Spices are an essential ingredient in many dishes, enhancing the flavor of our food and giving us a burst of vibrant flavor. Additionally, spices have also been shown to provide a range of health benefits. For example, studies have found that turmeric is a powerful antioxidant, helping to neutralize harmful free radicals and reduce inflammation throughout the body. Cinnamon is another spice that has been shown to promote good health, particularly in people with type 2 diabetes. And cloves have been used for centuries as a natural remedy for toothaches, thanks in part to their antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, it is clear that spices play an important role not only in enhancing the taste of our food but also in keeping us healthy and feeling our best.
Do you know that spices can help with weight loss, heart health and cancer prevention? A study from the University of Washington found that people who consumed a lot of spices had lower levels of body fat. The same research also revealed that those who ate more than five servings per day were less likely to die from heart disease or stroke. And if you’re worried about cancer, don’t be! Research has shown there is a link between eating cinnamon and living longer.
The benefits of spices are endless, and it’s no wonder that the world is obsessed with cooking. Used for thousands of years to add flavor to dishes, spices can also serve as a natural remedy for common ailments such as stomach aches or headaches. As we speak, there are currently over 5300 different types of spices in existence! However, not all herbs and seasonings have nutritional value:
Turmeric: this spice contains curcumin which has been shown to be an antioxidant that may help fight cancer cells and heart disease. It also lowers cholesterol levels in the blood by preventing fats from sticking together on your arteries.
Garlic is high in antioxidants which help fight free radicals, lowers cholesterol levels, boosts immunity, and aids digestion. It also contains allicin which has been found to have anti-cancer properties.
Ginger is known for its pain relieving qualities because it blocks the nerve pathways from reaching the brain by inhibiting inflammatory chemicals being released from injured cells. It also helps regulate blood sugar levels due to its strong antioxidant content and ability to lower inflammation caused by diabetes or metabolic syndrome.
There are many benefits to eating spices, but not all of them have nutritional value. If you want the most out of your food and health, make sure that any spice you buy is fresh or has a long shelf life. Buying whole herbs or seasonings overground ones will also ensure more flavor in every bite! With so many different types available, it’s easy to find something delicious for everyone on your dinner table.
Do you know that spices can help with weight loss, heart health and cancer prevention? A study from the University of Washington found that people who consumed
Pantries are an essential part of the kitchen to help you store your excess food without cluttering the cooking area.
With the tight schedule for the sporting event, it won’t be a surprise when you get to the ping pong equipment like the tennis table in a pantry.
Although it may not be the best place to keep it, this would help for easy access, especially when dashing out for a game.
Why the pantry? It’s easy and accessible since the player eats to get the energy and dash out to enjoy the game.
Why do they need a pantry?
Storage of ingredients, herbs and packed spices
Declutter the kitchen
Host for kitchen appliances
Utilizes the kitchen space
An additional storage space
Sportspersons are keen on their diet. Good health and high energy levels define their healthy diet.
Therefore, their pantry stock is geared towards achieving this objective. Besides, these are people with minimal time on their hands, yet some of the essential home chores like cooking are a must.
That is why they prefer to shop in bulk to minimize the time that they need to go to the market.
One thing you should know is that the pantry keeps dry and long-lasting foods. The perishable foods are better stored in the fridge or freezer.
This is the sole reason why they need a pantry in their home. The modern pantry is a room with shelves all over to accommodate the foods they want to stock.
What are these foods that can’t miss in a players’ pantry?
1. Dry cereals
Cereals are foods that can stay for long without going bad. As long as they have the lowest moisture content and are dry, they can remain for months without going bad.
Cereals are carbohydrates essential for the provision of the required energy for the sports personnel.
On the contrary, people on a weight loss program avoid too many carbs; simply because of the imbalance between the output and the input.
Stock as many kinds of cereal as possible to make you have diverse carbohydrate nutrient as a sports personnel for these reasons
Source of energy
Improves cardiovascular health
Supports the building of muscle strength
Maintains the right cholesterol level
High in fiber to enhance digestion
2. Canned foods
You attest to the fact that cereals take time to cook. Although they are ideal once you prepare many of them but want to consume later if you have a freezer.
