"Food ways" is an expression that dates back to 1946. It refers to the eating habits and culinary practices of a people, region, or historical period. Food Ways Presented by Everyday Exotic Spices: Food finds for foodies and food lovers - curated content from around the web, sharing the ways we all like to enjoy our food! Food history, recipe sharing, and all things food-related. This foodie blog is aimed at newbie cooks or beginners. But everyone is welcome!
The spice trails taken by the Europeans can be traced backward from India to Arabia (formerly Asia Minor) to Africa to Egypt and all the way to the ancient Greco-Roman world. Wars were fought over precious spices and in the end … we all won! Because the end result of the wars and the global spice trade is that these days, exotic spices are readily available, either via online shopping or maybe even at your local grocery store. If you would like to learn about the history of spices, here are a couple of links of interest.
India is not the only country that supplies herbs and spices to Europe and the USA, however, these days, it is a major exporter. The spices which were introduced to the West by way of India include, but are not limited to, cardamom, cassia, ginger, tamarind, curry, and turmeric. Cardamon is referred to as the "queen of spices". Do you know which spice is called the “king of spices”? Saffron!
(Although some say it's black pepper. Not me! I'm in the saffron camp.)
The origins of saffron may be disputed. (History of Saffron.) But not its flavor, health benefits, or its recognition as the most valuable spice in the world.
Were I to recommend four (4) spices to turn my mundane everyday meals into extraordinary-everyday dining experiences, it would be:
If I were thinking of a gourmet food gift for an aspiring chef or a friend or relative who wants to improve their cooking skills, it would be one or more of these delightful spices.
Been dining out in American restaurants for practically all my life, and there are always two condiments you can find on any table: mustard and ketchup (or catsup). That’s what I thought, until I started traveling to various states in the United States.
When I got to Texas, I noticed that, in addition to mustard and ketchup, many restaurants have pickled jalapeno slices in a jar on the table, and you can always ask for salsa. Texans, have Tex-Mex fusion cuisine and they eat salsa with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. My taste buds are not fussy; so now that we live in Texas, it was easy to make the adjustment and use jalapenos or salsa as my “extra flavor enhancer” or condiment.
♦ Did a little research to discover what people around the world use as condiments. Ever try Monkey Gland Sauce? It’s popular in South Africa.
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NOTE: This post doesn’t really provide cooking tips. It’s about what people like to use to dress up food that’s already been cooked.
Do you have a certain condiment where you live that you like to put on your food, or that everybody likes to put on their food? Ketchup? Jalapenos? Whatever?
On September 20, 1519, Portuguese navigator, Ferdinand Magellan (c. 1489-1521), set sail from Spain on a mission to find a western route to the Spice Islands. He reached the coast of South America and then navigated the strait linking the Atlantic and the Pacific which now bears his name, the Strait of Magellan. He crossed the Pacific to the Philippines in1521, where he was killed in a battle with the natives. Juan Sebastian del Cano (c. 1460-1526), a Spanish navigator, stepped into the shoes of Commander after Magellan’s death and returned to Spain in 1522. Three of the five ships Magellan led on the expedition did return to Europe. But what became of the Spice Islands?
The year is 1945 and Indonesia has been proclaimed as a republic. The islands formerly known as the Spice Islands are known today as the Moluccan Islands. No doubt discovering these islands was quite an adventure for the explorers, but these days it is very easy to go on an exotic spice adventure and never leave your kitchen.
Learning about the medicinal uses and benefits of flowers and plants has become my new passion. It grew out of concern for not only my own health and well-being but mainly the health and wellness of some of my children. Some of them do not like going to the doctor and prefer to search out natural remedies for whatever is ailing them.
My late mother rarely went to see a doctor. She believed in herbal medicine and treated herself as much as she could before finally being persuaded to seek the advice of a medical professional. I have to say that many times her natural remedies really did work. Unfortunately, I did not pay attention to the various concoctions she used to mix when I was growing up, and so none of her knowledge was transferred to me.
When my children started strenuously objecting to visiting the doctor’s office and opted instead to find alternative health practitioners, I decided to do research. I started studying on my own because I wanted to know about the various remedies that were being suggested to my children. I say “children” as if they are minors, even though they are past 20 and 30 years of age. My late husband also began to use herbal remedies in addition to his prescribed medications for his health condition.
Please note that I am not a healthcare professional and when I speak about using these remedies I am only talking about my personal and family experience. You should always seek professional medical advice if you have an ailment. Don’t play guessing games with your health.
