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                      Add Life To the Menu With Spice Mixes

                      Published by Grace O

                      Spices at the market Marrakech, MoroccoAs you probably know from history, North America was discovered by Columbus’ expedition in the 15th century because Europe wanted to find a shortcut to India, with whom they had been trading in valuable spices. Back then, spices were mostly used to help preserve food in the days before refrigeration and to mask the off flavor of food starting to spoil.

                      In general, herbs are the fresh leaves of a plant, such as sage, oregano and basil. Spices are usually considered the seed, berry, bark, root or rhizome (creeping root) of a plant. In common practice, once fresh herbs are dried, they’re considered spices.
                      For almost all of human history, spices have been prized for their medicinal properties and today there is new focus on how spices enhance our health and stave off aging. The right spices can make such a difference in the benefits and flavor of a dish. That’s why I like to do my homework and work with the FoodTrients test kitchen team to create age-defying recipes with lots of flavor.
                      One thing you need to know about spices is that they fall into categories that provide different benefits. For instance:

                      • Immunity-boosting spices include turmeric, cumin, clove, allspice, citrus zest and star anise.
                      • Cleansing spices, which help detoxify the body, include cinnamon, rosemary, oregano, bay leaf and hibiscus.
                      • Restorative spices can boost your body’s function and include garlic, cardamom, pomegranate, fenugreek and thyme.
                      • Calming spices include sage, basil, saffron, mint and lemongrass.

                      Spice blends are an easy way to get creative in the kitchen and enjoy flavors of the world. There are countless blends from all cultures and most are simple to make with ingredients you can find in most any supermarket, ethnic market or online, such as Spice Ace in San Francisco, CA.
                      Here are some spice blend recipes from a variety of regions around the world. Some of them are more familiar blends, while others are deliciously exotic. They all will add a little more adventure and health benefits to your menu.

                      Fresh herbs Basil rosemary thyme savory white background

                      Herbs de Provence (France)
                      Made from herbs that grow readily in the South of France, use them to season, meat, poultry, fish, vegetables and egg dishes.
                      Ingredients
                      1 tsp. each:
                      Dried basil
                      Fennel seed
                      Dried marjoram
                      Dried oregano
                      Dried thyme
                      Dried lavender (optional)

                      1 Tbs. each:
                      Dried rosemary
                      Dried savory

                      Directions
                      Mix together and store in an airtight glass jar in a cool, dark place.

                      Spoon filled with red hot paprika powder

                      SPANISH RUB
                      (Yield: About 1 cup)
                      This bold, flavorful blend is great for any number of savory dishes. Try it on salmon or in stewed tomatoes.

                      Ingredients
                      6 Tbs. smoked paprika
                      3 Tbs. sweet Spanish or Hungarian paprika
                      3 Tbs. dried cilantro
                      2 Tbs. ground cumin
                      2 Tbs. coarse sea salt
                      1 Tbs. ground dried lemon peel
                      1 ½ tsp. ground black pepper

                      Directions
                      Mix together and store in an airtight glass jar in a cool, dark place.

                      Moroccan spice stall in marrakech market

                      MARRAKESH MIX (Morocco)
                      (Yield: About ½ cup)
                      This sweet/savory blend gives an exotic flavor to lamb, poultry and vegetables like carrots and cauliflower.

                      Ingredients

                      2 Tbs. each:
                      Ground cinnamon
                      Ground cumin
                      Ground coriander seed

                      1 tsp each:
                      Ground cayenne pepper
                      Ground cloves

                      Directions
                      Mix together and store in an airtight glass jar in a cool, dark place.

                      Spices and nuts at wooden table

                      DUKKA MIX (Egypt)
                      (Yield: About 1 ¾ cup)
                      This blend of nuts, seeds and spices is used as a spread on flat bread or as a dip.

                      Ingredients
                      1 cup toasted almonds or hazelnuts
                      1/3 cup whole coriander seed
                      3 Tbs. cumin seeds
                      1 tsp. sea salt
                      2 Tbs. sumac
                      ¼ cup toasted sesame seeds

                      Directions
                      1. In a large skillet, toast the salt, coriander and cumin over low heat, for 3 minutes, stirring continuously.
                      2. Put all the ingredients except the sesame seeds into a food processor; pulse until it becomes the consistency of coarse sand.
                      3. Add the sesame seeds; mix to incorporate.
                      4. Store in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator.

                      bazaar

                      BERBERE AFRICAN SPICE BLEND
                      (Yield: About 1 ¼ cup)
                      Use this robust spice mix to flavor stir-fries, soups and stews. It packs some (but not too much) heat.
                      Ingredients
                      ½ tsp. fenugreek
                      ½ cup ground Mexican chilies
                      ¼ cup Hungarian or Spanish paprika
                      1 tsp. ground ginger
                      1 tsp. onion powder
                      ½ tsp. fresh ground black pepper
                      ½ tsp. ground coriander
                      ½ tsp. ground cumin
                      ¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
                      ½ tsp garlic powder
                      1/8 tsp. ground cloves
                      1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon
                      1/8 tsp. ground allspice

                      Directions
                      Mix together and store in an airtight glass jar in a cool, dark place.

                      indian spices in terracotta pots, colourful spices, group of spices

                      CHAAT MASALA (India)
                      (Yield: About ¼ cup)
                      You almost always find this simple spice blend in Indian homes where they add it to fruit salads or sprinkled onto melon. It’s also good sprinkled on grilled chicken or fish. You can find amchur (dried mango powder) on Amazon and even Wal-Mart.

