Add a Little Spice to Your Life!
Do you love to cook?
Do you like to try new flavors and recipes? Or maybe you are in a cooking rut and don’t know how to start expanding your cooking repertoire. Let us help you get spicy in the kitchen. Your kit includes a pre-measured packet of ground nutmeg and a few recipes.
What is nutmeg?
Nutmeg is not a nut but the seed of Myristica fragrans, a tropical evergreen tree native to Indonesia’s Banda Islands. It is unique because it produces two distinct spices from a single fruit: nutmeg, which comes from the inner seed, and mace, which is derived from the reddish, web-like covering surrounding the seed. After harvesting, the seeds are dried for approximately six to eight weeks before being sold whole or ground into powder. Nutmeg contains plant compounds with antioxidant and potential anti-inflammatory properties, along with small amounts of minerals such as magnesium and manganese. During the 17th century, nutmeg was among the world’s most valuable spices, partly because many people believed it could protect against the plague.
Easy ways to add nutmeg to your diet.
Nutmeg adds a warm, slightly sweet, spicy flavor to everyday foods. You only need a small amount to make a difference and it works in both sweet and savory dishes. So, sprinkle a pinch of nutmeg over oatmeal, yogurt, or into coffee, chai, or lattes to enhance their flavor.
Add a small amount to smoothies or to sliced apples or pears before baking or microwaving. Use nutmeg to season roasted or mashed sweet potatoes, carrots, and pumpkin. For savory meals, you can stir a little into mashed potatoes or cauliflower mash to give them a richer flavor. You can also mix nutmeg into pancake or waffle batter, muffins, and banana bread for a warm, spiced taste. Finally, add a small pinch to creamy vegetable soups, such as butternut squash soup, or pasta sauces.
Download the recipes featuring nutmeg:
- Egg Nog
- Cranberry Sauce
- Creamed Spinach with Nutmeg and Golden Raisins
- Scalloped Potato Gratin
- Swedish Meatballs
- Sausage Rice Casserole
Need more inspiration?
You can watch a six-part Great Courses class called The Everyday Gourmet: Essential Secrets of Spices in Cooking for free with your library card by using a Hoopla Great Courses BingePass or streaming on Kanopy.
