Jump Into Spring With These New Flavors

When Spring hits most people think about one thing, Spring cleaning, but you can do so much more with the arrival of Spring, especially spicing it up in your kitchen. Spring means warmer weather, more BBQs, and more fruit but did you ever consider adding a new spice routine to your meal prepping?

As crazy as it may sound, adding spices to your classic Spring favorites, like fruit, will actually compliment the flavor really well. Spices can also help regulate your metabolism, making you feel better on those especially warmer days. Try adding these spices to your meals for a flavor enhancement that your taste buds will love.

Lavender is a beautiful flower but also gives food a distinct flavor. Lavender pairs perfectly with fruit like peaches, blackberries, lemons, and blueberries plus it is known to help with digestive problems. If you want to take it up a notch then add some lavender to a cocktail or to your water for a hint of flavor.

Turmeric has been big in the food industry in the last couple years and is still an amazing option to use. Turmeric is found in most curry dishes but it can also be added to salads, dips, and dressings. If you want to be really daring then throw it into your morning smoothie especially since it has properties that helps your heart and brain health, as well as, reducing inflammation and cleanses the liver.

Chili is the perfect additional to any stone fruit, like plums, cherries, and peaches. Chili has always been a popular option with mangoes, so why not try it on other tasty fruits. Chili is known to help curb appetite and increases energy levels, so you’re getting a lot with this one spice.

Mint is an great addition to any dress and really freshens up the meal. Pair mint with figs, melons, berries, or almost any fruit for a great taste or just add it to some water to liven it up a bit.

You can’t go wrong when adding spices to meals. What is your favorite spice to add to your Spring meals? We would love to know!

Herb Laced Pasta needs to be Your Next Dinner

Everybody loves a good pasta for dinner, but have you ever considered making your own? It may seem daunting and time consuming but it is actually pretty easy and rewarding as long as you have patient.

An even better dinner to try is adding herbs into your pasta as you are creating it and I am talking about full leaf herbs like parsley and sage. Not only will these herbs give your pasta an amazing flavor but it will also turn out beautiful and your family will be shook by your culinary masterpiece.

The recipe is pretty simple and we got the idea from Tastemade. Check out the video below and be inspired to create your own delicious dinner with tons of flavor.

https://www.tastemade.com/videos/laminated-pasta-dough?utm_source=facebook&utm_account=tastemade&utm_content=post_12-07-2017

Lattes that are Beneficial to your Health?

We all love our morning coffee and even our afternoon coffee sometimes but with the delicious caffeinated beverage comes loads of sugar that isn’t the best for us. What if I told you that there is a new latte that is making waves in the coffee industry that is actually GOOD for you and your health.

Turmeric is exceptionally good for you and we all know that. Turmeric is primarily used in dishes like curry and rice but did you every think to add this spice to your morning cup of coffee? In Europe a golden milk or turmeric latte has risen 50 percent between 2016 and 2017 and it seems like coffee lovers are in love with this new drink.

The healthy drink industry is all over this new drink and loving it. Although a turmeric latte hasn’t hit our coffee shops yet, it is only a matter of time before big coffee giants like Starbucks takes this healthy spice and adds it to your already awesome drink. Besides turmeric, coffee shops are also adding ingredients like mint, cinnamon (no shocker), cardamom, ginger, saffron, and pepper to drinks for their added health benefits.

Is a golden milk or turmeric latte something you would want to try?

Did you Know this Spice is Exceptionally Good for You

Health is important to basically everyone, that’s why we eat our fruits and veggies and drink our water. But did you know that spices can have great health benefits and all you need to do is add them into the meals you are already eating. Cinnamon is one of the best spices that you should be eating almost daily.

Scientist have been doing a lot of research on the health benefits of cinnamon and have already determined that it helps prevent blood-sugar spikes and protect against insulin resistance, which is great for people with diabetes. A study in 2012 showed that people with type 2 diabetes who took a daily cinnamon supplement had a reduction in blood sugar. Some who stopped taking the supplement still showed lasting effects as well.

Research has also found that people who ate 1 gram a day of cinnamon saw blood sugar reductions and even people who cook and use cinnamon as a seasoning can see these benefits.

Scientist are now diving deeper into what health benefits cinnamon can have on the body, including fat cells, muscles, and liver cells.

You can add cinnamon to many different foods, including oatmeal. toast, butternut squash, and chili. Try out recipes you like with the added cinnamon and reap the benefits!

Your Vanilla Ice Cream Prices May be Going Up

Vanilla ice cream is a signature for any good ice cream sundae and a key ingredient to many different summer treats. Unfortunately the vanilla bean crop was hit hard in March when a cyclone tore through Madagascar and essentially destroyed the crop that we know and love.

Vanilla ice cream isn’t the only thing that is facing a price increase though, vanilla extract may also be going up. Today you can buy a single gallon of vanilla extract for $40 but with the crop issues, a gallon can now go for $220 in three years.

Ice creams prices will probably rise about 20 percent in the upcoming weeks, with an individual treat going up $.50 and soft serve being hit the hardest since it uses vanilla extract.

With vanilla being used in almost all baking and some cooking, it’s unknown what this crop issue can do to the industry. Some people are already looking for an alternative that they can use but there is the possibility of a flavor change then. At this point we are in a waiting game while we see what the crop does but we do expect increases in all vanilla products, so you may want to stock up on that ice cream now.

