Supreme Spice Blog

Masala chai for a rainy day

2010-01-20T12:36:00.000-08:00

With 3 back to back storms , we are getting soaked here in Los Angeles. I love this rainy weather. I love the changing patterns of the clouds and the perfect circles that the tiny raindrops make. Enjoy this weather with a perfect cup of hot Masala chai :)

Storm on the horizon.

Perfect circles

Perfect Masala chai for a amazingly beautiful rainy day :)

Rose Parade 2010

2010-01-03T12:21:00.000-08:00

2010-01-03T12:07:00.000-08:00

It was a beautiful day yeterday here in Simi Valley and we decided to go for a hike on one of our local trails. Here is the shot of Simi Valley taken on my new iPhone :)

Happy New Year

2009-12-31T18:36:00.000-08:00

A special New Year card made by my daughter :)

Review by online magazine "Truly Obscure"

2009-12-09T11:03:00.000-08:00

Truly Obscure is a San Francisco-based online publication focused on critical commentary. They review interesting gadgets, films, bands, events, restaurants, websites, books, and more.

They wrote a nice article on Supreme Spice extracts.

Check it out here.

Supreme Spice on Bing

2009-12-03T11:36:00.001-08:00

I just realized that Supreme Spice comes up in top position on Bing search engine for search word "Saffron extract" :) . Same is the case with "Tea masala extract" and "Tulsi extract".

From my backyard to yours

2009-12-02T15:41:00.000-08:00

We had some crazy weather this last couple of weeks and some plants in my backyard are behaving all confused :) They thought it was Spring time and started blooming.

Vegan Christmas Fruitcake with Tea Masala extract

2009-11-25T12:39:00.001-08:00

While I was on a long break from blogging, some very creative food bloggers posted recipes using our Supreme Spice extracts. One of my favorite ones was posted by Madhuram of Eggless Cooking. Madhuram is very creative with her recipes and comes up with some delicious ones using various substitutes for egg.

Check out her Vegan Christmas Fruitcake recipe in which she used Tea Masala extract to give it a spicy twist.

Spiced Butters

2008-09-30T17:33:00.000-07:00

Giving makeovers to your everyday butter is really easy.
Using different spice flavored butters is a wonderful way to introduce kids to the aromatic world of spices.

Spiced butters can be stored in the freezer for a 1-2 months. You can slice rounds of frozen spiced butter and store them in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

Coconut Burfi with Kesar Milk Masala extract

2008-09-15T12:32:00.000-07:00

Coconut Burfi is a very popular dessert in India and requires just 3-4 ingredients. I make it the easy way and do not make any sugar syrup.
Note: You could also use Cardamom extract instead of Kesar Milk masala extract.

Ingredients:

1 cup desiccated coconut
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup Milk
4-5 drops of Kesar Milk Masala extract

In a pan, add desiccated coconut, milk and sugar. Stir and cook till the mixture becomes thick. Keep stirring to avoid burning coconut at the bottom of the pan. Once the mixture is thick and all the milk has evaporated, add 4-5 drops of Kesar Milk masala extract. Stir and take the pan off the heat. Pour the mixture in a plate, press well and let cool. Once cooled, cut diamond shaped burfis.

Morning Walk

2008-08-23T23:18:00.000-07:00

I love to go for my morning walk. Especially when its foggy :)

Tomato Rasam with extracts

2008-08-23T22:34:00.000-07:00

Tomato Rasam is one of my favorites.
Madhuram of Eggless Cooking gave me a very quick and wonderful recipe for tomato rasam. She suggested the use of tomato paste which I found to be very interesting. I have made this rasam many times and have tweaked it a bit. I find Madhuram's recipes creative but simple and yummy. Check out her blog for some really good recipes for eggless cakes, cookies, etc.

Ingredients:

1 can Tomato paste
1-2 drops of Green Chilli extract
1 drop of Asafoetida extract
1-2 drops of Turmeric extract
2 drops of Garlic extract
1 drop of Ginger extract
1 tsp Rasam powder
!/2 tsp cumin seeds
very little oil
Salt to taste
1 cup of water ( add more if you want a bit thinner rasam)
Cilantro for garnish

Heat the oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds and let it splutter. Add tomato paste, water and rasam powder. Stir. Bring it to a boil and then reduce heat. Add turmeric extract, garlic extract, green chilli extract, ginger extract, asafoetida extract. Add salt to taste Let simmer for a minute or two. Take it off the heat. Garnish with cilantro. Serve hot.

