Spotlight on Food Bloggers ~ Recipes for the Holidays (or Any Day)

In 2015, I became a member of Bloggy Moms Network. It was a wonderful community, and in a previous blog post, I was happy to shine a spotlight on the members who were food bloggers. The BM Network was a great place to find recipes, cooking tips, meal ideas, and all kinds of food-related information. Unfortunately, the network no longer exists, and this blog post is being published a a replacement.

Since the holiday season is here, the first share is about preparing a wonderful and healthy “healthier” Christmas feast. And then there are a lot more foodie links that I'm sure you'll enjoy!!

45 Best Healthy Christmas Recipes! | The Clean Eating Couple

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Becoming A Farm Girl. “🛒 FORGET Meal Plans. How I Cook for a Week on $100 --No Recipes. No Waste. No Panic.” YouTube, Video, 3 June 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvOT-S0ctLo.

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Colorful Bow Tie Pork | Harried Housewife Blog

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Soup for Thanksgiving! | Adriana's Best Recipes

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Every Thanksgiving, I want all the pies! There are so many delicious pies to enjoy: Pumpkin Pie, Pecan Pie, Cherry Pie, Apple Crumb Pie, and don't forget pumpkin cheesecake and all the other desserts that come with Thanksgiving.  OK!  I like rolls too.

• One-Pan Mini Thanksgiving Pies Three Ways | The BakerMama  
• Mini Pies for the Holidays | Two Sisters

• Pumpkin Bread Rolls with Cinnamon Butter | Handle the Heat

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Apple Pecan Chia Pudding – #SecretRecipeClub
(Dessert for breakfast? No wonder it's a secret!)

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Moist And Fluffy Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls Recipe (+VIDEO)

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Mini Sweet Potato Cakes with Sticky Caramel Sauce | Cooking With Carlee

Hope you enjoy your holidays and every day before and after.

glitter-graphics.com

Cooking Basics ~ Indian Food ~ Tempering

Respected food writer Monica Bhide has written for well-known publications such as Food and Wine and Cooking Light. In her article, “The Crackling Spices Of Indian Tempering”, she writes about a cooking method common to Indian cuisine called “tempering”. 

Typical Indian Buffet

EXCERPT: ” … Tadka translates as 'tempering.” It is a method widely used in Indian cuisine, in which whole or ground spices are heated in hot oil or ghee, and the mixture is added to a dish. Hot fat has an amazing ability to extract and retain the essence, aroma, and flavor of spices and herbs and then carry this essence with it when it is added to a dish. …”

Now, before you frown and turn away because of the mention of two little words – “Hot fat” – it might interest you to know that tempering has nutritional benefits, as it helps the spices unlock their healing properties.

The Crackling Spices Of Indian Tempering | Special Series: Kitchen Window | NPR

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Do you have a particular Indian dish you really enjoy? (It can be a dessert.)

Best Indian Dessert Recipes

(Source: Previously published via Webnuggetz)

Karma and the Art of Butter Chicken#Cookbook by Respected #food #writer Monica Bhide. @mmonicaln
➡️https://t.co/gH3Bb1tj3H
"Smell and taste your way through #India while rooting for the protagonist to find a way to fill his hunger. When you put it down, find ways of reaching… pic.twitter.com/8b9utwBFT2

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) December 15, 2025

Inexpensive Meals: Lentils are Hearty, Healthy and a Small Bag Can Feed a Crowd

LEBANESE RECIPE: Mujaddara

I did not start eating lentils until I got married back in the 70s. It was never served in my mom's house. I learned how to cook them because my husband liked them. I usually seasoned them with smoked turkey and added diced carrots, onions, and celery. Learned that lentils are a common dish in the Middle East. They are legumes and they come in different colors: black, brown, red, and yellow. They can not be eaten RAW. Also, you don't have to soak them before cooking. 

FUN FOOD FACTS:

• Lentils are one of the oldest cultivated crops in human history. (You know it! They're mentioned in the Bible.)

• Lentils likely came to the USA via European Settlers, especially from Mediterranean countries.

• In the early 1900s, the USDA and land-grant universities began promoting lentils as a rotational crop due to their nitrogen-fixing properties.

• As of today, the USA is now one of the world’s top producers of lentils. The United States grows several types: green, red, black (also known as Beluga lentils), and French green (Puy-style) lentils.

Mujaddara is a dish of cooked lentils together with groats, generally rice, and garnished with sautéed onions.

• Here is a recipe: Mujadara (Lentils and Rice with Caramelized Onions) -Cookie and Kate  

“Mujadara is served across the Middle East in various forms and goes by differing names, depending on where you are. It has many spelling variations: mujadarra, mujadarah, majadra, mejadra, moujadara, mudardara, and megadarra.”

• More Info: What Are Lentils and How Do You Cook Them? | Cooking Light ~ 

The good thing about lentils is that they are very inexpensive, and one small bag (16 oz.) can make a big pot to feed a lot of people.

