Posts Tagged ‘herbs’

Home remedies

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

When it comes to minor complications, one might very well be able to take care of themselves from a variety of goods located right in your own kitchen. Many traditional mixtures using food have medicinal value. Remember, however, these are for minor ailments; you must consult your doctor for other serious illnesses. Here are a few traditional home remedies:

1.       Acne Face Mask: Combine one avocado, one egg yolks/white and one Tbsp. honey. Eggs are rich in vitamin A and honey kills bacteria cells by dehydrating them. Avocado moisturizes the skin. Egg whites are better if you have oily skin. Whereas egg yolks are preferable to dry skin.

 

2.       Relief for dry hair: Cover your hair with mayonnaise, wrap in plastic wrap and let it sit for an hour. Wash this out thoroughly. The oil in mayonnaise will make your hair soft.

 

3.       Common cold relief: Garlic soup. Garlic has known antiseptic properties. Garlic oil flushes toxins. Also, ginger tea can be used to help heal a cold. Cut ginger and boil it in a tea kettle. Strain the ginger and add sugar or honey. Have a look at this recipe for delicious garlic soup: Garlic Soup on Foodista

 

 

4.       Stress relief: basil has anti stress agents. It can also be used as a preventative measure. Basil is delicious on top of pasta sauce or on scrambled eggs. Yogurt has been known to relieve stress with its high content of vitamin A, B complex and D. Try a smoothie in the morning or some yogurt with granola and berries for lunch.

 

 

basil and spices

basil and spices

 

Watch this video to see how you can make homemade cough syrup with two ingredients.  

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Herbs And Spices For Dummies

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

Basil and Spices

Basil and Spices

Cooking with herbs and spices is essential to making delicious meals. However, it may be overwhelming deciding what to buy at the grocery store. Or, maybe you are creating a dish and aren’t sure what herb or spice is appropriate for your food. Here is a short list of herbs and spices, their flavors, and their common uses.

 

 

Allspice:

This spice comes from an evergreen tree in the myrtle family. It has a pungent and fragrant odor. The flavor and smell reminds people of a mixture of cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg. However, it isn’t a mixture of anything or a combination of all spices. Allspice is usually used to flavor stews and curries, teas, cookies and sausages.

Arrowroot:

This white powder comes from a root of a West Indian plant. It doesn’t have a flavor or an odor. It is used as a thickening agent for sauces and stews. It is best to mix it in a cup of water before adding it to your sauce to avoid clumping.

Basil:

This plant comes from the mint family. It is generally used in Italian cuisine and paired with tomatoes. It has a sweet herbal bouquet. You can put it on pizza or garnish your pasta with marinara.

Cardamom:

This is a ground seed of a tropical fruit. It comes from the ginger family. It is usually used in curries, breads, and coffee. It has an intense, pungent and sweet flavor.

Dill:

This feathery annual is in the parsley family. It is used in pickling. It is also widely used in German, Russian and Scandinavian cuisines. It is delicious chopped and tossed on top of salad or over freshly broiled fish. It has a clean and pungent flavor.

Garlic:

This is a dried root from the lily family. It is essential in Chinese, Mexican and Italian food. It has a distinctive odor and flavor.

Horseradish:

This is a hot and pungent condiment is made from a plant in the mustard family. It is used as a condiment for roast beef, fish and oysters.

Mustard Seed:

This comes from two large shrubs found in Asia. It is hot and spicy. It is used with meat, fish, fowl, sauces, and salad dressing.

Paprika:

This spice comes from a mild red pepper. It is widely used in Hungarian dishes like goulash. It is also used as a garnish for deviled eggs and casseroles.

Rosemary:

This plant is in the mint family. It is a small evergreen shrub. It is widely used in Italian cuisine. It can flavor lamb, pork, chicken, and bread. It has a piney flavor. 

There are countless more herbs and spices to choose from. Try some of these for yourself and experiment with others. You will find that dishes can be taken to another level of flavor with each new spice or herb.

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