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Can you believe it's almost the end of November? Before you know it, you’ll wake up and it will be December! I’m so excited to share Christmas recipes with you in December! But first, I decided to share this Christmas Spice Blend so that you already have it when I start sharing recipes that use it in the coming weeks.
Prep Time: 5min Cook Time: 1 min Serves: 6 Servings Level: Beginning
Can you believe it's almost the end of November? Before you know it, you’ll wake up and it will be December! I don't know about you, but I actually can't wait for December. Christmas is my favorite holiday, and definitely my favorite time of the year. During this time of the year, I especially love spending time in the kitchen. I mean who doesn’t enjoy the delicious smells, spices, colors, and recipes that this holiday provides? The kitchen becomes the place at home that gets the most excitement and is always occupied during the beginning of December.
Most home cooks, chefs, and bakers get so busy in December. Plus, it is the time when we get our hands on so many versatile Christmas herbs, holiday spices, and aromatic seasonings. The Festive Spice Blend is a must for Christmas cooking, after all, could you really call it Christmas without these comforting aromatics that remind us of the holidays? The delicious blend consists of a few spices that are used to bring festive cheer to many recipes. It typically contains flavors like Cinnamon, Ginger, Cardamon, Nutmeg, Cloves and Allspice.
Let's take a closer look at the health benefits of Christmas spices.
CINNAMON - Cinnamon is good for skin health. It helps reduce acne-forming bacteria. Infact, Cinnamaldehyde, the main active component of cinnamon, may help fight bacterial infection. Cinnamon also relieves digestive problems, improves eye health, and can help to increase weight loss. You can easily incorporate Cinnamon into your desserts, mixed in hot water, blended into your tea, or on top of your coffee.
NUTMEG- Nutmeg has a calming effect when consumed in smaller doses and a carminative effect on our stomachs. If you are suffering from digestive issues such as diarrhea, constipation, bloating or gas, a home remedy is to grate a pinch of nutmeg in your soups and stews and have it. It is an aphrodisiac, stimulating the nerves in the brain, and is a good ingredient for skin care because it can treat acne and clogged pores. Tip: Add a pinch of nutmeg to a glass of warm milk and have it before going to sleep.
GINGER - Ginger helps speed up digestion and empty your stomach more quickly. You might find relief in ginger if you suffer from digestive issues, such as indigestion, ulcers, and constipation. Ginger also contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. It is a natural pain reliever and can improve your skin's health with antioxidants, increased blood circulation, and antiseptic properties. You can easily incorporate it into your diet by making ginger tea, ginger juice, or simply adding it into your food to spice up your meals.
CLOVES - Cloves contain fiber, vitamins, and minerals, so using whole or ground cloves to add flavor to your food can provide you with some essential nutrients. Cloves are rich in antioxidants. If you have a toothache, you can chew on a clove instead of taking painkillers. You can easily incorporate ground cloves into many dishes. They’ll bring a warm, distinctive flavor to desserts, curries, or chutneys.
CARDAMON - Cardamom is a great breath freshener and may provide additional benefits for your teeth and gums. It may reduce nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, and can be protective against many heart conditions due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Cardamom has been traditionally used in Ayurveda, Chinese medicine, and the Unani system as a remedy for digestive problems.If you'd like to add more cardamom to your cooking, add smashed cardamom pods to rice or lentils as they cook. Or, use spice blends featuring cardamom, like garam masala, in your savory dishes.
ALLSPICE - The topical use of allspice relieves pain caused by several conditions like muscle aches, joint pains, sprains, gout, arthritis, and hemorrhoids. Traditionally, allspice has been used by dentists on teeth and gums as it contains eugenol, which has some anesthetic and antiseptic properties. It helps reduce stomach ailments like diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, excessive flatulence, and bloating. Allspice helps to boost and protect your brain functioning as you grow older. To create a deep, warm flavor, you can drop a few dried allspice berries into your mulled wine or chai. A pinch of ground spice sprinkled into curries, soups or stews gives them a more rounded flavor. With this spice, you can even give your desserts like pumpkin pie, apple pie, and gingerbread a bit of a spicy kick.
Christmas Spice Blend
I’m so excited to share Christmas recipes with you in December! But first, I decided to share this Christmas Spice Blend so that you already have it when I start sharing recipes that use it in the coming weeks.
A perfect smell is overcome when you open the oven and take out cookies, cakes, or ginger banana bread using the Christmas Spice Blend. But you can also sprinkle the Christmas spice mix on hot tea and hot chocolate. Add the spices to a decorative jar and place it in your living room for a whole day's worth of Christmas aroma. Using this Christmas spice blend you can also make homemade Christmas candles. It can even be used as a great homemade Christmas gift.
RECIPE
Ingredients
3 tbsp cinnamon powder
1 tsp nutmeg powder
1 tbsp ginger powder
1 tsp cloves
1 tsp cardamom
1 tbsp all spices
Preparation:
Place all the spices in a mortar, grinder/food processor, and pulse until well powdered.
Store your precious Christmas spice mix in an airtight jar.
Enjoy!
If you make this recipe, please snap a photo and tag @andreea.plantbasedchef on Instagram! I would love it if you would leave a comment below.
Thank you all so much!