How Do You Like Them Apples? Like 'Em? I Love 'Em!

In the USA, October is the month we celebrate Halloween, pizza, and apples. I especially like the fact that October is National Apple Month. It was founded as National Apple Week in 1904 and later expanded to the entire month of October. Apples are such a delightful fruit and come in numerous varieties. There is a variety for practically every letter of the alphabet, including the letter Z. The variety is called Zestar. 

Apples in Legends, Myths and Folklore

• Ever Hear of Johnny Appleseed?

From childhood, I have heard all kinds of stories about apples. The story I remember vividly is the one about Johnny Appleseed. As a child I remember hearing the story about a man who walked everywhere in America and everywhere he went, he dropped apple seeds on the ground and apple trees grew. That’s not really true. It is true that he was a real person and not a legend. His real name is John Chapman (1774 – 1845) who became known as Johnny Appleseed. He introduced apple trees to various parts of America such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. It’s not just the fact that he planted the trees which contributed to the environment. He was also a very kindhearted man and became known for his acts of charity, as well as his conservation efforts. It made him somewhat of a folk hero.

Image Credit:  John Chapman (1774 –1845), aka Johnny Appleseed

Other Legends and Myths About Apples

• Is it in the Bible?

An apple is not mentioned in the Garden of Eden. Neither the Old or New Testament specifically state what the forbidden fruit was that Adam and Eve ate. However, for years people have insisted that it was an apple. Eating it caused them to be driven out of the Garden of Eden. An apple? Not sure why. (O.o)

Non-Biblical Myths

In Greek mythology, it was said that a golden apple is what caused the Trojan War. “The war originated from a quarrel between the goddesses Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite, after Eris, the goddess of strife and discord, gave them a golden apple, sometimes known as the Apple of Discord, marked 'for the fairest'.”

In Norse mythology, it was believed that apples held the key to immortality. The name of the Norse goddess who was the keeper of the apples was Iðunn. Her name means “ever young”.

The Celtic people buried apples with the dead. To the Celts the apple was sacred and it was associated with rebirth. Excavators have found graves dating back 5,000 years that had petrified apple slices.

In ancient Silesia (now modern-day Poland), people believed if they slept under an apple tree, it would induce dreams; and if a young woman put an apple under her pillow on New Year’s Eve, she would dream of her future husband.

How Do You Like Your Apples?

Apples can be eaten raw. Just pick them right off the tree. Bake them in pies, make cobblers, cookies, brownies, put them in salads, turn them into jelly, and more. My favorite way to enjoy apples? Apple pie. YUM! What about you?

Content previously published via 100Springs. (site shut down.)


glitter-graphics.com

Japanese Hamachi with Matsutake, Zestar apple, Pine nuts, and Pine Bud syrup; a dish as delicious as it is beautiful! pic.twitter.com/SgOWYl6a96

— Sorellina Restaurant (@SorellinaBoston) October 18, 2019

Four (4) Uncommon Cooking Ingredients Explained (Guest Post)

Below is a short explanation of four (4) uncommon cooking ingredients and how to use them in cooking. 

1.  Clear Jel is a refined cornstarch that reacts better for freezing and canning recipes in particular; cornstarch tends to go cloudy in these situations. Clear Jel is used in the same proportion of cornstarch (1:1) in baking recipes. Like traditional cornstarch and the health store alternatives - arrowroot and potato powder, etc. - this product needs to be combined with the sugar (or flour) called for in the recipe prior to adding to any other ingredients in order to reduce clumps from forming.

2.  Sea salt is healthier than regular table salt; the fact that it requires less processing means it also has a smaller ecological impact. It is a natural source of iodine, which, along with other nutrients, is essential for a healthy sex life. A local herbal consultant once told us that sea salt can also be used in place of Epsom salts in your bathwater.

3.  Tamari is considered to be less salty than soy sauce and is often stocked in health food stores. You can find low-salt versions of both tamari and soy sauce. Tamari sauce, however, has enzymes that aid digestion and promote healthy intestinal bacteria.

4.  Orange Zest, citrus zest or citrus powder are all terms referring to a similar product - to simplify we personally call it 'citrus zest'. It is used to bring out other flavors and to condition flour. Chop lemon, orange or lime peel and allow to dry (or use a dehydrator) - turn this into a powder using a blender or grinder, and store in the cupboard as you would any spice or herb. 1 Tbsp of fresh zest is equal to 1 tsp. of dried; while 1 Tbsp of fresh zest is equal to 6 Tbsp. juice. As such, this one ingredient in the cupboard offers more ways of reducing grocery costs.  Making your own citrus zest at home is a fantastic way to move toward a more frugal kitchen, while reusing "waste" (the peels). 

Now that you know more about these ingredients, hopefully, it will give you the confidence to use them in your kitchen.

AUTHORS:  Lillian and her husband Dave are the team behind Brummet Media Group, high-fiving cheerfully as they pass each other on the way from checking off one item or other from their long to-do list. Their business includes Dave's music studio and percussion accessory products and graphic design work, as well as popular blogs and numerous award-winning non-fiction books. 

