Why That Bottle of Spicy Mustard Sauce Deserves a Spot in your Pantry. (Jeric James)

Mention the word mustard and the image of a deli-hotdog sandwich immediately pops up into mind. It wasn't exactly a favorite condiment in the house, no thanks to its pungent and tangy taste. But as you learn things along the way, it came to my attention that mustard seeds are known to be very healthy for the human body. Hence, the oils or sauces made from these seeds may have several therapeutic health benefits.

Gourmet mustards, as they are famously marketed, are made from the seeds of a mustard plant which is a vegetable related to broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cabbage. While there are approximately forty different varieties of mustard plants, there are three principal types commonly used for culinary purposes namely:

* Black Mustard (brassica nigra) - a round hard seed, smaller and much more pungent.
* White Mustard (brassica alba) - milder than their black counterpart, usually yellow in color, and are the ones used to make American yellow mustard.
* Brown Mustard (brassica juncea) - dark yellow in color, has a pungent acrid taste and is the type used to make Dijon mustard.

This incredible condiment can be used in its whole seed form, as a ground powder or grinding it into a smooth paste. To make flavors interesting, people came up with spices to add into its paste such as pepper, garlic, and paprika, along with a dash of salt. Research has it that there is no part of the mustard plant that cannot be utilized. Although less preferred than its most popular counterparts like ketchup, mayo and butter, the mustard has proven to be versatile in the kitchen.

Many supermarket shelves now carry lines of prepared mustard ranging from the mild yellow variety (favorite for hotdogs) to Dijon and Bordeaux mustards which derive their distinct flavors from the French wines they are made with. There are also hot mustards which are peppery and brown such as English, Dusseldorf, German and Bahamian. American horseradish mustard is also particularly spicy.

I've gathered several good reasons worth looking into why that bottled spicy mustard sauce, or any gourmet mustard for that matter, deserves a spot in your pantry for future culinary endeavors:

1. It is an excellent source of magnesium, which helps lower blood pressure and migraine attacks.
2. Its seeds contain phytonutrients that help prevent the risk of developing gastrointestinal cancer. It is also good for the overall health of the digestive tract.
3. It has the capacity to increase the body's metabolic rate that is not only beneficial for the body, but also eases the process of digestion. A good choice for condiment for weight watchers.
4. Some studies have shown that the anti-inflammatory compounds in yellow mustard are able to prevent Alzheimer's disease.
5. It is also a great source of calcium, phosphorous, manganese and iron. As such, it is a valuable source of several nutrients that are essential for a well-functioning body.

Whether it's easy healthy recipes for dinner or any meal of the day that you're preparing, including this particular ingredient should be a breeze. You can rub bottled mustard on meats before roasting, or bake some chicken breast marinated in it with white wine for some added flavor. It can also double as a dip for your favorite snacks, including vegetables and whole grain pretzels. Mustard seeds, on the other hand, are sprinkled over salads and can even be roasted on a dry skillet for nuttier texture. With a growing market for gourmet mustard these days, it's still best to exercise caution and avoid those with high preservatives and sodium content. Use it in moderation according to your taste. After all, they are meant to enhance and not overpower the flavor of your food.

Jeric James is an IT consultant in the US who loves to experiment with recipes in his kitchen during his free time. For more choices on the best bottled condiments that suit your taste buds, check out Easy Healthy Recipes for Dinner, a family-owned corporation based in Oregon.

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Why That Bottle of Spicy Mustard Sauce Deserves a Spot in your Pantry. (Jeric James)

Mention the word mustard and the image of a deli-hotdog sandwich immediately pops up into mind. It wasn't exactly a favorite condiment in the house, no thanks to its pungent and tangy taste. But as you learn things along the way, it came to my attention that mustard seeds are known to be very healthy for the human body. Hence, the oils or sauces made from these seeds may have several therapeutic health benefits.

Gourmet mustards, as they are famously marketed, are made from the seeds of a mustard plant which is a vegetable related to broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cabbage. While there are approximately forty different varieties of mustard plants, there are three principal types commonly used for culinary purposes namely:

* Black Mustard (brassica nigra) - a round hard seed, smaller and much more pungent.
* White Mustard (brassica alba) - milder than their black counterpart, usually yellow in color, and are the ones used to make American yellow mustard.
* Brown Mustard (brassica juncea) - dark yellow in color, has a pungent acrid taste and is the type used to make Dijon mustard.

This incredible condiment can be used in its whole seed form, as a ground powder or grinding it into a smooth paste. To make flavors interesting, people came up with spices to add into its paste such as pepper, garlic, and paprika, along with a dash of salt. Research has it that there is no part of the mustard plant that cannot be utilized. Although less preferred than its most popular counterparts like ketchup, mayo and butter, the mustard has proven to be versatile in the kitchen.