                      Ingredients
                      2 Tbs. cumin seeds, roasted for a minute over medium heat, then ground
                      1 heaping Tbsp. amchur powder
                      1 tsp. Himalayan pink salt
                      1 tsp. Hungarian or Spanish paprika

                      Directions
                      Mix together and store in an airtight glass jar in a cool, dark place.
                      Indian Tandoori Chicken Wings And Sauces

                      TANDOORI SPICE BLEND (India)
                      (Yield: About 2/3 cup)
                      Gives an exotic twist to summer barbeques! Shake it onto beef, lamb, chicken, shrimp or swordfish on the grill.

                      Ingredients
                      3 Tbs. ground ginger
                      3 Tbs. ground coriander
                      1 Tbs. ground cumin
                      2 Tbs. Hungarian or Spanish paprika
                      1 Tbs. ground black pepper
                      2 tsp. sea salt
                      1 ½ tsp. each:
                      Ground turmeric
                      Ground nutmeg
                      Ground cloves
                      Ground cinnamon

                      Directions
                      Mix together and store in an airtight glass jar in a cool, dark place.

                      Soba noodles with beef, carrots, onions and sweet peppers

                      JAPANESE SEVEN SPICE MIX (Shichimi Togarashi)
                      (Yield: About 2/3 cup)
                      This blend is used on noodles, rice and in miso soup. It’s also great sprinkled on avocado. Try it on popcorn. If you add it to olive oil and rice vinegar, it makes a great marinade for chicken or shrimp.

                      Ingredients
                      1 Tbs. each:
                      Black peppercorns
                      Dried tangerine (or orange) peel
                      Red chili peppers, ground
                      2 Tbs. nori flakes (dried seaweed easily found in urban markets or online)
                      2 tsp. each:
                      Sesame seeds
                      Black sesame seeds
                      Garlic powder

                      Directions
                      1. In a food processor, pulse several times till ingredients are incorporated and chunky.
                      2. Store in an airtight glass jar in a cool, dark place.

                      Various Spices on grunge background

                      CHINESE FIVE SPICE
                      (Yield: About ¼ cup)
                      There are more than five spices in this blend, but they incorporate the five flavors—sweet, bitter, salty, pungent and sour. Adds a spicy, complex flavor to stir-fries and roasted meats.

                      Ingredients
                      5 star anise, whole
                      4 tsp. Szechuan peppercorns
                      2 tsp. each:
                      Cloves
                      Fennel seeds
                      Coriander seeds
                      2 cinnamon sticks, broken into medium pieces

                      Directions
                      1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat to toast all the ingredients (except cinnamon) and stir until aromatic; let cool.
                      2. Grind the toasted ingredients and the cinnamon in a food processor or spice grinder for about 20 seconds, until it becomes a fine powder.
                      3. Store in an airtight glass container in a cool, dark place.

                      Finally, here’s a spice blend from the Age Beautifully cookbook that you can always have on hand to enhance brownies, cakes, hot chocolate, even Mexican mole. It’s a handy way to add extra flavor and antioxidants.

                      Chocolate Food Explosion with Cocoa Powder and Chocolate Chips

                      FOODTRIENTS® DESSERT SPICE MIX
                      (Yield: About 1/3 cup)

                      Ingredients
                      8 tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
                      4 tsp. instant coffee
                      2 tsp. cinnamon
                      1 tsp. ground cardamom (brown, not green)
                      1 tsp. ground nutmeg

                      Directions
                      Place all ingredients in a jar and shake well.

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                      Grace O
                      Grace O
                      GRACE O is the creator of FoodTrients, a unique program for optimizing wellness and longevity. She is the author of three award-winning cookbooks – The Age Gracefully Cookbook, The Age Beautifully Cookbook, and Anti-Aging Dishes From Around the World. She is a fusion chef with a mission to deliver delicious recipes built on a foundation of anti-aging science and her 30 years in the healthcare industry.

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                      This website is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. FoodTrients – A Recipe for Aging Beautifully Grace O, author and creator of FoodTrients® -- a philosophy, a cookbook and a resource -- has a new cookbook dedicated to age-defying and delicious recipes, The Age Beautifully Cookbook: Easy and Exotic Longevity Secrets from Around the World, which provides one hundred-plus recipes that promote health and well-being. The recipes are built on foundations of modern scientific research and ancient knowledge of medicinal herbs and natural ingredients from around the world. Since the publication of her first anti-aging book, The Age GRACEfully Cookbook, Grace O has identified eight categories of FoodTrients benefits (Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Immune Booster, Disease Prevention, Beauty, Strength, Mind, and Weight Loss) that are essential to fighting aging, which show how specific foods, herbs, and spices in the recipes help keep skin looking younger, prevent the diseases of aging, and increase energy and vitality. Grace O combines more exotic ingredients that add age-fighting benefits to familiar recipe favorites.

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