If you don’t like the process, then canned foods serve the purpose. The highly nutritious frozen and fresh foods with healthy preservatives don’t need any refrigeration. It’s a ready-to-eat meal.
Have you asked yourself what the military officers eat while out in the jungle? – Canned foods. Here are some of the benefits
Contains valuable minerals
They are fresh hence preserve the nutritive content
Regulates sodium intake
Tasty and nutritious
Need no preparation- ready to eat
Minimal contamination with germs and dirt
3. Condiments
What do you use to have a difference in your recipes? Have you tried to take your food without salt?
The secret behind the nutritious meals is that they know how to make good use of the condiments.
There is no specific number of sauces to use for your food. If you love additional food additives, then the pantry comes in handy for you.
The two reasons why pickles are necessary are that they contain particular healing capabilities ideal for the delicate body of a sports person.
Secondly, they come in handy to improve the flavor of the foods served.
4. Herbs and spices
Try Indian cuisines and know the power of spices and herbs in improving the taste and flavor of foods.
When it comes to herbs and spices, the list is endless. They have different functions in meals that you can’t fail to ignore as the lover of the playfields.
It is this reason manufacturers decided to park these spices and herbs in attractive cans to make it easy for shoppers to carry home and enjoy the benefits.
5. Dry ingredients
In pastry making, the words dry ingredients part is well understood. Any element used in cooking that has no liquid component is referred to as dry ingredients.
Wheat flour, yeast, baking soda, sugar, salt, among others, fall in this category. As mentioned earlier, time is of the essence to a sportsperson.
They prefer to buy this in bulk and stock them in the pantry for later use. At times, they come home late after practices or a tournament.
It makes no sense for them to pass by the store for shopping, yet they need to fix a meal.
The stock in an athlete’s pantry may be different from a basket baler’s pantry. You can have everything on the shelves of the grocery store at home.
You only purchase what you use. Otherwise, you may end up stocking them only to realize they are expired and have no option but to dispose of them—what a waste.
Consider the following factors when getting pantry stock.
Check the expiry date
Confirm your availability at home during the time
Buy in small quantities which end fast
Go for shopping with a checklist to prevent impulse purchases
The size of your pantry
It’s essential to have spices, dry ingredients, and dry foods in stock as a player. However, don’t stock for the sake of it. Stock when you feel it’s worth it.
1. Unless your rice cakes are soft already, soak them in warm water for 10 mins.
2. Boil the soup stock in a shallow pot over medium high heat and dissolve the tteokbokki sauce by stirring it with a spatula. Once the seasoned stock is boiling, add the rice cakes, fish cakes and onion. Boil them a further 3 to 5 mins until the rice cakes are fully cooked. Then, to thicken the sauce and to deepen the flavor, simmer it over low heat for a further 2 to 4 mins.
3. Add the sesame oil, sesame seeds, and green onion then quickly stir. Serve warm.
I remember the first time I tasted fresh Extra Virgin Olive Oil the day I arrived at the Tuscan vineyard that was going to be my home for five years. I was blown away. I even coughed a little bit, as its pungency caught me by surprise. This was nothing I had ever tasted before. Immediately, I was won over. Here and there, I fell in love with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and its contribution not only to our health, but how it can add flavor to the dishes. A drizzle of good quality, robust Extra Virgin Olive Oil on soups, stews, grilled meats or fish is now a must in my kitchen. Back at Cosimo’s vineyard, we ended up bottling three different Extra Virgin Olive Oils from our 1,000 trees (as approximation: 1 tree = 1 liter of EVOO). It was a lot of work for only a few bottles, but the character of the oil really changed dramatically from one part of the land to the other. The Premium Blend became the finishing oil, starting a little more on the delicate side and then developing to a whirlwind of taste expressions on the palate. The Blend is a great robust oil that is perfect for dipping, to toss pasta, to roast pumpkin, to make a vinaigrette.
