Oooh La La Cinnamon
Spice Things Up with Cinnamon!
Cinnamon was first introduced to us in the form of candy (think red hots and fireballs) and when our moms sprinkled cinnamon and sugar, on our breakfast toast. Cinnamon isn't just for breakfast and it's not just meant for childhood contests to see who could keep a piece of spicy cinnamon candy in their mouth the longest!
Besides making things taste good, it can spice up your life too. Natural health practitioners have long heralded its benefits, including treatment of blood sugar levels and energizing the body.
It's a delightful, delectable thing designed to make our lives yummy. Read on for uses for cinnamon in food and drink. Now you can have that cinnamon roll and not feel guilty!
A Little Dash
It Goes with What You're Wearing
Who doesn't love a little cinnamon - on everything?! Oh my goodness, cinnamon is one of life's joys! Use it to jazz up everything, from fruit, to drinks (try some in your coffee), to pastries... oh and peanut butter sandwiches. I like to get freshly ground cinnamon. It seems to have a better flavor. You can also get cinnamon sticks and grate your own just when you want to add a little spice to the things of life! I could sing the praises of cinnamon all day and into the night.
How about a little poem to honor cinnamon:
Cinnamon, cinnamon we love you so much
All it takes is a little touch
If we go overboard, and add some more
It will be o.k., 'cause you can never have too much.
Alright - enough of that...
A recipe is even better than my impromptu poems. Since cinnamon apples is one of my personal favorites, let's make some!
Cinnamon Apples
3-4 ripe apples -- I use Granny Smith or Fuji (any good cooking apple will do)
2-3 tablespoons of cinnamon - I add it by "taste testing" - use the amount that fits your taste buds
1/2 cup of butter -- again, more or less to suit your taste
1 tablespoon of water, just to keep apples from burning
Cut up the apples into chunks and place in medium sized pot on top of the stove. Then add the butter and water; let the butter begin to melt and then add the cinnamon. Stir the mixture up well, cover and let simmer on medium until the apples begin to soften. The butter and cinnamon will mingle together with the apples to create a wonderful fragrance in your kitchen too. No need for candles and potpourri when you're cooking cinnamon apples!
Then all that's left is to serve and enjoy. Cinnamon apples go well as a side dish for breakfast, lunch or dinner. They go well with biscuits or toast -- or you can also get creative and come up with a fancy dessert. Cinnamon apples over ice cream? Yes!
Love of Cinnamon is a Many Splendid Thing! - Recipes and kitchen helpers to live by
Find ways to use cinnamon to your heart's desire with these products! Start with a jar of premium grade cinnamon powder or grate your own -- then use the yummy recipes in the cookbooks to create cinnamon delectables your familly and friends will rave about. You will be the cinnamon toast of the town!!
Is Cinnamon Healthy?
Gentlemen, Start Your Engines
Health nuts listen up! Cinnamon has long been used for its health benefits. Chinese medicine touted it for its effects to cure colds and indigestion, to improving energy in those who were treated with the spiced up wonder. The extract taken from the bark of cinnamon trees was also used.
Cinnamon is sold today in natural food markets as a supplement since it has also been reported to improve blood sugar levels in diabetics. If you decide to try it, be sure to check with your physician first to make sure it won't interfere with any medications you're currently taking.
An internet search turns up multiple sites and directories about cinnamon's health benefits. You can buy it ground up and in pill form. Oil of cinnamon is also available. Whatever your reason for using it, you will enjoy the tantalizing taste, as it enhances just about any food you pair it with.
