Uncategorized
Spice up your holiday season
Published
6 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw PartnersBy Carie Birkmeier EBS STAFF
Would the holidays be the same without the aroma of nostalgic spices wafting through your home? Research suggests that the sense of smell is strongly linked with memory; and these warm, fragrant spices are likely to make you reminisce of holidays past. Many use these spices without knowing much about the plants from which they come. Here is a little background on these common spices that you’ll be using in the coming weeks.
Cinnamon is the bark of the cinnamon tree. It is dried and then sold in both ground and tubular forms, also known as a quill. Its fragrant, sweet, warm taste is available in two varieties—cassia and Ceylon. Cassia is more common and widespread and is grown in China and Indonesia. Ceylon is a sweeter and hard-to-find variety grown in Madagascar and Sri Lanka. It is considered the most “true” variety of cinnamon in terms of its flavor.
Cloves are the tiny, unopened flower buds from the clove tree, native to the Spice Islands of Indonesia. The buds are harvested when they are still pink, and then dried until they turn completely brown. They are sold in both whole and ground form. Their name comes from the Latin word clavus, which translates to nail, which cloves resemble with their tapered shape. Despite their rock-hard exterior, their interior contains a slightly softer oily compound infused with their warm and aromatic flavor.
Ginger is a versatile root that can be used in both sweet and savory applications. It is sold in fresh, dried and powdered forms, all of which have a unique and different flavor. Its pungent, spicy flavor is often used in Asian cooking, but also characteristic of holiday recipes such as gingerbread.
Cardamom, a spice often used in Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine, comes from seed pods of plants in the same family as ginger. It has a strong and pungent flavor with hints of citrus and smoke. It is available in both whole pods and powder.
Star Anise is a seed pod from an evergreen shrub native to China. Its distinctive star-shaped pod has a licorice-like flavor. This spice is commonly used whole as an infuser, but can also be ground—it is one of the main components of Chinese five spice.
Despite its misleading name, allspice is its own spice, not a blend of several spices. It comes from the dried berries of a plant known as Pimenta dioica, a member of the pimento family. Allspice comes in whole and ground form, and is often used in pickling, and is perhaps best known for its role in Jamaican jerk chicken. It has a warm, sweet, slightly peppery flavor.
Nutmeg, like cloves, is native to the Spice Islands of Indonesia, and is the seed of a tropical evergreen tree that can grow up to 65 feet tall. It has a distinctive flavor and smell, with a slightly sweet, pungent taste. Buy this spice whole and grate or grind it as needed it to ensure the freshest flavor—ground nutmeg loses its flavor quickly.
Mulling Spice
3 ounces cinnamon quills
6 whole nutmeg
peel of two oranges, dried and chopped
peel of two lemons, dried and chopped
¼ cup allspice berries
¼ cup whole cloves
2 tablespoons whole dried ginger
Place all ingredients in a large bag and pound with a meat mallet or the back of a heavy pot to break spices into smaller pieces. You can also use a food processor, but be careful not to over process into a powder.
Place 2 tablespoons of the mixture into cheesecloth and secure with a string. Makes about 14 sachets. Use these sachets to flavor apple cider, make mulled wine, or simply simmer in water on your stove to make your house smell like the holidays.
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
Upcoming Events
march, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before 9/10/2024:
more
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before
9/10/2024: Kindergarten
enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year can be completed by following the
registration process now.
Children
born on or after September 11, 2019: 4K enrollment is now open for
families that have a 4-year-old they would like to enroll in our program for
the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete the 4K Interest Form to
express your interest. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment into
the 4K program. Enrollment is capped at twenty 4-year-olds currently
residing within Big Sky School District boundary full time and will be
determined by birth date in calendar order of those born on or after September
11, 2018. Interest form closes on May 30th.
Enrollment now is critical for fall preparations. Thank you!
Time
February 26 (Monday) - April 21 (Sunday)
Event Details
My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy
more
Event Details
My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy that tells the story of Toby and Melinda, two lonely people whose lives are forever changed the night they encounter a starving coyote at their apartment building. Over time they grow to expect him, leaving ritual offerings to entice the coyote every night. Toby and Melinda forge a connection over this visitor and share curiosity and concern about his presence in the city. The coyote expands their world–until, one night, their world is shattered. Their lives are pushed suddenly into uncharted territory, sending them on a surreal odyssey that changes their city–and the world–forever.
Directed by LX Miller. Starring Max Schneider and Denise Hergett
Verge Theater is continuing their mission to provide accessible theater to our community. Tickets for My Barking Dog are Pay What You Wish with a suggested price of $35. Audience members are offered the opportunity to select the price point that is comfortable for them when purchasing tickets.
My Barking Dog runs March 15-17, 22-24, 28-30
Performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays begin at 7:00 p.m., with Sunday matinees offered at 3:00 p.m.
Suitable for ages 16 . No animals are harmed in the staging of this production.
Tickets are available online at www.vergetheater.com
Time
15 (Friday) 7:00 pm - 30 (Saturday) 8:30 pm
Location
Verge Theater
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
more
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm
Time
March 23 (Saturday) 6:00 pm - April 23 (Tuesday) 8:00 pm
Location
Santosha Wellness Center
169 Snowy Mountain Circle
Event Details
Thursday of the Lord’s Supper Mass St. Joseph Catholic Mission
Event Details
Thursday of the Lord’s Supper Mass
St. Joseph Catholic Mission
Time
(Thursday) 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm