A - Z Blogging -- "C"

 Well, Hello there!!! I am so pleased that you stopped by  to visit!
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  For the past many years I have had an interest...no, make that a fascination with herbs, spices and seasonings. -  How they were used by our ancestors centuries ago for a variety of ailments, and how they are used today to enhance your favorite recipe.
With this in mind I am attempting to present a different herb, spice or seasoning  for each day of the  A-Z Challenge. Please drop by often and perhaps we both will learn something new.

                                                           
Learn more about these terms.       

               "C" is for Cinnamon                              
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It's time for Herbs and Spices!

When trying to pick the most appropriate post for "C", I found myself in a huge conundrum. There are several options ..... Cardamom, Cayenne, Chives Celery seed, Chili power,Cilantro, Coriander and Cloves... just to name a few.  After due thought, I went with the one I have used since childhood... 

CINNAMON

The Kitchen Dictionary describes cinnamon as the inner bark of a a tropical evergreen tree, harvested during the rainy season when pliable and then dried into curls sold as sticks or ground into a powder. With its warm, sweet favor, cinnamon is one of the biggest workhorses on the spice shelf. Cooks often use it to flavor baked goods and drinks, but it also works wonders in stews and sauces. The best cinnamon is Ceylon cinnamon= canela= Sri Lanka cinnamon= true cinnamon.  Indonesian cinnamon has a similar taste, but larger quills and is generally knot as well regarded.

Matches well with : apples, berries, chicken, chocolate, coffee, custards, fruit lamb, oranges, pears, rice
                                                                                                                                               
Substitutions:   1 cinnamon stick yields 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon: nutmeg, or allspice.

My first memory of cinnamon is when, as a treat, my Mother would give us toast with ground cinnamon and brown sugar and the warm tastes would meld together in my mouth. Mmmm.
Although that might not be a treat  for you,  I bet this recipe for Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls would fill that bill with no problem at all!



Health Benefits

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Not only is cinnamon a  popular spice in food it also has been used for its health benefits for many centuries.  It is important to note that these benefits are attributed to true cinnamon and not cassia, which is often sold in stores as cinnamon. Some of these benefits are:

~Studies have shown that  just 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon a day can lower LDL cholesterol.
~Several studies suggest that cinnamon may have a regulatory effect on blood sugar, making it especially  beneficial for people with Type 2 diabetes.
~Cinnamon has shown an amazing ability to stop medication- resistant yeast infections.
~It has an anti-clotting effect on the blood.
~In a study at Copenhagen University, patients given half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder combined with one tablespoon of honey every morning before breakfast had significant relie in arthritis pain after one week and could walk without pain within one month.
~When added to food, it inhibits bacterial growth and food spoilage, making it a natural food preservative
~.Cinnamon is high in nutrients such as manganese, fiber, iron and calcium





Sources:

Eat This! http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/10-health-benefits-of-cinnamon.html
Food.com http://www.food.com/library/cinnamon-324

Disclaimer

The material provided on this site is designed for information and educational purposes only. The materials are not intended to be a self diagnostic and/or self treatment tool. I encourage you to use this information as a tool for discussing your condition with your health practitioner.