at the base of the cabbage leaf. Roll and tuck the two side ends in before completing the roll. Place one by one tightly into roasting pan so they stay secure while cooking.

Fill the pan with the rolls and then pour broth and tomato sauce all over. The liquid will keep them moist and prevent them from drying out. Add the garlic cloves on top and cover with remaining cabbage leaves. Place in oven and let cook for 70 minutes. Pull from oven and let cool slightly before serving with a lemon wedge or a dollop of sour cream.

Enjoy!

Spice Nook - Turmeric

When you think of Turmeric, what comes to mind? A yellowish powder to dye your Easter Eggs? Some spice that sits in the back of the rack that nobody dare use? More often than not, people think of Indian curries. While this spice has gained a lot of momentum because of the surging popularity of Indian cuisine in the west, is has been busy being one of the most used spices in Asia. 

Turmeric is a root in the Ginger family that grows wild across southern Asia. It has been used for medicinal purposes since the day it was cultivated thousands of years ago. Its benefit of being a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent has made it a popular choice in natural medicine.

Here are some health benefits of Turmeric:

• Detoxifies liver
• Relieves arthritis
• Helps stimulate and boost the body's immune system
• Improves digestion and helps to releive gastrointestinal pain
• Fights Type 2 Diabetes
• Strengthens pancreas and kidneys to help fight against disease
• Prevents cancer and reduces the spread of cancerous cells
• Shown to prevent Alzheimers disease 
• Heals skin wounds and scabs at a quicker pace

For years I've added a bit of Turmeric to many things I've cooked, even in pasta sauce. It has a warm and slightly bitter taste. The more you add into your cooking, the bitterness becomes more apparent, however it works as a positive when cooking with certain vegetables as the bitter taste offers a flavour compliment. 



Some items that are paired well with Turmeric are cauliflower, chick peas, potato, carrots, eggs and yogurt. If you're looking for a recipe to try tonight, give my Kale Cauliflower & Potato Curry a spin. Enjoy the healthy benefits!

Roasted Root Vegetables & Chicken Leg

Autumn is root vegetable season folks! From Parsnips to Rutabagas and Turnips to Carrots, you will start noticing them more in the market. Root vegetables offer a lot of energy and fibre and are known for their excellent nutrition. Try this recipe out, it's a family pleaser.

4 Quarter Chicken legs
6 Carrots
3 Parsnips
1 Fennel bulb
2 Onions
4 Potatoes or 12 Mini Potatoes
8 Garlic cloves
1 Clementine
1/4 cup Olive oil
1 tbsp Thyme
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Black pepper
1 tsp Sugar
1/2 tsp Turmeric
1/2 tsp Garlic salt

you can also add:
Beets
Turnips
Any vegetable you like.. I added Mushrooms

Preheat oven to 400F.
Wash and scrub the vegetables very well if you plan on keeping the skin on (I did - more fibre!) Slice and quarter the vegetables and season with salt, sugar, thyme and Olive oil. Roll all the vegetables in the pan to make sure they are coated evenly. Place the quarter chicken legs on top of the vegetables and sprinkle turmeric, garlic salt and black pepper.

Roast in a cast iron pan at 400F for 60 minutes then Broil on high for 2-3 minutes to crisp up the chicken skin.

                                                                         
 Serve with salad and gravy from drippings!

 Enjoy!

  

Roasted Stuffed Bell Peppers - Vegetarian

I am a huge fan of roasted vegetables. There's always a sweetness and almost like a second and a third flavour that's tasted when a vegetable is roasted.

This recipe for roasted stuffed bell peppers is hearty, healthy and delicious - no really it's SO good. I served this the other day with a Kale and Avocado salad. I found it a great way to Superman the dinner up if you will. Give it a try! Remember this recipe is for 2 so multiply the ingredients accordingly if you want more.

2 cups Kidney beans - canned (I used white)
2 Bell peppers - large
1 cup Tomato sauce
1/4 cup Mushrooms - diced
1/4 cup Tomatoes - diced
1/4 cup Cheddar cheese - shredded
2 tbsp Olive oil
1 tsp Red chilli flakes
1/2 tsp Paprika
1/2 tsp Turmeric
1/2 tsp Black pepper
1/2 tsp Garlic salt
1/2 tsp Basil
1/2 tsp Thyme

Cut the tops off the bell peppers and scoop out the inside. Heat oil in saucepan over medium heat then throw in mushrooms and tomatoes for 2 minutes. Add kidney beans and all the spices. Stir for 2 minutes and then add most of the cheese. Stir so cheese melts evenly and let cook for 3-4 minutes until a bit soft.

Start scooping into bell peppers. Top with a sprinkle of remaining cheese and pop the pepper tops back on.

Pour the tomato sauce in your roasting dish and place peppers on top. 

Roast uncovered in the oven for 45 minutes at 375F. 

Enjoy!

Chocolate Ganache

This is a delicious recipe for a semi-sweet Chocolate Ganache. You can indulge by dipping fruits in it while enjoying fondue, or let it set a bit before you use it to frost a cake. Very easy to make and easier to enjoy!

1 cup Chocolate chips - semi sweet
1/2 cup Whipping cream - 35%
2 tbsp Butter
1 tsp Liquor - Rum or Amaretto (optional, but I recommend for fondue)

Heat the whipping cream and butter in a small saucepan on medium heat. Do not walk away from the stove because it will begin to simmer quickly. When it comes to a light simmer, add 1 cup of chocolate chips. Mix quickly by hand with heatproof spatula for a few minutes until it develops a smooth and thick consistency.