Recipes
Piña Colada
One sip of this cocktail will take you right to the beach. This creamy, frozen drink is ridiculously easy to drink. There's a reason you'll find these in paradise destinations. So make yourself a pitcher of this Caribbean favorite, kick back in a beach chair, and enjoy! For a layer of aromatic bliss, shave some nutmeg on top before taking a sip. Nothing compares to freshly grated Nutmeg - the warmth compliments the rum and coconut. Experiment further and add Jamaican Allspice or our Kashmiri Garam Masala to give a little extra something-something to your staycation.
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Achiote Paste
Fun alert! Spices offer so many ways to play with flavor and texture, and making achiote paste is a great one. Made with a combination of annatto seeds, spices and a little bit of liquid to bind it together, the paste can be used in a variety of rubs, marinades and sauces. Annatto seeds are the star and they provide an earthy flavor and deep red color to your food. The seeds are very hard and most easily ground in a high speed blender or electric spice grinder. Alternatively, you can put some elbow grease behind your mortar & pestle or molcajete to get the job done. Use the paste made fresh, keep it in the fridge or freeze in ice cube shapes so you'll always have some of this fantastic flavor on hand. The paste is traditionally formed into a brick for easy use.
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DIY Amaretto
Better than store-bought, this liqueur boasts a rich caramel flavor embellished with toasted spices, almonds and apricots. Not for immediate gratification, this process takes a month to complete but the outcome is well worth it. Toasting the spices and caramelizing the sugar make for a sweet, rich flavor that can't be beat. Enjoy it in your favorite cocktails and toddies for over the top flavor. Whether you make a bottle to stock your bar or divvy it up for gifting, it is a fun liqueur to make.
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Allspice Mushroom Medley
Use allspice in savory sides and discover a whole new world of flavor possibilities. A simple mushroom medley transforms into a spice bazaar with this one simple addition. Allspice is an all-in-one spice. It has warm, sweet notes of cinnamon and nutmeg and zingy notes of ginger and clove. These play wonderfully with the woodsy flavor of the mushrooms. For this recipe, we used a few different types of mushrooms for contrast in texture and flavor, including local chanterelles and lobster mushrooms, but the flavors shine with any combination. Try crimini, shiitake, portobello or your local favorite. The amount of allspice used in this recipe is generous and flavorful, a traditional measure in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. This flavorful medley is wonderful on a steak, makes an exotic holiday side dish or appetizer on toast.
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Allspice Panna Cotta
Panna cotta is delicate and not overly sweet, making it a perfect vehicle for showcasing rich and distinctive flavors. For a late summer dessert that pairs well with the bounty of seasonal fruit, we whipped up a batch of this Italian treat and infused it with allspice. This little berry is a gem of a seasoning, layered with warm and complex flavors. Its taste evokes warm, familiar spices like cinnamon, clove and nutmeg, yet remains distinctly its own. Stone fruit like nectarines and cherries make excellent companions for allspice. They're rich and sweet, and make its bold flavors beam!
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Clarified Milk Punch
Mixolology is much more than a hobby to me, and the chef in me loves this drink because of all the science involved. The key to the punch's clarity is the milk proteins, which cling to all of the impurities in the mixture. Once strained, the result is a flavorful elixir that will impress any foodie or bartender. Although it's plenty boozy, it's smooth and evolves with every sip. If you love cocktails, this is a must try!The base of the punch is rum, apple brandy, and whiskey. We spiced the base with Keemun black tea, allspice, star anise, cinnamon, and cardamom, then we juiced a couple lemons and combined. With the alcohol and acid, the milk will start to curdle. Let the mixture set over night, then strain and run through a coffee filter. This drink packs a lot of hidden flavor, so we find it's best served simply on ice with a lemon peel.
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English Beef Rub
English Beef Rub offers up a bold combination of cinnamon and juniper along with salt and pepper for incredible flavor! Influenced by medieval beef rubs, the intense flavors stand up to and takes the edge off of gamey flavors in meat. Perfect for elk and venison, as well as beef.One technique for tenderizing tough cuts of meat is to season them liberally and then apply weight, like a cast iron skillet, and allow the meat to sit for 24 hours before cooking. The results are tender and delicious!
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Brining Basics
Every year, as we head into the holiday season, people begin to ask us about brining their turkeys. Is it worth the extra hassle? Does it really lead to a juicier bird? Well, we’re happy to report "yes!" to both. It’s probably easier than you think, and when done right, will ensure that your Thanksgiving turkey breast is moist and tender. The essential elements are water and salt - and a little advance planning. Simply mix up your brine and submerge the turkey for up to 24 hours before cooking. How to Brine: We won’t bore you too much with the science. Basically, the salt in the brine pushes the muscle fibers apart allowing more of the salty water to be drawn into the meat. It gives more moisture in the bird to start, which prevents it from drying out during the long cooking time. Once you incorporate brining into your holiday routine, it simply adds to the bustle and flavor of the season, along with a dose of stress reduction because your turkey will not be dry. Here are the basics. Preparation! Your turkey should be completely thawed and you must have a brining container that is big enough to hold the turkey which needs to be completely submerged. Brining bags are all the rage- but a canning pot, bucket or cooler can do the trick just as well. Make sure you have a cool place to put the brining turkey for 12-24 hours prior to cooking. This requires a good bit of refrigerator space, but if you use a brining bag, it doesn’t require much more than it would for the bird itself. Precision! When making the brine, be sure to use the correct proportion of water and salt, regardless of what else you add to the mix- the salinity of the brine must be correct for it to flow into the meat. The standard proportion is 1 cup of kosher salt per gallon of water or stock. No need to use specialty salts here, the nuances will not contribute to the flavor. If you are using prepared vegetable stock, make sure it is salt free. Patience! The brine and turkey should both be cooled to the same temperature before they are combined. Again, this ensures that the brine will flow easily into the turkey. Be sure to leave the bird in the brine at least overnight, and 24 hours is better for larger turkeys. Brining Recipe - As long as you follow the basic proportions above, you can change it up with all your favorite flavors. Substitute vegetable stock for water, add the spices you love and sweeten it up if you like, the sky's the limit. Just be sure to follow the guidelines above and keep the turkey nice and cool. Remember, safety first!This is my favorite brine for Thanksgiving turkey. It uses apple cider instead of sugar for a sweetness that emerges beautifully on a grilled turkey.
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Umami Apple Pie
An essential cookbook on our shelves is The Flavour Principle: Enticing Your Senses With Food And Drink. This cookbook, containing recipes from around the world, focuses on the fundamentals of flavor and suggests pairings to complement the unique tastes of each dish. One of our favorite recipes is this exceptional umami apple pie, which uses white cheddar in the crust for another delicious sweet & savory pairing.From the Author: "One issue I have with apple pies is that the apples are not soft and juicy enough. To avoid that, I use several different kinds of apples, some hard and some soft, and precook them for a few minutes to just soften."
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