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Overnight Oats the Perfect Breakfast

Need an amazing breakfast that will keep you full but also give you the energy to get through the morning rush? Overnight Oats is a great way to get the day started and super easy to make, hence the name. Overnight oats are just oats that your prepare the night before and in the morning you can grab and go.

Fortunately for us, Dave’s Gourmet is making our nights even easier by preparing the overnight oats for us, all but one ingredient included.  Dave’s Gourmet overnight oats are gluten free organic oats, chia seeds, fruit, and almonds, all you need to do is add the milk and let it chill.  Dave’s Gourmet is offering their overnight oats in a variety of flavors too, including Blueberry Almond Vanilla, Apple Nut, and Cinnamon Raisin.

Dave’s Gourmet is currently using crowdfunding through KickStarter to get their overnight oats launched and they are asking for you help! To learn more about Dave’s Gourmet Overnight Oats, click the link here to be sent to their KickStarter page.

 

 

Is Savory Yogurt Something You’ll Try?

We are all use to our normal everyday sweet yogurt. Usually sweetened with fruit or mixed in sugars, everyone knows what to expect when browsing their dairy department and grabbing their favorite mid-morning snack. But now yogurt is heading in a new direction and trying to help consumers tackle a different craving, the savory one.

Yogurt companies are now dipping their toes in the savory department testing flavors like butternut squash, sage, and cinnamon. Numerous companies have already released their own unique brands on the savory flavors which are perfect for someone looking to try something new.

Saffron Road Foods has introduced a coconut curry korma sauce which has a mixture of spices, turmeric, and coconut milk. Pop Art Snacks has a tandoori yogurt popcorn which is a blend exotic spices and Mediterranean-style yogurt giving the popcorn a rich, bold flavor.

These are just a few of the amazing savory yogurt flavors that will be hitting our shelves. Is savory yogurt something you would try?

You Need to be Using These Spices Right Now

We all know that spices can have amazing healthy benefits and can make a plain piece of chicken taste pretty good. Did you know that some of the most common spices, probably ones sitting in your kitchen right now, actually have  benefits and you didn’t even know it? Read on to see why you need to add certain spices to your everyday routine.

Black pepper is great for you in moderation. Studies have shown that spicy foods actually help people eat less, so if you’re trying to watch your weight then pepper is exactly what you need. Pepper also contains piperine which could have some fat-burning properties and slow down the maturation of fat cells. So next time you need a good seasoning, break out that pepper.

We’ve said it before and we will say it again, cardamom is actually really good for you. This spice can increase your metabolism and can leave you feeling satisfied longer. Cardamom alone is great to use when you are trying to lose weight since it adds so much flavor to a dish that you won’t even realize you’re missing some of your favorite foods.

Cumin is high in phytisterols which can help control cholesterol in our bodies. There are also studies that say that cumin can help increase your metabolic rate and help digestion.

Garlic is a household spice but did you know that it contains antibacterial properties? These antibacterial properties are actually linked to lowering the risk of certain cancers! Add garlic towards the end of your cooking to help retain all of its nutrients.

These are just a few spices that can overall help your body when you eat them. Give them a try and let us know what you think!

Information found in Time

Try These Spices to Help Curve That Sweet Tooth

We all get those mid-afternoon cravings for sweets but sometimes we can’t indulge like we want to and instead sit at our desk miserable and dreaming of a jelly filled doughnut. Did you know you can add a few simple spices to your daily routine to help curve your sweet tooth though? Yep, it is really that easy. Take a look below at some spices you can add to your meals to help you get that sweet tooth under control.

Fenugreek has a maple taste and a maple/sugar smell to it, which makes it perfect to help stop that sweet tooth. Research has also shown that fenugreek helps lower blood sugar levels, so it actually has two benefits all in one. Fenugreek goes great with soups or curry, so try adding some to your next meal!

Cinnamon and nutmeg are no surprise here. Cinnamon has an already sweet taste to it which can help satisfy sugar cravings but it can also help reduce the glycemic levels that food has. Cinnamon is a great spice for all diabetics to use too! Nutmeg is often paired with some of our holiday favorites which can help bring back comforting memories but also nutmeg helps boost your bodies natural serotonin levels.

Cardamom has a slightly sweet flavor and some say it is the spicier version of cinnamon. Cardamom has a lemon-vanilla smell to it and is so versatile, you can use it in almost anything. Try adding it to a smoothie, yogurt bowl, or your oatmeal and that afternoon craving will be kicked to the curb.

Using these spices can help you naturally stop eating that extra sugar but still leave you feeling satisfied. Give them a try and we promise you won’t regret it!

The Cannabis Conundrum, The Event you Need to Attend.

With cannabis now legal in California it opens up a whole new slew of doors for the edible industry. With the legalized of Prop 64 a lot of questions are also raised, is making and selling edibles now legal? What actions does one have to go through to start in the cannabis industry? Trust us when we say that the edible industry may be in a little bit of a grey zone at the moment.

Now you may be asking yourself these questions or just generally curious about what and what isn’t legal with cannabis now. Fortunately the San Francisco Professional Food Society and the Research Chef Association have already organized a seminar that can help answer all your questions! A seminar will be held on March 28th in Burlingame where top local regulatory lawyers and scientist will discuss regulations and safety in the cannabis edible space. That means you can go to this seminar and already get a jump start on what you need to know in what can only be a fast growing industry.

If you are interested in learning more about the edible word and where you may stand, you can get tickets to the event here.