The Spice of Life

You have a sweet tooth but need to watch your sugar intake or are suffering from diarrhoea

C is for Cinnamon
Love it or hate it, cinnamon is a powerful instantly recognisable spice and is recommended for balancing blood sugar levels in diabetics and as a “no sugar” sweetener in cookies, cakes and sweets. Found in many spice blends as well as in its own right in whole quill or ground form, half a teaspoon of ground cinnamon added to hot milk will soothe a unsettled stomach and also help in you are suffering from colds and flu. If you love cinnamon, add it to stewed apples or apple pies, make traditional cinnamon rolls – a sweet yeast dough rolled up around a ground cinnamon and butter spread …. You can also buy cinnamon essential oil which is lovely for sprinkling onto pot pourri for the festive season.

You have a toothache or want your house to be filled with a delicious clean-sharp aroma

C is for Cloves
For toothache a few drops of clove oil have long been recommended as it acts both as a mild anaesthetic and has anti-bacterial properties. You can make your tincture by adding a few drops of clove oil to warm water and it also works a treat left in small bowls around the house to release its aroma. Stud oranges with whole cloves for a traditional Christmas decoration – some also use cloves to stud ham and pork prior to roasting it as the flavour is said to infuse the meat wonderfully.

It is cold outside and you’re feeling chilled to the bone, or feel a cold or flu coming on, or have morning or travel sickness or morning after the night before queasiness

G is for Ginger
Some love, some say they hate it but do be sure to try it before you dismiss it. Buy juicy, fresh pieces of the root and stew a little in hot water, adding lemon juice and a little sugar to taste for a warming, soothing drink that will put paid to queasiness and the chills. Use it to make your own traditional ginger beer – it is easy as pie and cost very little per bottle – think pennies rather than pounds. Both children and adults love it and it is a great drink to make for Christmas. Or buy herbal teabags containing ginger which with a slice of lemon helps a great deal if you have a sore throat or feel a bit queasy. You can munch on some traditional gingerbread or ginger cookies – not exactly healthy but fine in small quantities. Some ginger cakes contain whole pieces of stem ginger which makes for a robust and tasty treat. For those with an adult sweet tooth a small bag of crystallised ginger will go a very long way. You can also buy ginger essential oil which is lovely added to a hot bath or foot soak when you’ve been out in the bitter cold. You can also buy ginger root in dried form (herbalists, health & oriental stores) which will plump up after a good soaking. Don’t forget to fresh ginger in Thai inspired dishes where it delivers a lovely background heat and if you are more of a traditionalist you can buy the most delicious traditional ginger “marmalade”…. Add powdered dry ginger to cake and biscuit mixes – it works a dream in icing as well… A little goes a very long way…

As the nights draw in you need warming food – what better than cracked black pepper in your soup and in your sauce, on your vegetables

P is for Pepper
Pepper is a powerful ally in every household. It enlivens most dishes, adding a fiery heat which helps the gastric juices to flow and helps us to digest rich foods. Aromatic black pepper also has anti-oxidant qualities and a strong flavour. But try pink peppercorns, green peppercorns, mixed peppercorns, Sichuan peppercorns (an ingredient of Chinese five spice) or white peppercorns which are very hot. You can also buy black pepper essential oil which is lovely when added a few drops at a time to a hot bath.