- From One Small Garden, with over 300 delicious, nutritious recipes! 

(Original Source: EzineArticles.com, republished with permission.)

From One Small Garden: Over 300 Delicious, Nutritious #Recipes: Brummet, Dave, Brummet, Lillian #cookBooks https://t.co/oeWVX3FXyX

— Everyday Exotic Spices Presents Food Ways (@EverydaySpices) December 6, 2024

Spices – History and Mystery (Pt 2 of 2)

Mystery of the Spice Islands Revealed

(Continuing from Part 1).

• The East India Company Ltd – reborn and renewed. The East India Company today is reborn as a vibrant, inspiring company that acknowledges its heritage to never stop exploring and pioneering, to discover the world’s finest foods, products, and services.  The products they sell include teas, coffees, chocolates, and other fine foods.
• Manas: History and Politics, East India Company. Read more about the History and Politics of the East India Company; its humble rise to good fortune and its decline from political and economic power into dissolution by the Crown.

After being fought over for years, in 1814, the Dutch traders finally beat out the Spanish, Portuguese, and the British for the monopoly of the spice trade, and these islands came under Dutch control. The Spice Islands, along with other territories in the area now governed by the Dutch, were all consolidated under one name: Dutch East Indies. They were under the Dutch government from 1814 to 1942. During World War II, the Japanese conquered the Dutch West Indies and occupied them from 1942 to 1945. In 1945, Indonesia was proclaimed a republic, and the islands that were formerly known as the Spice Islands are now known as the Maluku Islands (also called the Moluccas or Moluccan Islands). The Moluccas are included in a group of islands between Southeast Asia and North Australia, which comprises the Malay Archipelago.

But you don't have to travel to Indonesia or circumnavigate the globe and risk death to go on an exotic spice adventure. These days spice trails are everywhere.

* India Tree Pepper Mélange is a premium blend, containing Tellicherry black, Madagascar green, Malaysian white and allspice berries; use the same way as black pepper.

** Kefta spice blend is an authentic Moroccan recipe which includes: Coriander, Cumin, Spearmint, Paprika, Cayenne, Marjoram, Garlic, and other spices.

*** Sumac is a very popular condiment in Turkey and Iran, where the ground fruits are liberally sprinkled over rice. Mixed with freshly cut onions, it is frequently eaten as an appetizer.

[ Content first published at Blogjob May 2017. ]

Spices – History and Mystery (Pt 1 of 2)

Europeans embarked upon voyages around the world.

~ Hundreds of years ago, Europeans sailed all over the globe to bring back various spices from the East. Spices were not just used to flavor food, but were also for medicinal purposes and enjoyed because of their exotic aromas. As such, they were highly valued commodities. 

~ To trace the spice trails taken by the Europeans, track backwards from the Greco-Roman world to Egypt then Africa, and travel through Arabia (formerly Asia Minor) until you reach India. 

Image Credit: Bowls of Spices from Above, Agra, India ~ Bill Bachmann ~ Allposters.com

“The economically important Silk Road (red) and spice trade routes (blue) blocked by the Ottoman Empire ca. 1453 with the fall of the Byzantine Empire, spurring exploration motivated initially by the finding of a sea route around Africa and triggering the Age of Discovery.”

[Image Source: By Whole_world_-_land_and_oceans_12000.jpg: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Centerderivative work:Splettederivative work:Bongan - Whole_world_-_land_and_oceans_12000.jpgSilk_route.jpg, Public DomainWikimedia Commons]

The Year is 1608

The original spice routes started in India.

As is usually the case with precious commodities, nations sought to control the spice trade. The British fought the Dutch and the Portuguese. Fast forward through history to the year 1608; ships belonging to the East India Company arrived in India, at the port of Surat. This company had been given monopoly privileges on all trade with the East Indies by the British parliament, but their control did not last forever. In 1857-8, there was a rebellion which led to the end of the East India Company.

The dissolution of the East India Company had no impact on the integral role of India in the global spice trade. Though India is not the only country that exports spices to Europe and the United States, this "land of spices" does continue to be a major exporter of spices to Europe, the USA and various other parts of the world.

Based on the substantial growth of spices exports during the last five years and particularly during the period 2010-2011, the SPICES BOARD INDIA, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India reported: " India can now boast as the monopoly supplier of spice oils and oleoresins (naturally occurring mixtures of an oil and a resin) the world over. In the case of curry powders, spice powders, spice mixtures and spices in consumer packs, India is in a formidable position."

Spices introduced by India include cardamom, cassia, ginger, tamarind, curry, turmeric, and many more. Cardamon is even referred to as the "queen of spices". (Saffron is known as the "king of spices". FYI.) These everyday exotic spices are an important contribution to the quality of our daily living.

Stock Your Kitchen Cabinet 

with Everyday Exotic Spices

[ Content first published at BlogJob May 2017). ]