So with my passion for all things Extra Virgin Olive Oil, you can imagine how excited I was when the City Olive in Chicago – a great source for Extra Virgin Olive Oils from all over the world – hosted a book presentation by Fran Gage. Fran is one of America’s leading experts on Extra Virgin Olive Oil and has published this very lovely book on American EVOO (well, Californian really) producers, including 75 recipes differentiated by style of EVOO. A great read and a great source of inspiration, too!
So here is a recipe from Fran’s book “The New American Olive Oil”, perfect for these fall days and Cosimo’s Premium Blend
Only three more weeks before the Beaver Dam Pepper Celebration, which we are organizing in collaboration with Slow Food Chicago and Slow Food WiSE! Expect an extravaganza of menu specials, cooking classes and community potlucks in Milwaukee and Chicago!
CHICAGO EDITION
We are honored that the following great Chicago chefs are showcasing the Beaver Dam Pepper in a menu special from September 19 – 22 . From a Beaver Dam Pepper infused drink, to a cauliflower dish w. pickled peppers and a chocolate truffle with the Beaver Dam Pepper & Michigan cherries, you will be able to enjoy this rare local heirloom in many delicious variations!
PLUS: Beaver Dam Pepper Celebration FAN CARD: if you Eat It To Save It at five of these participating restaurants from 09/19-22, you will receive a FREE jar of Scrumptious Pantry’s Heirloom Pickle Beaver Dam Pepper!
The following Chicago-area restaurants will offer menu specials:
Big Jones w. Heirloom tomato salad, Anson Mills Farro Verde, Prairie Fruits Chèvre, Pickled Beaver Dam Peppers
Billy Sunday w. Atlantic Crab fondue with pickled Beaver Dam Peppers and herbed flatbread
Green Zebra w. Beaver Dam Pepper Hash with salt roasted Red Thumb fingerlings, fried egg, and an apple shallot jam
Katherine Anne Confections w. Beaver Dam Pepper truffle with Michigan Cherries, FEW bourbon, local wildflower honey, and bittersweet chocolate
Marion Street Cheese Market w. Beaver Dam pepper relleno, goat milk ricotta, sweet corn grits and pepper consommé
Uncommon Ground Devon w. Grilled cheese sandwich w. Beaver Dam Pepper jam
Uncommon Ground Clark w. Beaver Dam Pepper stuffed with a local wild mushroom risotto and a garlic parmesan sauce
Standard Market w. Beaver Dam Pepper Slaw: a crisp symphony of peppers, cucumbers, carrots, snap peas, and Scrumptious Pantry Beaver Dam Peppers, marinated in a sweet and tangy mustard vinaigrette.
Heirloom Flavors Potluck, September 22
If you are inspired to play with the pepper in your own kitchen, you can purchase fresh peppers at Green City Market and Logan Square Farmers’ Market at the booths of Radical Root Organic Farm, Majestics Nursery and Montalbano Farms, as well as at the Dill Pickle Food Coop in Logan Square. Scrumptious Pantry’s pickled Beaver Dam Pepper is available at all Whole Foods Stores and other selected retailers around Chicago.
We’d love to taste your Beaver Dam Pepper creation at the Community Potluck on September 22 – if you do not have a chance to bring a Beaver Dam Peppers dish, fear not! The theme is “Heirloom Flavors”, so every dish that either incorporates any heirloom variety or showcases a family recipe, is more than welcome. The event is BYOB. In the spirit of environmental sustainability, please bring a plate and silverware! Glasses are provided.
5.30-7.30pm
Scrumptious Pantry, 3230 W. Fullerton Ave (Logan Square)
Cooking Classes
Cooking classes with the Beaver Dam Pepper are being organized in various Whole Foods Locations in Chicago. Please check The Scrumptious Pantry’s Facebook page and this page for updates.