Note that I am not using any tamarind. The canned tomato paste is perfect for this easy, breezy rasam :)

Doodhi Halwa with Cardamom extract

2008-07-15T16:51:00.001-07:00

I love Doodhi the most when it is served in this sweet and simple Halwa avatar :)

Ingredients:

1 Doodhi (Bottle gourd)
1/2 can condensed milk
3-4 drops of Cardamom extract
( You could also use Kesar Milk masala extract )
Little butter

Peel and grate doodhi. Heat little butter in a pan, add grated doodhi. Cook for about 8 - 10 min . Add condensed milk and let the mixture cook on low flame for another 7-8 min. Take it off the heat. Add Cardamom extract. Stir and serve with some raisins or cashews sprinkled on top.

Another variation is to add Saffron extract to give this humble dessert a royal touch.

Ayurvedic Tea

2008-07-10T16:20:00.000-07:00

This is one simple tea that can be helpful in curing cold.

1 drop Ginger extract
1 drop Cinnamon extract
1/2 stalk of Lemongrass

Steep lemongrass stalk in a cup of hot water for 10 min. To this add Ginger extract and Cinnamon extract. Add honey for sweetness if you like.
This tea really tastes delicious. Take this tea 2-3 times a day to relieve cold symptoms and congestion.

From my Backyard

2008-07-03T23:21:00.000-07:00

From my backyard to yours, a look at Mother Nature's different looks on different days.

Oatmeal Raisin cookies with spices

2008-06-30T14:36:00.000-07:00

This summer me and my kids have decided to do lot of baking. Its been just 2 weeks since my kids summer vacation started and we already made Banana bread a couple of times, made cupcakes and 2-3 kinds of cookies :)

Baking with kids is the most enjoyable way to spend summer afternoons.

We recently tried Beth's Oatmeal Raisin cookies recipe. These cookies came out wonderful and my kids loved them.

In my previous post, I mentioned the importance of cloves. This Oatmeal cookie recipe calls for 2 spices (clove & cinnamon) and is an excellent way to introduce kids to spices.

Here is the recipe with my slight variations.

1 cup butter, softened ( I know, its lot of butter. The original recipe calls for 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup butter flavored shortening. )
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3-4 drops of cinnamon extract
3-4 drops clove extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups rolled oats
1 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, white sugar, eggs until smooth. Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon extract, clove extract, and salt; stir into the sugar mixture. Stir in the oats and raisins. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 10 to 12 minutes until light and golden. Do not over bake. Let them cool for 2 minutes before removing from cookie sheets to cool completely. Store in airtight container.

This is a good change from the Chocolate chip cookies. These cookies came out chewy and were ready to eat in less that an hour.

Cloves

2008-06-12T16:08:00.001-07:00

Did you know that Cloves help boost digestive functioning and contain antioxidants ?
Can you think of a simple and yummy way to get cloves into your kids tummy?

Cardamom Lemonade

2008-06-11T07:37:00.000-07:00

Have you ever tried Cardamom Lemonade ?

The addition of Cardamom makes this lemonade amazingly refreshing and gives a surprising twist to this plain and simple beverage.

1 glass cold water
Juice of 1 small lemon
1 drop of Cardamom extract
sugar and salt to taste

In a glass of cold water, squeeze lemon juice, add salt and sugar to taste and 1 drop of Cardamom extract. Stir well till sugar dissolves. Garnish with mint leaves.

Adding salt is the Indian way of making lemonade :)
Salt balances the sweetness of sugar and sourness of lemon. Also, most importantly, adding salt replenishes the sodium lost through sweating during summer days.

Supreme Spice Giveaway

2008-06-09T09:51:00.000-07:00

Photo credit : CupCakeProject.com

Stef of CupCakeProject has changed my perspective about cupcakes. I never thought that cupcakes could be made with such interesting variations and are a art form in itself. A tiny and sweet canvas that can be eaten :)

I am excited about the Giveaway of 3 Supreme Spice extracts on CupCakeProject.com
Do check out Stef's site to get more information and also to get interesting ideas, recipes for cupcakes.

Enjoy!!

My entry for Mango Manthram

2008-05-31T06:00:00.000-07:00

This is my entry for Indira's Food Art ~Mango Manthram.
I had the idea for a long time but just couldn't d find time to paint or draw :) Have been busy lately and was not sure if I will even get time to send my entry. I had to borrow my daughter's color pencils, Watercolors and also a paper from her drawing book :) I am glad I was able to do it though.

I am very eager to see the entries from other bloggers.

Cupcake with Tea Masala extract

2008-05-21T21:21:00.000-07:00

Stefani of Cup Cake Project has posted a amazing recipe on Indian cupcake with Tea Masala extract.

Excellent blog with very yummy cupcake recipes.
She also wrote a post on Slashfood.com about Supreme Spice.
Check it out.

Ayurvedic herbal tea

2008-05-20T14:52:00.000-07:00

According to Ayurveda, fever results due to the imbalance of one or more doshas ( energy fields).
One of the many ways to help your body get over a fever is by drinking a simple 3-ingredient tea.

2 drops of Tulsi extract
1/2 tsp fennel seeds
1 sprig of Lemon grass

Steep these 3 ingredients in a cup of boiling water for about 10 min. Strain and enjoy.

This tea is an excellent diaphoretic ( promotes sweating) and helps bring down the temperature.

Pear butter and Apple Sandwich

2008-05-14T09:52:00.000-07:00

A healthy snack for kids - Pear butter and apples sandwich.
Pear butter has much less sugar than the store bought jams and has spices to balance the sweetness of pears. Apples provide the crunch that kids love. And, last but not least, this sandwich is a good break from PB&J sandwich :)

Coffee Ceremony of Ethiopia

2008-05-13T16:25:00.000-07:00

Ethiopia, which is considered the birthplace of Coffee, celebrates and enjoys this beverage with a "Coffee Ceremony".
Its a very elaborate ceremony which begins with roasting of coffee beans with cardamom and cloves ( sometimes with cinnamon too). The room fills with the aroma of freshly roasted coffee and spices. Once roasted to perfection, the beans are then boiled in water, strained and served with little sugar.

Till now I have never been to any Ethiopian restaurant but I might try one soon just to experience this Ethiopian coffee.

A combination of coffee and aromatic spices definitely is something to celebrate.

Caramel Spice Pear Butter

2008-05-09T09:27:00.001-07:00

I was just recently introduced to fruit butters. They are very easy to make and require very less number of ingredients. This recipe for Caramel Spice Pear butter is adopted from a early 70's Home Canning book. Here is my version of the recipe.

Ingredients:

7 firm-ripe Bartlett pears
2 cups sugar
1 cup water
Cinnamon extract
Ginger extract
Clove extract
Juice of 1/2 lemon

Core pears, do not peel them. Cut them into about 1 inch pieces. Pressure cook. ( If you don't have a pressure cooker then boil pears in water for about 30 min). Let cool and then whirl the cooked pears in a food processor. Place the puree in a pan.

Place 1 cup of sugar in a pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until sugar caramelizes to a medium brown syrup. Immediately pour this syrup over the pan with pear puree. Syrup will sizzle and harden, but will dissolve as the mixture is cooked later)
Add the remaining 1 cup sugar, 1-2 drops of Cinnamon extract, 1 drop of Ginger extract, 1-2 drops of Clove extract. Stir well.
( Note: If you wish, you can use Cardamom extract instead of Clove. )

Bring this mixture to a boil over medium heat. Now reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring often, for about 45 min. The mixture should thicken gradually.
Stir in lemon juice just before removing from heat.

Pour this yummy Caramel Spice Pear Butter in jars. Let stand for 24 hrs at room temperature and then freeze or refrigerate. It stays up to 1 month in refrigerator and 1 year in freezer.

Fruit butters make excellent gifts. Homemade, healthy and very delicious.

Fruits and Spices

2008-05-08T10:13:00.000-07:00

Can you guess what heavenly treat could be prepared with some Pears, 3 aromatic spices, 1 Lemon and some sugar?

Jams, Jellies and Spices

2008-05-07T17:29:00.000-07:00

Have you ever used spices in Jams, Jellies and fruit butters?

The combination of fruits and spices results in a heavenly treat.

Difference between Spices and Herbs

2008-05-05T10:02:00.000-07:00

A simple answer to this question would be that the leaf of a plant which is used in cooking is referred to as a Herb and any other part of the plant that is used to flavor food is termed as a Spice.
For example - Cloves (bud), ginger & turmeric (roots), fennel, cumin, coriander (seeds), cinnamon (bark), peppercorns (berries).

Herbs are used fresh and spices are generally in dried form.

What??!! I got an award???

2008-04-30T10:36:00.000-07:00

I am so thankful to Harini for this surprise award that she sent my way.

Roopa of "My Kitchen Treats" started this award sometime back.
Well, I am to list my favorite and yummy-licious desserts that I have ever prepared/eaten. I am going to say that it would be my very traditional Shrikhand with Saffron and easy but very Royal Mango Mousse with Saffron.

