So many lovely images....

 So I've just started withe Pinterest but there is such a HUGE array of subjects that I'm passionate about & interested in, my boards just keep growing. But it is giving me lots of inspiration, not just for more Spice Almighty ( Singapore fried noddle kit maybe...??) but also illustration.

Vietnamese rice rolls with dipping sauce

Chilli market China

 

 

 

 

Spice market

Its so visually & mentally stimulating...I'm really getting into this online scrapbook idea. Watch out for new flavours and other kits in 2013.

Thai ingredients

Spice Almighty PINTEREST board

Being a visually creative person I have food a great way of organising my inspiration. I'd been meaning to do this for ages and finally had the chance this festive break. Its my personal take on images I enjoy, images that inspire and images that I aspire to.

  I already have several boards and not just for Spice Almighty. For those who didn't realise I also 'doodle' and illustrate for a living. So these boards represent my passions - like travel, design and food food food. I'm finding its a wonderful way to gather my thoughts.

Festive flavours...minced pies

Marks & Spencer expects to sell 40 million mince pies this year - thats a very popular Christmas food. Love 'em or hate 'em they are a festive tradition, one which goes back quite some time.

It is thought that 'spicy meat pies' were brought back by the Crusaders from the Middle East in the 12th century. The early mince pie was known by several names, including mutton pie, shrid pie and Christmas pie and contained meats, fruits and spices including cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.

The mince pie began to get sweeter in the 18th century when cheap sugar arrived from the West Indies. It wasn't until the 19th century, the mince pie we recognise today had arrived - when many recipes dropped the meat entirely.

Festive flavours ... mulled wine

This festive tipple has been around in some form for centuries. A early version appears in 'The Forme of Cury' from the 14th century. It is thought that mulling wine was a way to save wine that was about to spoil.Whoever was drinking it must have been outrageously wealthy as it calls for '..cinnamon, ginger, galangal, cloves, long pepper, nutmeg, marjoram, cardamom ' - ingredients that would have been carried for thousands of miles on the Silk Road.

Mulled wine was very popular in Victorian England and appeared in several of Charles Dickens books. However its appearance in 'A Christmas Carol' that sealed its place as a Christmas tradition.
The Spice Almighty 'Merry Mulled Wine' kit includes all the warming spices cinnamon, cloves and cardamon, to give you plenty of festive cheer.

Spices for the Common Cold...

Its that time of year again when the body will succumb to the common cold with sneezes and sniffles a plenty. And for centuries spices have been used as natural 'folk' remedies to help ward off some of the effects of cold & flu.

Ayurveda recommends taking cardamom, ginger, black pepper and cinnamon in equal parts as a tea.

Cloves can help respiratory problems associated with coughs and throat infections 

Cardamom tea can be taken as a bed time drink to clear nasal congestion & induces sleep.

Ginger helps fight throat and chest infections with its anti-inflammatory properties.

Fennel is a natural expectorant, and can help clear chest congestion and soothe a persistent cough. 

Turmeric is a natural antibiotic. A pinch of turmeric added to a teaspoon of honey or a cup of hot milk helps to relieve headache, cold and throat infections.

I'm not sure if the above have been scientifically proven to work but its definitely worth a go - mainly as a  warming tea with a dash of honey to sooth the aches.

PS the above images are my own and have not been dragged off an image library or Google

Jamie Heart Curry

 This was the October issue of Jamie Magazine. It was almost entirely devoted to the humble curry- now a British staple. There with some wonderful recipes which really appealed to me...Keralan Seafood Curry, and Tamarind and coconut rice, along with Indian chopped salad

I also have to add there were great photos by David Loftus as always. I might have to find more of his photos to share with you.

Crisps and Chocolate -Duke of Delhi choc chunk delhi mix...

You would not expect crunchy savoury and choc chips to work together but the combination in the Duke of Delhi mix is simply wonderful. Someone who understands flavour combinations has certainly put a lot of thought and skill into this. It has just been launched at Fortnum & Mason.

I also love the packaging design on this product - very classy in trendy pink.