We enjoyed this selection of organic fall and winter recipe delights from Yankee Harvest and wanted to pass these organic recipes along to our readers. Remember to look to Starwest for your selection of the finest organic culinary spices. We are a certified organic herbs processor and carry a fantastic selection of organic herbs and organic spices for all of you cooking needs.

Yankee Harvest Organic Kitchen Recipes >>

Spice rubs are unique in that while there are many different ways to add spices to food, before, during and after cooking, spices are most effective when added prior to the cooking process. The most popular way to do this is by allowing the food to marinate in spices mixed with some kind of liquid, such as olive oil, citrus juice or wine. Another delicious to add extra flair to your cooking methods are to use a spice rub.

What are Spice Rubs

A spice rub is really quite simple; it is nothing more than a mixture of spices and herbs that are literally “rubbed� on to the surface of the food before it is cooked. One of the oldest and most common spice rubs is coarsely-ground black pepper.

For Spice rubs, the grind is important; unlike table spices and those added during sautéing or boiling, these spices are of either of a fairly coarse grind or simply crushed. Spice rub may be applied to the food several hours prior to cooking in order to impart the flavors; it may be left on during the cooking process or removed just prior to applying heat.

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A recent news article from local ABC news station WLS-TV in Chicago announced earlier this year that Dr. Marcia Schurer a 56-year-old woman lost 35 pounds – 20 percent of her weight – four years ago and has kept it off ever since. The secret in her success lies in a low fat diet. This is the entire recipe for Grilled Chicken with Chili Spice Rub they share.

For those who want to purchase pre-mixed spices and seasoning blends Starwest also offers a selection of all natural organic rubs including Organic Mediterranean Seafood Rub, , Organic Savory Beef Rub, and Organic Roasted Pork Rub. Starwest all-natural rubs are each made from a delicious combination of certified organic spices, seasonings, and herbs that add unique flavor to meat, seafood and vegetables.

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Although “pumpkinâ€� comes from the Greek word pepon – meaning “melonâ€� – pumpkins are not Greek, nor melons. Although they are now grown in many parts of the world, the pumpkin is a North American native and a member of the squash family.

Because pumpkins are usually ripe and ready for harvest in October and November, pumpkin pie has become a tradition during fall holidays. Not only is its nutty, sweet flavor excellent for pies and other pastries, pumpkin is also an excellent source of lutein and beta carotene (which gives pumpkins their characteristic orange color). In addition, a recent study in China suggests that consuming pumpkin may help mitigate some of effects of diabetes (from the London Daily Telegraph, 9 July 2007).

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Known worldwide for the spectacular Taj Mahal, India not only boasts fabulous architecture but also an exquisite cuisine. There are several herbs and spices used in Indian dishes, with a few reaching common use and becoming the most popular.

There are several ingredients that are commonly found in Indian cuisine. They include rice, wheat flour, lentils and split peas, as well as vegetable oils and ghee, or clarified butter. Some of the most popular Indian food spices are chili peppers, mustard seed, turmeric, fenugreek seed, ginger root, coriander seed, cumin seed and garlic. There is a spice blend known as garam masala that is widely used in Indian cooking, and although the exact recipe varies according to geographical region, it often consists of cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, pepper, cumin and coriander. Curry powder is also used as one of the most popular Indian spices for cooking.

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Most people enjoy the spicy and sweet flavor of anise seed, perhaps because of early memories of sitting in a movie theatre enjoying black licorice strings as you watch a picture. Anise seed comes from an herbaceous plant that is native to warm Mediterranean and southwest Asian climates. The flowers of the plant are produced in white umbrels that then produce the seeds that are used in anise seed recipes.

Anise seed can be used both in cooking and in liquor. Liquors from around the world feature anise, including Greek Ouzo and French Absinthe and Pastis. The liquor, in Europe, is typically cut with water; when water is added to the glass of Ouzo, for example, it turns a milky white color and retains its anise flavor at a less potent level than the undiluted spirits. This is the way it is often enjoyed in Greece, and it is typically served at a taverna with small plates of salty and savory meze items such as kalamata olives, possibly tiny meatballs, goat cheese and yogurt dips and spreads with crusty bread, as well as cubes of feta cheese and other tasty morsels.

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Fresh dried herbs from around the world are used in many ways around your home or in your business. Fresh herbs grown by suppliers located worldwide, are used in all types of cuisines and in beverages. Dried herbs are also the main ingredient in a host of wonderful teas that you enjoy with your morning paper or at the end of a long day. Dried herbs can be used in household products such as cleaning products, laundry detergents and dryer scents for your clothing. Personal care products, such as perfumes, cosmetics, body lotions and oils typically use fresh dried herbs for their fragrance. Businesses that produce food or offer dried herbs for sale to the public can benefit from the wealth of wholesale bulk herbs available online today. However, most people simply enjoy having a variety of fresh dried herbs on hand for everyday meal preparation.

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Most people, when they think of Cinnamon, they
think of a taste, or a smell. And for good reason, few spices are
used with such abundance. New information has been released, however, with regard to other, more interesting uses for this already so commonly used bark. We’ll explore that here, amongst cinnamon’s other attributes.

Culinary:

Cinnamon bark has been extensively used in the preparation of many different kind of foods. Its sweet flavor has been added to chocolate, pies, donuts, buns, candies, tea, cocoa and many other desserts. In the Middle East it is often used to enhance chicken and lamb. In the United States, cinnamon and sugar are often used to flavor cereals, bread-based dishes, and fruits, most commonly apples. Cinnamon bark is one of the few spices that can be eaten by itself.

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Everyday, you reach for your pepper grinder and grind a bit of the savory spice that helps to flavor all sorts of foods. You might not have realized it, but peppercorns have achieved a gourmet status in all types of cuisines. There are several different types of peppercorns as well as a plethora of ways to use them.

Gourmet peppercorns come in a variety of different colors, including white, green, black and pink peppercorns. There are also different varieties of peppercorns available. Some of the most popular for cooking include Malabar and Tellicherry peppercorns.

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In every kitchen around the world, you will likely find some type of salt. Although it can be used in homemade eco-friendly cleansers for your home, salt, and gourmet salts in particular, are used in all types of cuisines found worldwide. Gourmet salts are unique in their type and benefits offered to cooks.

Types of Culinary Salts

Unrefined salt would include the popular sea salts. Sea salts, known as Fleur de sel, vary in flavor due to the minerals the salts contain. Raw sea salts are collected through small basins of salt water that evaporate, leaving the salt behind, or through the mining of rock salt. Salt that is totally raw is not usually eaten, however, because of the bitter taste, but is often used in bathing salts and cosmetics. Sea salts can be found in smoked varieties. Beautiful pink Himalayan mineral salts are also available. Hawaii, with its large number of beaches, is a perfect spot for harvesting Hawaiian salt.

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