Now comes the tough part. I have to pass on this award to 4 other blogs. There are so many to choose from :) I would like to pass on this yummy award to the following 4 awesome blogs -

Namratha of Finger Licking Food
Mythreyee of Paajaka
Mansi of Fun and Food
Madhu of Ruchii

Enjoy!!

*******************************************************************

Rules for the ‘Yummy Blog’ award Receiver:

The person who receives the award should display the "Yummy Blog !" logo on their blog and also the meaning of the award which is "Yummy blog award is the award given to the blog with most yummy recipes/photos".·The receiver should also quote their favorite yummylicious :) dessert(s) that they have ever prepared/eaten. Don’t restrict yourself to any dessert, chocolate bars also welcome.·Also the receiver should pass on the award to four other bloggers whose blog they find "yummy" and let them know about the rules.

*****************************************************************************

Weekend with Roses

2008-04-27T11:30:00.001-07:00

Weather has been great here in Los Angeles.

What else can be more relaxing than to sit on the swing, hum a song and just enjoy the roses with the beautiful blue sky in the background.

Orange Clove Pomanders

2008-04-25T09:11:00.001-07:00

What a wonderful use of cloves.

To make a basic Orange-Clove Pomander, just stud a orange with some cloves and that's it.
Some even roll these pomanders in a mixture of Orris root powder and cinnamon.

Spices are not just for cooking but they are also used in Aromatherapy.
Cloves are considered to be very stimulating and are used in Aromatherapy for its powerful fragrance. Cloves are great stress relievers.

Banana Bread with Cardamom

2008-04-20T16:07:00.000-07:00

I am one of those lazy bakers who bakes her breads from store bought bread mix :)
But I do give my breads some personality by adding nuts and raisins to it.

My kids love Banana bread and I very often buy this Banana bread mix from Trader Joe's.
I add some raisins or cranberries, some nuts to this mix. Then I add 4-5 drops of Cardamom extract ( Tea Masala extract works well too).
Bake according to the instructions given on the package. In about 1 hr you have a really yummy banana bread.
Serve it with a cup of hot tea.

Ayurveda and Spices

2008-04-19T08:56:00.000-07:00

I have some very interesting books on Ayurveda and I like to browse through them when I have some time. Yesterday, I was reading about some Classical Ayurvedic formulas and found it interesting that a lot of them had one or more than one spice in its list of ingredients.
For example -

Hingashtak Churna - made of Asafoetida
Eladi Churna - Top 3 ingredients are Cardamom, cloves and Saffron
Lavangadi Churna - contains cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, ginger.
Lashunadi Bati - contains garlic, cumin, asafoetida
Trisugandhi Churna - Cinnamon, cardamom

And the list goes on .
This just shows how spices play a important role in Ayurvedic medicine.

Clove Extract

2008-04-18T07:00:00.001-07:00

Clove is a unopened bud of a tropical evergreen tree. Clove has long been used to fight bacteria, tooth decay and anesthetize tooth pain. Clove is also recommended for colds, cough, indigestion & vomiting.

Clove tea is warming, uplifting and is used to ease nausea.
To make Clove tea - add 1-2 drops of Clove Extract to your regular cup of tea.
Or, just add 1-2 drops of Clove Extract to a glass of warm water.

My Pink Rose

2008-04-15T12:43:00.000-07:00

This year, among all our roses plants, my Pink Rose was the first to bloom.

About 2 yrs back, I mistakenly over pruned this beautiful rose plant of mine. And it went into shock. I thought that I lost this pretty pink. But, with extra extra care and love, this plant has come back to life this year and is back with a splash.

Books on Ayurveda

2008-04-14T10:18:00.001-07:00

" The Complete book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies" by Vasant Lad

I bought this book about 6 months back. I liked how the Ayurvedic principles were explained in a very easy to understand style. This book shows how easy it is to incorporate Ayurveda in our daily life.

Spice up your Oatmeal

2008-04-12T10:41:00.001-07:00

My daughter hates Oatmeal.
Me too :)

The other day, I added a few drops of Kesar Milk Masala extract to my daughter's Oatmeal and Ginger extract to mine. And it was amazing. For the first time, my daughter finished her Oatmeal without complaining.

Give it a try. Add 1-2 drops of Ginger, Cardamom, Kesar Milk or Cinnamon to your Oatmeal.

Shrikhand with Kesar Milk Masala

2008-04-06T13:59:00.001-07:00

Happy Gudi Padwa to you all.