In this article, I want to share a summary of what I have learned about four (4) flowers or plants used for medicinal purposes:
honeysuckle flower;
hawthorn berries;
gynostemma plant; and
sophora flower.
Honeysuckle flower
Many people grow honeysuckle flowers in their home garden because not only do they have a wonderful fragrance but they attract hummingbirds and butterflies. There are close to 200 different varieties, but the most common is the Japanese honeysuckle. This variety grows profusely in Japan and Korea. Other varieties grow in China, Europe, and North America. They remind me of the hibiscus flower because you can suck the sweet nectar from the tubes. Since the Middle Ages, people in Europe would eat the stems to treat dysentery, for infections in the upper respiratory tract. The ancient Chinese used honeysuckle for snake bites. Be careful which variety of honeysuckle you pick because some are edible and some are toxic. Botanists say the ones that grow in Europe are usually poisonous. You are also advised not to go by the taste. Sometimes the sweet tasting berries are toxic, and the berries that are not sweet are not toxic at all.
Who says watching TV for entertainment isn’t educational? The first time I ever heard the word “hawthorn” mentioned, I was watching a Korean drama about a vampire. They didn’t use crucifixes in Korea to repel vampires. They used hawthorn. Interesting huh? The hawthorn berry grows in Asia, Europe and North America. Good to know! Suppose you’re in Europe or North America but you get attacked by an Asian vampire. It’s just humor. On a more serious note, hawthorn berries have many health benefits. To name a few: they can lower your blood pressure, reduce blood fats, and treat digestive problems. Is it any wonder it is used with traditional Western medicine to treat heart failure? You can make a tea using the entire plant: the flowers, the dried berries, and the leaves.
This perennial plant has been called the “immortality herb” Some say it’s the “new ginseng”. Ginseng, as you probably know, is credited with making you strong, smart, and sexy. The gynostemma plant is a climbing vine that grows in southern China and other parts of Asia. It grows and grows and grows. The Chinese simply chew the leaves, serve them in a salad, or make tea to drink. Advocates claim that this plant can improve your cardiovascular health. They say it enhances the “yin” and supports the “yang”. In Vietnam, they are researching to determine if traditional medicine and Western medicine can be integrated, and this plant can be recommended in mainstream medical practice to treat diabetic patients.
The sophora flower is often used as a Chinese herbal remedy, and that’s why whole, dried flowers and the flower buds can be found in Asian markets. They treat headaches, high blood pressure, and even bleeding hemorrhoids. Be warned. It may be an effective herbal remedy but an overdose can prove fatal. Women who are pregnant or lactating should not that not take any medicines that contain the sophora flower. It’s also called the Japanese Pagoda Tree. Those who practice Western medicine are also familiar with this flower, but say that even though people use the flower for such ailments as hemorrhoids, menopause symptoms, and vomiting, there is no reliable scientific proof of its efficacy.
♦ What do these 4 flowers and plants have in common? When dried and combined, they can be used to make a medicinal tea that reduces your cholesterol. But, according to health experts, many other foods and drinks can lower cholesterol.
Do you have a favorite fruit topping for your toast? In the house that I grew up, there were only two choices: Welch's grape jelly or Smucker's strawberry preserves. That's what my mom bought. Since she was in charge of grocery shopping, that's what we ate!
So for most of my young life, it never occurred to me to eat something different. Until … one day, my mom brought home grape jam instead of grape jelly. It was still the brand name Welch's but it was jam instead of jelly. I don't know why! Maybe there was no more jelly on the store shelf. It was a mystery. But whatever the reason … we all went “WOW! It was amazing!” We kids made an incredible discovery. Jam spreads much smoother than jelly! It tastes just as good with peanut butter. Why didn't mom always buy this?
Well! All of the siblings, my sister, my brothers and me, decided to unite and requested that mom buy jam henceforth and forevermore! She complied. My mom was easy! (Sometimes.)
Fast forward to my life as a young adult. Got a job working for the federal government and was sent on an official assignment to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Usually, I ate breakfast in the hotel before leaving for work. I ordered a typical American breakfast: bacon, eggs, and toast. At this particular hotel, they had a basket of assorted jellies and jams on the table. Included in the assortment was pineapple preserves.
My life was changed forever!
Those pineapple preserves made the toast tastes like I was having a tropical party in my mouth! It got so that I looked forward to having breakfast every morning!
So now, if anybody asks what's my favorite jelly, jam, preserves or fruit spread?
