Mint – An Aromatic Perennial Herb
Mint, a plant which is part of the Mentha genus and a close relative of basil and rosemary, belongs to a large family of herbs with hundreds of varieties. For the purposes of this culinary discussion we will be...
Garlic – A Potent and Pungent Aroma
Garlic, or Allium sativum, is a perennial plant in the Alliaceae (or lily) family and is closely related to the onion. It has been regarded as an invaluable kitchen and medicinal plant for thousands of years, and is one...
Cumin – Used for Millennia as a Medicinal Plant
Cumin, also known as cumin seed or cummin, is the dried, tiny seed of the Cuminum cyminum (a member of the carrot family), and is related to parsley. Native to Egypt and the warmer regions of the Mediterranean, cumin...
Basil – An Aromatic Herb in the Mint Family
Basil, part of the Ocimum genus, is an aromatic herb in the mint family. Native to warm climates like Africa and India, basils are a large group of herbs in and of themselves – there are over 150 species...
Chili Powder – Adding Heat and Flavor to your Food
Chili powder, made from the roasted and/or dried fruit of dozens of species in the Capsicum grouping, is a potent dust useful to many world cuisines. While chilies are native to South America, it is difficult to classify the...
Table Salt vs. Sea Salt – Is One Better for You Than the Other
You might think that for something as basic as salt, it would be easy to get straight information. You'd be wrong. In the battle of Table Salt vs. Sea Salt, there is more misinformation, junk-science, just plain garbage, and...
Marjoram – Trivia and Information
Marjoram, or Origanum majorana, is a perennial herb in the mint family and a very close relative of the herb oregano – marjoram is now classified as species of oregano itself, though it was once considered only a sister...
Celery Seed – Used in Mediterranean and North American Dishes
A member of the carrot family which is native to India/China and cultivated in France, celery seed is an often overlooked member of the modern spice rack. With scent and flavor profiles similar to that of fresh celery, the...
Rosemary – A Distinctive Aroma is Hard to Describe
A woody shrub native to the Mediterranean and some additional European regions, rosemary (rosmarinus officinalis) is one of the most esteemed herbs in the culinary world. A perennial evergreen, aka a plant which keeps its leaves year round, rosemary...
Dill – Trivia and Information
Dill (Anethum graveolens) is a small, delicate, annual herb native to warm climates like Asia and India. A member of the carrot family and closely related to fennel, dill is the only member of the Anethum genus (a little-known...
Espresso Makers – Buying a Pump or Steam Maker
Any die-hard espresso fanatic knows how expensive the habit can be, especially when an espresso drink made at a popular chain will set you back nearly four dollars each day – that’s $120.00 per month! While ordering an espresso drink on the go affords a level of convenience, there...
Avocado – High Content of Heart-healthy Monounsaturated Fat
The avocado enjoys a racy past belied by its seemingly innocent and rather chubby appearance. Considered a fertility food as well as an aphrodisiac in its earlier days, the avocado was considered too improper to be enjoyed by image-concerned consumers until producers launched a massive campaign to change public...
Feeding a Family of Vegetarians
Many assume that the vegetarian diet is limited to pasta and salads. To the contrary, vegetarian diets are rich and varied, utilizing a wide range of grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables. In addition, there are many meat-substitute products available in grocery stores that allow vegetarians to eat many of...