We celebrated our New Year with a yummy feast of Shrikhand -Poori.

I added 2-3 drops of Kesar Milk Masala extract to my Shrikhand. Kesar Milk Masala extract is a very aromatic blend of Saffron, Cardamom, Nutmeg and Curcumin. Just few drops of this extract was enough to make my simple Shrikhand into a very royal treat.

Ayurvedic Cooking

2008-03-28T09:14:00.000-07:00

Ayurvedic texts state that eating right food is the key to good health.

Ayurvedic cooking is an integral part of Ayurveda. The simple thinking behind Ayurvedic cooking is to eat food that is right for your constitution and has correct balance of nutrients.
Foods are divided into six different tastes - sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, astringent. A balanced meal should include all six tastes. How does one make a balanced meal ?
Well, Indian cuisine has beautifully incorporated Ayurvedic principles in even its most simple recipes.

Let's take the example of Indian Dal (Marathi Aamti)
The tadka (seasonings) for this simple Aamti includes -

Mustard seeds - pungent
Asafoetida -pungent
Turmeric - astringent
Kokum - sour
Fenugreek seeds - bitter
Green chillies

Heat oil. Add the above ingredients. Once they pop, add cooked lentil (I used Moong Dal), add salt (salty) and little jaggery (sweet) . Garnish with cilantro.

There you have it. All six tastes in one bowl.

Happy Holi

2008-03-23T13:22:00.001-07:00

Wish you all a very Happy Holi.

This year, I went to my local Hindu temple with my daughter to play Holi and we had a great time. Hope you all played Holi too.

Spring is here !

2008-03-21T10:49:00.001-07:00

Spring has definitely arrived here in California.

Cinnamon

2008-02-29T21:31:00.000-08:00

Cinnamon is a pungent spice with stimulating and heating properties. Its circulatory stimulant properties are considered good during the menopause.

Cinnamon tea is considered to ease cold symptoms and improve blood circulation.

To make Cinnamon tea - Just add a drop of Cinnamon extract to your regular cup of tea.

Jagannath Temple in Puri - Pen & Ink

2008-02-28T11:16:00.001-08:00

Jagannath Temple in Puri

Ruby Red Grapefruit

2008-02-07T11:12:00.000-08:00

I was at Trader Joe's yesterday and bought these wonderful Ruby Red Cocktail Grapefruits. They are available only till February end and I buy a big box of these every year :)

Grapefruit is a good source of vitamin C, fiber, and the pink and red hues contain the beneficial antioxidant lycopene.

I have found some interesting recipes that use Grapefruit juice and spices. Will post them soon.

Sunset

2008-02-06T17:58:00.000-08:00

Nature's beautiful color palette.

Sunset from my backyard.

Turmeric

2008-02-01T14:57:00.001-08:00

The weather has been crazy here in Los Angeles area. Its been raining a lot and is very cold.
To keep cold & cough away in such weather, a perfect drink for kids would be a warm glass of Turmeric milk.

To make Turmeric milk, add 5 drops of Turmeric extract to a glass of warm milk. Add some sugar for taste. That's it. Some like to add cardamom and cinnamon too.
(Note the color that I got from just 5 drops of extract. )

Turmeric is an excellent antiseptic, blood purifier and is rich antioxidants.

Asafoetida (Hing)

2008-01-29T09:03:00.000-08:00

Did you know that one of the Homeopathic remedies for Irritable Bowel Syndrome is Asafoetida?
Asafoetida is a carminative and also is useful as an expectorant. It is sometimes used as a substitute for Garlic.

Asafoetida is also used to treat some forms of Osteoarthritis.

Rainbow

2008-01-24T08:31:00.001-08:00

What a beautiful way to start your day.
Today we almost had a double rainbow. Can you see a faint second one on the far right side?

Have you seen a full rainbow anytime ?
I have seen it only once till now. And it was amazingly beautiful.

Extracts in Marinades

2008-01-18T10:42:00.000-08:00

Have you ever tried using extracts in marinades?

Extracts are perfect in marinades and salad dressings. Since extracts are in liquid form, they are absorbed easily and quickly. The flavor of the spice is absorbed evenly.

Try this very easy Moroccan inspired Marinade with Spice extracts.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup oil
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 drop of Cinnamon extract
1 drop of Nutmeg extract
1 drop of Clove extract
3-4 drops of Garlic extract
salt to taste

Mix all the ingredients.
This marinade works very well with tofu. Stir fry this marinated tofu with some chopped vegetables. Warm up some of the left over marinade and pour over tofu-vegetable stir fry. Serve with rice.