Mao Shing Ni (Dr. Mao), is a board-certified anti-aging expert who asserts that there are 3 spices that promote longevity. That’s right. They can help you live longer. Ginger, evergreen, and garlic.
The start of a new year is a great time to check in with yourself and think about how you want to improve for the year ahead. But unfortunately, many New Year’s resolutions aren’t realistic and wind up lasting just two to three weeks. Here’s a resolution that’s easy to stick to and can also make a big difference in your overall health and wellness: eat more fiber.
Fiber can play an important role in reaching your health and wellness goals.
It’s probably best known for its ability to help keep your digestive system moving, but there are other benefits as well – like helping to promote a feeling of fullness. Even with fiber’s well-known health benefits, nine out of 10 Americans aren’t getting enough in their daily diet, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2015-2016. Lauren Harris-Pincus, MS, RDN thinks she knows why.
"Fiber can be confusing," Harris-Pincus explains. "I think many people have experienced tummy trouble when they ate too much fiber and it overwhelmed their digestive system. With a simple strategy of introducing fiber slowly, they can receive all the health benefits without any discomfort."
The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that women get 25 grams and men get 38 grams of fiber every day, but most only average 15 grams. Instead of aiming for 25-38 grams on Day One, Harris-Pincus has some tips on how you can make this resolution stick:
* Only increase your fiber intake by three to five grams each day. That way, you give your body time to adjust.
* Mix in high-fiber foods with your regular diet. As you’re ramping up your fiber intake, start by adding fiber to foods you already eat. It could be as simple as adding a high-fiber cereal to a yogurt parfait or adding nuts and berries to your salad.
* Drink more water. Insoluble fiber doesn’t dissolve in water, so make sure you drink plenty of fluids to help carry the fiber through your body. By eating more fiber and drinking more water, you’re helping your digestive system do its job more efficiently.
* Find a great-tasting fiber you love. Instead of viewing fiber as a chore, or something you "have to" eat, find a high-fiber option that you can look forward to eating.
"I think everyone has this idea of fiber as bland and boring," Harris-Pincus says. "But what people don’t realize is that there are tons of great-tasting, high-fiber foods. The easiest place to start is with your morning cereal."
Fiber Onehas introduced a fiber-rich cereal that, well, doesn’t taste like a fiber-rich cereal. EXAMPLE: Fiber One Strawberries and Vanilla Clusters is made with real strawberries and sweet vanilla clusters, but still contains 35 percent of the Daily Value of fiber in every one-cup serving. No pills, nothing to stir, just real food that makes fiber something you can enjoy eating. And for when you’re ready to increase your fiber intake even more, Fiber One Honey Clusters has 40 percent of the Daily Value of fiber, and Fiber One Original Bran has 55 percent.
Beyond cereal, Harris-Pincus recommends eating whole fruits and vegetables, leaving the skin on things like apples and potatoes. Beans and legumes are another excellent source of fiber, so don’t shy away from the black beans in your fajitas. For easy snacks, popcorn is another fiber-rich option with four grams of fiber in just three cups of popcorn.
"Fiber really is overlooked, which is a shame because it can be this great-tasting, powerhouse nutrient," Harris-Pincus explains. "New Year’s resolutions are usually all about cutting calories or increasing protein, when in reality fiber can do all these amazing things for your body. You just have to start eating more of it to realize the benefits."
Below is a short explanation of four (4) uncommon cooking ingredients and how to use them in cooking.
1. Clear Jel is a refined cornstarch that reacts better for freezing and canning recipes in particular; cornstarch tends to go cloudy in these situations. Clear Jel is used in the same proportion of cornstarch (1:1) in baking recipes. Like traditional cornstarch and the health store alternatives - arrowroot and potato powder, etc. - this product needs to be combined with the sugar (or flour) called for in the recipe prior to adding to any other ingredients in order to reduce clumps from forming.
2. Sea salt is healthier than regular table salt; the fact that it requires less processing means it also has a smaller ecological impact. It is a natural source of iodine, which, along with other nutrients, is essential for a healthy sex life. A local herbal consultant once told us that sea salt can also be used in place of Epsom salts in your bathwater.
3. Tamari is considered to be less salty than soy sauce and is often stocked in health food stores. You can find low-salt versions of both tamari and soy sauce. Tamari sauce, however, has enzymes that aid digestion and promote healthy intestinal bacteria.
