Spice of the Month: Cinnamon
The Spice of March is Cinnamon!
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One of the oldest culinary spices used widely for its sweet and warm taste. Sweet, bitter, pungent is versatile, and can be used either ground or as a whole stick. Used often in Middle Eastern, Moroccan, Spanish cuisines, cinnamon pairs nicely with Apples, Chocolate, Custards, Desserts, and savory stews. It is best to add early in the cooking process, to retain the most flavor. Not only is cinnamon delicious, but recent research suggests that it may help regulate blood sugar & insulin levels in people with Type 2 Diabetes or insulin resistance.
Besides adding to oatmeal in the morning, or sprinkling it in your soup-here are some more ways to use cinnamon!
- Use ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon to add subtle sweetness to a spice rub for pork, duck, or game.
- Stir ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon into your favorite chicken salad recipe
- Lend Mediterranean flair to your next batch of spaghetti with meat sauce by browning the meat with ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon; or simmer the sauce with 1 cinnamon stick.
- Cinnamon Bun Smoothie From Happy Herbivore
- Warm and Nutty Cinnamon Quinoa From 101 Cookbooks
- Moroccan Chicken Thighs From Cooking Light
Do you like the taste of cinnamon? What are some of your favorite ways to use it?