Bartolomeos Paradiesmischung - Das "Curry der Renaissance"

Bartolomeo Scappi, ein vatikanischer Hofkoch im 16. Jahrhundert, hat für Papst Paul V. eine Curry-Gewürzmischung komponiert:

Zutaten

85 g Zimtstangen
25 g Nelken
15 g getrocknete Ingwerwurzel
15 g geriebene Muskatnuss
7,5 g Pfeffer
7,5 g Safran
15 g brauner Zucker

Zimtstangen brechen und Muskatnuss reiben. Dann alle Gewürze im Mörser zermahlen. Oder einfacher: in der Küchenmaschine pulverisieren. Die Gewürzmischung ist luftdicht verschlossen bis zu sechs Monate haltbar.

(EDW)

Turmeric tea

1-2 teaspoons of ground turmeric
2 cups of water
Cinnamon or cloves (to taste, optional)
Honey (to taste, optional)
Almond milk (optional)

Mix the water and turmeric together in a pot and bring it to a gentle simmer. Simmer for 10 minutes. Add spices such as cinnamon or a few cloves to taste. Strain the mixture, reserving the liquid. Sweeten with honey and almond milk, again to taste.

Pregnant and nursing women should avoid turmeric tea. Turmeric may cause an upset stomach, especially if you aren't used to it, so begin your turmeric tea regimen with the lowest dose possible and work your way up to more if you would like to take more.People with diabetes and hypoglycemia, as well as anyone taking medications that can affect blood glucose levels should not take turmeric. Turmeric may prevent clotting, so if you are taking drugs that change the rate at which your blood clots, avoid turmeric. You can find a list of other side effects here.

(herbs.lovetoknow.com)

Orientalisches Rosen-Salz

Zutaten

2 Kardamomkapseln
1 EL Korianderkörner
1 TL schwarze Pfefferkörner
100 g Meersalz
2 EL getrocknete Duftrosenblütenblätter
1 Stange Zimt
1 EL Zucker

Kardamom aufbrechen und nur die Kerne verwenden. Zimt in stücke brechen. Zimt, Kardamom, Koriander, Pfeffer nacheinander in einer Pfanne rösten.Nach dem Abkühlen mörsern. Rosenblätter fein mahlen. Alle Zutaten mit Zucker und Salz gut mischen und in ein dunkles Gefäß geben.

Advieh - Persian Spice Mixture

Ingredients

• Rose petals, 1 1/2 tablespoons
• Ground cinnamon, 1 tablespoon
• Ground turmeric, 1/2 tablespoon
• Ground black pepper 1/2 teaspoon
• Ground cardamon, 1/4 teaspoon
• Ground nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon
• Ground cumin, 1/4 teaspoon
• Ground coriander, 1/4 teaspoon

Instructions

1. Take off the hard flower base and any leaves remaining on the rose petals
2. Finely grind the rose petals. You can use a small food processor or mortar and pestle.
3. Mix rose petals with the remaining spices.
4. Store in a sealed spice jar.

(persianfoodie.com)

Lavendelzucker / Lavender sugar

Zutaten für 150 g

10 Lavendelblüten
150 g Streuzucker

1. Die Blüten und den Zucker zusammen in ein Glas geben und drei Tage ziehen lassen. Zwischendurch immer wieder schütteln.

2. Anschließend die Blüten entfernen und den aromatisierten Zucker bis zur weiteren Verwendung kühl und trocken lagern.

Ingredients for 150 g

10 Lavender flowers
150 g Caster sugar

1. Put the flowers and the sugar together in a glass and leave it for three days. Shake it occasionally.

2. Then take out the flowers and keep the flavored sugar in a cool and dry place until further use.

(news.at)

3 Reasons to Eat Turmeric

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a culinary spice that spans cultures - it is a major ingredient in Indian curries, and makes American mustard yellow. But evidence is accumulating that this brightly colored relative of ginger is a promising disease-preventive agent as well, probably due largely to its anti-inflammatory action.

One of the most comprehensive summaries of turmeric studies to date was published by the respected ethnobotanist James A. Duke, Phd., in the October, 2007 issue of Alternative & Complementary Therapies, and summarized in the July, 2008, issue of the American Botanical Council publication HerbClip.

Reviewing some 700 studies, Duke concluded that turmeric appears to outperform many pharmaceuticals in its effects against several chronic, debilitating diseases, and does so with virtually no adverse side effects. Here are some of the diseases that turmeric has been found to help prevent or alleviate:

• Alzheimer's disease: Duke found more than 50 studies on turmeric's effects in addressing Alzheimer's disease. The reports indicate that extracts of turmeric contain a number of natural agents that block the formation of beta-amyloid, the substance responsible for the plaques that slowly obstruct cerebral function in Alzheimer's disease.
• Arthritis: Turmeric contains more than two dozen anti-inflammatory compounds, including sixdifferent COX-2-inhibitors (the COX-2 enzyme promotes pain, swelling and inflammation; inhibitors selectively block that enzyme). By itself, writes Duke, curcumin - the component in turmeric most often cited for its healthful effects - is a multifaceted anti-inflammatory agent, and studies of the efficacy of curcumin have demonstrated positive changes in arthritic symptoms.
• Cancer: Duke found more than 200 citations for turmeric and cancer and more than 700 for curcumin and cancer. He noted that in the handbook Phytochemicals: Mechanisms of Action, curcumin and/or turmeric were effective in animal models in prevention and/or treatment of colon cancer, mammary cancer, prostate cancer, murine hepatocarcinogenesis (liver cancer in rats), esophageal cancer, and oral cancer. Duke said that the effectiveness of the herb against these cancers compared favorably with that reported for pharmaceuticals.

How can you get more turmeric into your diet? One way is via turmeric tea. There are also extracts in tablet and capsule form available in health food stores; look for supercritical extracts in dosages of 400 to 600 mg, and take three times daily or as directed on the product.

And, of course, one can simply indulge in more curried dishes, either in restaurants or at home. However you do it, adding turmeric to your diet is one of the best moves toward optimal health you can make.