Many supermarket shelves now carry lines of prepared mustard ranging from the mild yellow variety (favorite for hotdogs) to Dijon and Bordeaux mustards which derive their distinct flavors from the French wines they are made with. There are also hot mustards which are peppery and brown such as English, Dusseldorf, German and Bahamian. American horseradish mustard is also particularly spicy.

I've gathered several good reasons worth looking into why that bottled spicy mustard sauce, or any gourmet mustard for that matter, deserves a spot in your pantry for future culinary endeavors:

1. It is an excellent source of magnesium, which helps lower blood pressure and migraine attacks.
2. Its seeds contain phytonutrients that help prevent the risk of developing gastrointestinal cancer. It is also good for the overall health of the digestive tract.
3. It has the capacity to increase the body's metabolic rate that is not only beneficial for the body, but also eases the process of digestion. A good choice for condiment for weight watchers.
4. Some studies have shown that the anti-inflammatory compounds in yellow mustard are able to prevent Alzheimer's disease.
5. It is also a great source of calcium, phosphorous, manganese and iron. As such, it is a valuable source of several nutrients that are essential for a well-functioning body.

Whether it's easy healthy recipes for dinner or any meal of the day that you're preparing, including this particular ingredient should be a breeze. You can rub bottled mustard on meats before roasting, or bake some chicken breast marinated in it with white wine for some added flavor. It can also double as a dip for your favorite snacks, including vegetables and whole grain pretzels. Mustard seeds, on the other hand, are sprinkled over salads and can even be roasted on a dry skillet for nuttier texture. With a growing market for gourmet mustard these days, it's still best to exercise caution and avoid those with high preservatives and sodium content. Use it in moderation according to your taste. After all, they are meant to enhance and not overpower the flavor of your food.

Jeric James is an IT consultant in the US who loves to experiment with recipes in his kitchen during his free time. For more choices on the best bottled condiments that suit your taste buds, check out Easy Healthy Recipes for Dinner, a family-owned corporation based in Oregon.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Spicy and stuffed slowly roasted chicken - Indian style By Bogdana Ivanova

Want to make a change this Christmas or holiday season? Try the Indian-style slowly roasted chicken and leave your family wanting more. Here is a spicy, Bollywood twist to your regular chicken recipe which is complete with all spicy goodness of the eastern cuisine. You can make your own changes to the amount of spices if you don?t like too much of it. You can follow the recipe with your choice of herbs and spices instead of the heavy Indian ?Garam Masala?. But if you are a fan of spicy food, look no further. High on spice and taste, this recipe for slowly roasted chicken is different from the usual recipes as it has a delicious curry stuffing inside. The double spice factor is sure to tickle your taste buds and give your loved ones a truly amazing treat.

Ingredients:
A small whole chicken washed and dried with a paper towel.
For the marinade:
Ginger garlic paste ? 2 tablespoons
Chili powder ? 1 tsp
Soya sauce ? 1 tablespoon
Pepper ? 2 tsp
Garam Masala powder (Dry roast spices like cloves, cardamom, pepper and fennel seeds and ground them into a fine powder) ? 1 tsp
Lemon juice ? 2 tablespoons
Oil ? 3 tablespoons

Salt to taste

Directions for making the slowly roasted chicken:
Mix all the marinating ingredients and make a fine paste. Make small cuts on the chicken surface using a sharp knife. Now take the marinade and rub it nicely onto the chicken, inside the cavity as well as out. Wrap the chicken in a plastic wrap and leave it in the fridge for a night or minimum 5 hours.

For the filling:
Large onions, thinly sliced ? 2
Ginger garlic paste ? a teaspoon
Paprika powder ? a pinch
Tomato, finely chopped ? 1
Cilantro ? a few sprigs
De-shelled hard-boiled eggs ? 2
Salt and pepper, to taste
Oil ? 1 tablespoon
Directions for the stuffing:
Heat a pan and add oil. Once the oil is heated, add the onions, the ginger garlic paste and saut?. Once the mixture gets nice and brown, add the paprika powder, salt and pepper. Now add the tomato and make a fine paste. Halve the hard-boiled eggs in the mix too. Add these to the mixture without breaking. Add chopped cilantro and keep aside. This is the stuffing.

Baking the slowly roasted chicken:
Remove the chicken from the fridge, place it on a roasting tray; drizzle with a bit of oil. Now place the made filling inside the chicken cavity. Sprinkle a bit of salt and pepper on top of the chicken. Preheat the oven to 150?C/300?F. Place the chicken into the oven and bake for 3 hours till the chicken is golden brown and oozing juices. Make a cut with a knife and see if it is done.

Heavenly smells will waft in your kitchen to announce that the chicken is getting roasted to perfection. Now take the chicken out of the oven, carve it using a sharp knife, and place it on a plate with the stuffing. You can make a basic salad with onions, tomato and cucumber and serve it with the slowly roasted chicken.

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