MILWAUKEE EDITION
Tour de Menu, September 21 (& Milwaukee Cocktail Week, September 22)
The following Milwaukee-area restaurants will be offering menu specials
Braise
Bavette La Boucherie w. Pickled mustard seed, sauerkraut and oktoberfest beer brat with a pickled beaver dam pepper relish
Glorioso’s Italian Market w. Orrechiette pasta with the BDP, brunelli sausage, arugula and caramelized onions with a light tomato broth
Hinterland
Juniper 61
La Merenda
Meritage
Sanford
Great Lakes Distillery will craft a Beaver Dam Pepper Cocktail for Milwaukee Cocktail week’s launch event on 09/22
Cooking demo
For the curious home cooks, Slow Food WiSE will be showcasing the Beaver Dam Pepper in cooking demos
September 7th: South Shore Market
September 14: Fondy Market with Chef Darrin from Juniper 61/Cafe Lulu
September 21: Glorioso’s Italian Market (this is a 90 min cooking class, tickets are available through Glorioso’s!)
Community Potluck
On September 11, we are partnering with Friends of Real Food for a Community Potluck that will highlight the pepper not only in the dishes, but in a cooking demo, to boot.
BEAVER DAM PEPPER CHAMPIONSHIP
These beautiful Beaver Dam Peppers are growing strong in Marye’s garden. Are you growing the Beaver Dam Pepper, too? You should join the Beaver Dam Pepper Championship! All you need to do to participate is to tweet or post pictures of your plants & peppers growing on Scrumptious Pantry’s or Slow Food Chicago’s Facebook or twitter using the hashtags #BeaverDamPepper #Pepperazzi. If you grows the largest Beaver Dam Pepper you will win a Scrumptious Pantry gift basket valued at $100, and the title of “Beaver Dam Pepper Champion”. The Beaver Dam Pepper Champion will be announced at the Chicago Community Potluck on September 22.
Ever wondered what the secret to a deliciously juicy turkey is, no matter the long roasting time? The secret is to brine it! The brine has two effects on the meat of this flavorful bird: the salt breaks down the proteins and it infuses liquid into the meat. You can go with a simple salt brine, or use the occasion to infuse your turkey with some seasoning, too. There are many fancy recipes: you can blend cranberry juice with your brine, or wine, add citrus… see http://allrecipes.com//HowTo/brining-turkey/Detail.aspx for some ideas. We suggest an easy & tasty brining solution that takes no time to prepare. We are using Roberta’s & Giulio’s Coarse Roasting & Grilling Salt – it contains juniper berries, rose peppercorns, rosemary, sage, bay leaf, thyme and tarragon, which is a great flavor profile for your Thanksgiving Turkey. Thanks to the love Roberta & Giulio poured into this salt, it is extremely flavorful: their estate grown organic herbs were minced by hand while still fresh, so the essential oils are sealed into the salt.
You can brine a 14lb. turkey from eight – 16 hours, but note that the saltiness of the meat increases with the brining time. So if this is the first Turkey you are brining, we recommend you choose a shorter brining time, no one wants a too salty turkey at Thanksgiving! And take the saltiness of the meat and the drippings into consideration when seasoning the bird and the sauce!
Having a recipe that works for first time briners was our main intention. If you are an experienced turkey briner and want to use more salt and a different brining time, consider that a jar of the Coarse Salt equals approx. 3/4 cups of sea salt.
We are honored that the following great Chicago chefs are showcasing the Beaver Dam Pepper in a menu special from September 19 – 22 . From a Beaver Dam Pepper infused drink, to a cauliflower dish w. pickled peppers and a chocolate truffle with the Beaver Dam Pepper & Michigan cherries, you will be able to enjoy this rare local heirloom in many delicious variations!
Tour de Menu, September 21 (& Milwaukee Cocktail Week, September 22)
These beautiful Beaver Dam Peppers are growing strong in Marye’s garden. Are you growing the Beaver Dam Pepper, too? You should join the Beaver Dam Pepper Championship! All you need to do to participate is to tweet or post pictures of your plants & peppers growing on Scrumptious Pantry’s or Slow Food Chicago’s Facebook or twitter using the hashtags #BeaverDamPepper #Pepperazzi. If you grows the largest Beaver Dam Pepper you will win a Scrumptious Pantry gift basket valued at $100, and the title of “Beaver Dam Pepper Champion”. The Beaver Dam Pepper Champion will be announced at the Chicago Community Potluck on September 22.