Also try this marinade for cherry tomatoes, button mushrooms and pineapple chunks.

Truffles with Tea Masala Extract - by Nupur Kittur

2008-01-14T10:06:00.000-08:00

Nupur of OneHotStove posted a amazing recipe for Truffles. Interestingly, she used Tea Masala extract in it. Isn't that creative?

Here is her recipe for Tea Tinged Truffles with Tea Masala Extract.

Enjoy!

Sunset from my backyard

2008-01-11T15:07:00.001-08:00

Bags versus Extract

2008-01-10T13:59:00.000-08:00

Have you seen those instant Tea Masala bags in the stores? Its tea extract, milk powder, Sugar and spices, all in one bag. Just add hot water.
Well, I bought one box last week to compare them against our own Tea Masala Extract. And here are some comparisons :

1) I just had to add hot water to the instant Tea Masala bag.

To use our Tea Masala extract, you need to make tea first. Our extract is the blend of spices that can be added to your regular tea to give it a spicy makeover :)

2) The tea was light for my taste. And it was a bit sweet.

This is where our Tea Masala extract comes out a winner. You make your tea the way you like it (strong, light, black, with milk, with/without sugar) and just add our extract to it.

3) I had that powdery taste in the last few sips.

Since our extract is in liquid form, it mixes fully with the tea and hence no powdery taste.

4) Price of 10 Instant Masala Tea - $3.99 ( for 10 cups of tea - $3.99)

Price of 1 Tea Masala Extract - $5.99 ( 1 bottle has around 150 drops.
So, more than 60 cups of tea can get a spicy makeover with just 1 bottle of our extract !)

5) 4 Spices in the instant Tea masala bag -Ginger, Black Pepper, Cardamom and Clove.

6 Spices in Tea Masala Extract - Ginger, Peppercorn, Cardamom, Clove, Cinnamon and Nutmeg.

Tulsi

2008-01-08T09:15:00.000-08:00

Tulsi (meaning "incomparable") is highly revered in Ayurveda and Tulsi extract has been used in Ayurvedic medicines for thousands of years. Tulsi is high in antioxidants and offers many health benefits. It is also known to build immunity and relieve stress.

Tulsi tea is easy to make and is a excellent pick-me-upper.
Just make your tea the way you like it (strong , light or black) and add 1-2 drops of Tulsi extract to it. Tulsi goes well with milk too.

On days when you feel stressed out, try having a cup of Tulsi tea.

Mango Mousse with Saffron Extract

2008-01-03T15:49:00.000-08:00

Chef Hari's recipe for Mango Mousse with Saffron extract.
Simple but elegant dessert for any occasion.

Rose Parade

2008-01-03T12:55:00.001-08:00

One of the great events of Los Angeles is Rose Parade. What a great way to start the New Year!

This time I went to see the floats on Jan 2nd, the day after the parade and I was amazed to see such creative use of flowers, leaves, nuts and grains. I have never seen so many orchids in one place before. It was very beautiful.

Year 2008

2008-01-02T07:40:00.000-08:00

Before I knew, 2008 is here at my door step. "Ready or not, here I come"

2007 was good for Supreme Spice. We added some new extracts, made some changes to the website, started this blog. I attended some conventions to get more exposure to the products and the response was positive. I was hoping to add Curry Leaf extract to our product line but unfortunately that didn't happen. But I will keep trying.

For the coming year, the momentum is building and 2008 should be a great one for Supreme Spice.

2007-12-20T06:54:00.001-08:00

Wish you all a very
Happy
&
Joyous
Holiday Season.

Tea Lovers Gift Box

2007-12-12T11:12:00.001-08:00

Tea Lovers Gift Box

This gift box comes with 3 extracts -
1 Cardamom extract, 1 Tea Masala extract and 1 Ginger extract.

Give your regular cup of tea a Spicy Makeover.
Anytime , Anywhere.

Coffee with Cardamom

2007-12-07T08:48:00.000-08:00

I recently read that adding Cardamom to coffee can reduce the effects of caffeine.
Hmm.. I think that's why they use Cardamom in Turkish Coffee - to tone down the intensity of the brew.