4. Orange Zest, citrus zest or citrus powder are all terms referring to a similar product - to simplify we personally call it 'citrus zest'. It is used to bring out other flavors and to condition flour. Chop lemon, orange or lime peel and allow to dry (or use a dehydrator) - turn this into a powder using a blender or grinder, and store in the cupboard as you would any spice or herb. 1 Tbsp of fresh zest is equal to 1 tsp. of dried; while 1 Tbsp of fresh zest is equal to 6 Tbsp. juice. As such, this one ingredient in the cupboard offers more ways of reducing grocery costs. Making your own citrus zest at home is a fantastic way to move toward a more frugal kitchen, while reusing "waste" (the peels).
Now that you know more about these ingredients, hopefully, it will give you the confidence to use them in your kitchen.
AUTHORS: Lillian and her husband Dave are the team behind Brummet Media Group, high-fiving cheerfully as they pass each other on the way from checking off one item or other from their long to-do list. Their business includes Dave's music studio and percussion accessory products and graphic design work, as well as popular blogs and numerous award-winning non-fiction books.
My coffee addiction often keeps me from drinking and enjoying a cup of tea. But other members of my household love to brew! They are not tea experts (yet!) and are always experimenting with different flavors – from caramel apple to licorice to green tea to black tea to … on and on and on.
I found an interesting blog post written by Ryan Frey who works as a GO TO tech guy for ShareASale, Inc., an established affiliate marketing network corporation. He not only knows his tech stuff but his office co-workers also think of him as a tea aficionado. He must be. Why else would he suggest drinking tea according to the seasons of the year? In his post, How To Brew Different Tea Varieties for Fall, he recommended five (5) tips for how to enjoy your tea during the autumn season. All excellent advice. A quick summary of the tips is below.
1. Rooibos or “red tea” ... makes a great neutral base for both sweet and nutty flavors. During the Fall, expect to see flavor blends like chestnut, pumpkin, and chai.
2. Black tea is a totally oxidized (but not “fermented” like Pu’erh tea) version of your everyday tea leaves ... like Earl Grey and English Breakfast.
3. Green and white teas are more delicate, partially or unoxidized tea leaves and buds. ... often fruity, sweet, and complex.
4. Herbal teas or “tisanes” are like rooibos, in that they aren’t from the tea plant at all. They contain alternatives like spices, herbs, flowers, and fruit.
5. Try other brewed beverages like Pu’erh tea and Mate.
People (especially me) always associate healthy eating with salad. My mother rarely served salads with our meals. They were meat, starch, and vegetables. She never served us a salad (like lettuce and tomatoes), nor did we get dessert. We didn't complain. I got used to not eating salad.
Then I became an adult and went to university and found out that salad was "expected". Except for this one guy that I knew. He kept saying salad was "rabbit food" and wouldn't eat it. Not me. When I went to the cafeteria I could eat as much salad as I wanted. And I did! Do you know why? Because it was "healthy" and I could eat a lot of it! It was one of the few foods that I could eat a healthy amount of and I didn't gain weight.
So whenever I gained a few extra pounds because I was wolfing down too many pizzas with my friends late at night, I went on a diet and ate salads for lunch and dinner for the next two weeks. The pounds came off easily. That was THEN (1970s). This is now (2021). The pounds don't come off so easily now, but I still enjoy eating salads. I also enjoy collecting salad recipes and sharing them. I hope you like these!
Image Credit: Acacia Wood Salad Bowl
with Servers Set - Large 9.4 inches Solid Hardwood Salad Wooden Bowl
with Spoon for Fruits ,Salads and Decoration by AVAMI (
https://amzn.to/3vmT57c )
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Ever have Tabouli salad? “Tabouli is a traditional Levitan recipe, which is the common name for the area of Eastern Mediterranean sea. … Tabouli is derived from the word, “Tabil” which means spice. Its also translated as “Dip” ...”
"This classic salad pairs well with a
variety of Japanese or Asian mains. Best of all, it is packed with
nutrients, making it an all-star side dish. There is plenty of
variations to enjoy this recipe too! ..."
Do you like Indian food? I watch a lot of cooking shows and videos. One thing I noticed about Indian cooking is that they really know how to blend herbs and spices and do amazing things to enhance the flavor of vegetables. Whether the veggies are cooked or eaten raw in a salad, they are so tasty.
Final share. I know some people don't like kale. They complain that it's too tough and chewy for a green leafy vegetable.
So, just in case you don't like eating kale, here are some “kale substitutes”. Use them instead of sale and enjoy your salad anyway!
