Archive for the ‘Ingredients’ category
Move over nutella-meet chocolate-coconut butter…
Hello my lovely readers! I have to apologize for being so erratic with my posts lately. I’ve been working on the holiday issue of Flavour Fiesta magazine and it’s taking up most of my time. It’s shaping up to be an awesome issue with more recipes and tips than the last one. Stay tuned!
In the meanwhile, I’m leaving you with a recipe for chocolate-coconut butter, which has quickly become a replacement for my nutella addiction. Move over nutella – I’m addicted to coconut butter now. And the good thing, it’s actually a lot healthier!
Coconut butter isn’t anything new, but I had no clue what it was until last month :$. I guess I’m not as “informed” as I should be! It’s basically shredded coconut that as been blitzed into a smooth and ultra-creamy “butter”. It can be mixed with a number of different things to create a signature butter. My favorite is chocolate-coconut butter. 2 ingredients – instant bliss!
Discover- Chia seeds and coconut date muesli
CHIA SEEDS…you have probably come across these two words a number of times in the past year. Afterall, they are the new “superfood”! I heard about them a few months ago and was initially a little skeptical. I thought they would be just another “superfood” like acai berries that would be difficult to incorporate into my diet on a daily basis. But, I was wrong! Not only do these little seeds pack a punch when it comes to nutrition, they are also very easy to consume regularly.
I tried chia seeds for the first time when I received a free sample from well.ca. I didn’t really know what to do with them and what they were good for. So I went off to do some research. Read on for the top facts you should know about chia.
Discover the power of probiotics and kefir
‘Probiotics’ has been a buzzword in the world of nutrition for quite some time now. It’s one of those words that is plastered everywhere – from health magazines to dairy products at the grocery store. We all know we need to consume more probiotics, but what does that really mean and what are the best sources? The information out there is somewhat confusing, so I decided to dig around for some answers. I was pleasantly surprised when I came across a fermented milk product called kefir which is a rich source of probiotic cultures. I had heard about kefir before, but couldn’t actually find it anywhere. The other day, I spotted a tub of it (Liberte Organic Kefir) at the supermarket and decided to give it a shot. It was delicious – almost like a slightly less sour version of buttermilk. I was intrigued – why weren’t more people taking about kefir? In this post, I’ll explore the world of probiotics and the benefits of kefir.
Did you know that global probiotics market is expected to grow to $32.6 billion by 2014? Keep reading, I’ll share what you need to know about probiotics and how to increase your intake.
Organic homemade ghee
Ghee (aka Indian clarified butter) is a beautiful golden liquid that can make everything taste amazing. It has a subtle nutty flavour and enticing aroma that makes it a great fat to use in spicy dishes as well as desserts. It’s commonly used in Indian cuisine and is suprisingly easy to make at home with this recipe.
Ghee is commonly referred to as clarified butter in English. However, it is different from regular clarified butter since it’s heated until it develops a slightly nutty aroma. The best ghee is made from cultured butter which is butter that has been fermented. This fermentation process results in a product that has a pronounced “buttery” flavour due to the diacetyl aroma compounds (I guess that’s enough science for today!).
Chipotle chillies -smoky and hot!
Ever wanted to add some smoky flavour to a dish, but didn’t know what to add to it? Chipotle chillies are the answer! They are a great way to add some heat and smokiness to soups, stews and turkey chilli.
The chipotle is certainly not a visually appealing ingredient, but the beauty lies in its flavour. Keep reading for tips on where to find this unusual ingredient and how to use it.
Thai red chillies!
Thai red chillies are oh so hot! I was always hesitant to use them because I thought I couldn’t take the heat. Turns out they are quite hot, but if you use them in moderation they can add a nice kick to your dishes without being overpowering. I enjoy using fresh chillies once in a while because of the flavour – it feels more “alive” than dried chillies or chili powder.
Did you know that the Thai red chilli (aka bird’s eye chilli) was once thought to be the hottest pepper around? Keep reading, I’ll share how I use this versatile ingredient without smoke coming out of your ears!
Cinnamon -my favorite spice
Hello everyone! Welcome to my blog.
I was so excited about my very first post that I couldn’t decide what to write. Should it be an appetizer, a dessert or something else? I was rummaging through my pantry and saw the answer – cinnamon! What would be more apt than to start with a post on my favourite spice! It’s one of the few ingredients you can use in anything – from soups and curries to decadent desserts – cinnamon conquers all.
Did you know that cinnamon was regarded as a gift worthy of the gods in ancient times? Or that it is actually quite good for you – it’s got lots of antioxidants? Keep reading, I’ll let you know a few tid-bits about this spice and how you can use more of it at home!