Charcoal Drawing

2007-12-02T09:51:00.001-08:00

I love Charcoal drawings and I think they are great for portraits.
I did this drawing long time back and is one of my favorites. I was very happy with the way his hair came out. Just a small, good quality eraser with a slant cut and you have amazing hair :)

Gift ideas for the Chef in your family

2007-11-26T14:02:00.000-08:00

Chef Pack

We now have added Gift sets to our website. The Chef Pack is perfect for someone who enjoys and appreciates the exotic taste and flavor of Saffron and Cardamom. This gift set comes with 3 extracts. Saffron extract, Cardamom extract and Kesar Milk Masala extract.

This gift set is beautifully packaged in a box with a festive ribbon.
Shipping is free for all gift sets.

Thank You.

2007-11-21T17:04:00.000-08:00

I would like to Thank all of you for giving our products a chance.

Wish you all a very Happy and Spicy Thanksgiving :)

Chef Hari

2007-11-16T11:13:00.000-08:00

You can get more info about Chef Hari at www.harinayak.com

Ginger Extract

2007-11-16T09:42:00.001-08:00

Does your favorite recipe call for ginger but your kids hate it when they bite into a ginger piece ??

Use Ginger Extract to solve this problem. This way you don't have to compromise on your favorite recipe and your kids will enjoy it too.

Rice pudding with Cardamom extract by Chef Hari

2007-11-16T09:39:00.000-08:00

Cake with Tea Masala Extract !!!

2007-11-14T20:01:00.000-08:00

Have you ever tried using Tea Masala Extract in a cake recipe ??!!

This blogger found a excellent and very creative use of Tea Masala extract in Carrot Cake.

Try it and give your regular cake recipe a spicy makeover.

Extracts in my kitchen

2007-11-02T10:29:00.000-07:00

Lot of people ask me whether I use extracts in my own kitchen. And my answer to them is "Everyday in every meal"
The extracts that I use very often are - Ginger, Tea Masala, Cardamom, Garlic, Green Chilli, Asafoetida, Turmeric. And, of course, Tulsi. I have hot Tulsi water at least 4-5 times a week.

Every afternoon I have either Masala chai, Cardamom chai or Ginger chai. Depends on my mood.
My husband loves the Green Chilli extract. This extract gives him full control over how hot and spicy his curry should be :)

Now that festival season is coming close, I will use my Kesar Milk and Saffron extracts more.

Saffron Extract

2007-10-30T06:51:00.000-07:00

Saffron is the most expensive spice and is also known as the "King of Spice".
Saffron is warming, digestive, rejuvenating and it has a sweet aroma and taste. Saffron is traditionally used in Indian rice and dessert dishes. Also is used in Italian risotto.

Tulsi

2007-10-26T06:44:00.000-07:00

Tulsi plant doesn't do well in winter season here in US. And winter season is when we need Tulsi the most. Many have Tulsi plant in their back yard but by December the plant sheds all its leaves. Tulsi is the well known natural remedy to keep cold, cough and fever away.

One of the biggest advantage of Tulsi extract is that you can take it with you everywhere. You just need a glass of warm water and 1-2 drops of Tulsi extract to boost your immunity.

Try Tulsi extract this winter and be sniffles-free :)

Los Angeles Flower Market

2007-10-21T15:29:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I went to the Los Angeles Flower Market . This was my first visit to the market and I was amazed to see the beautiful colors of roses and carnation flowers. Prices were great too. I bought 2 dozen roses for $4.50 !!
If you are crazy about flowers and are in Los Angeles area then you should visit this place.

My Paintings & Drawings

2007-10-19T12:54:00.001-07:00

Lot of my friends don't know about my interest in painting. I have done a lot of pencil sketches, oil paintings, Pen & Ink, watercolors and charcoal drawing. I took some lessons in Calligraphy too.

This is one of the Pen and Ink drawings that I did long time back.

Tulsi Tea

2007-10-18T11:06:00.000-07:00

The temperature outside is getting cooler.
And the number of people suffering from sniffles is getting higher. Especially, people who work in closed office buildings.
So what do you do to avoid getting the sniffles?
Easy. Have a cup of hot Tulsi Tea. Right in your office.

To make Tulsi Tea- heat up a cup of water in the microwave. Add 1-2 drops of Tulsi extract and if you want, add some sugar. Some people like to add little bit of ginger to this tea.
Tulsi Tea has lot of health benefits. Read more about the benefits of Tulsi Tea.

Tulsi Tea is very refreshing. Give it a try. I am sure you will like it.

Rain Clouds

2007-10-18T06:36:00.001-07:00

I took this picture yesterday from my back yard. Wish I had a much better camera to capture this amazing dance of shadows on the mountain range.

2007-10-17T06:59:00.000-07:00

This year I planted Marigold in my back yard and I am happy that I have about 10 -12 blooms, just in time for Dussehra. (Vijayadashami ).
I wonder why so much importance is given to Marigold flowers during Dussehra.
Probably because these amazing blooms have that brilliant golden color and decorating the house with these symbolizes wealth and prosperity.

2007-10-15T21:37:00.000-07:00

This last Saturday, I woke up with a scratchy throat and knew that I was about to get cold & cough. I was feeling a bit feverish too.
And I took this opportunity to run my experiment with spice extracts :)

I started my experiment with a hot cup of tea with 2 drops of Tea Masala extract.
Then, after about 2 hrs, I had a cup of hot water to which I added 2 drops of Tulsi extract.
Again had a cup of hot tea with 2 drops of Tea Masala extract.

By afternoon, my body ache and tiredness had reduced.

I had another cup of hot Tulsi water in the evening and ended my day with a Masala chai.
So, in all, I had 3 cups of Masala chai and 3 cups of Tulsi water that day.

Sunday morning - I was feeling great, did not feel tired or feverish.
But just to make sure, I had 2 cups of hot Tulsi water on Sunday. One in the morning and one in the evening.

My experiment was a success. The Tulsi and the 6 spices in the Tea Masala extract worked pretty well.

2007-10-14T14:13:00.000-07:00

Curry Leaf Extract

2007-10-10T15:23:00.001-07:00

I am in the process of adding Curry Leaf Extract to my range of products.

Well, I am hoping that I will be have it available to my customers by October end. Curry Leaf Extract will be a very interesting addition. Indian cuisine is just incomplete without them.

2007-10-10T06:54:00.000-07:00

Weekend reading

2007-10-05T11:41:00.001-07:00

One of my all time favorite books is "The Good Earth" by Pearl S. Buck. I must have read it 3-4 times till now. What I like about this book is that it is very easy to read, with no big words or complicated plots BUT after you are done with the book, you think about the characters for a long time. They make you think about your own life, your own struggles and achievements.
In Oprah's words - This book is easy reading that brings expansive thinking.

I think I will read this book again this weekend - with a cup of Ginger tea.

Ginger Tea

2007-10-05T08:17:00.000-07:00

There is nothing like a nice, hot cup of Ginger Tea on winter days.

Ginger Tea reminds me of Bombay's amazing monsoon season . Pair up this tea with some onion bhajji and enjoy these simple things in life.

Begonia

2007-10-04T08:08:00.001-07:00

This is my pink Begonia. I have seen pictures of a yellow one but couldn't find it in my local nursery.

Kids and Health

2007-10-03T20:18:00.000-07:00

I recently read a very informative article on Wall Street Journal about Cold and Cough medicines for children. When my daughter was a toddler, she used to get a runny nose every time the weather changed. Like any other new mom, I used to run to the store , read the labels thoroughly and buy the one cold medicine that I thought was best suited for my daughters cold symptoms. Some times the medicine worked and sometimes it didn't. But the most difficult part was to make her swallow that medicine.
It was the same thing with my son. But with more kicking and screaming. One might think that the different flavors for the cold-cough medicines should make it easier. Nope. Not one bit.

I then started thinking about other ways to cure my kids cold where I won't have to make them drink any medicine. That is when I found Garlic oil. Now a days whenever my kids come home with a runny nose, I fry about 9 -10 cloves of garlic in oil (I use vegetable oil) till the garlic cloves turn black. Once cool, I apply this garlic oil on my kids back and chest. It works like a miracle.
I also add a couple of drops of garlic extract in their meal (soup, curry, etc) . This Garlic remedy works like a magic. And it has no side effects. Plus, as a bonus, kids immune system improves which leads to less bouts of cold and cough. A rare win-win situation :)

Its time for Tulsi Tea

2007-10-01T08:39:00.001-07:00

With the amazing fall season approaching, its time for some nice, hot tulsi tea.
Tulsi improves our immune system and is a excellent remedy to keep cold and cough away.
I give warm Tulsi water to my kids once or twice a week to get them ready for the change of season.

Just add 1-2 drops of Tulsi extract to a glass of warm water, add some honey and enjoy!
Or just add some Tulsi drops to your cup of regular tea.

2007-09-26T10:47:00.001-07:00

Gardenia

2007-09-21T13:13:00.000-07:00

Another fragrant gift of nature -Gardenia.

Ganesh Chaturthi

2007-09-21T12:50:00.000-07:00

Filling for Modak

Modak

Modak - A must-have for Ganesh Chaturthi.
I make the filling for the modak with coconut, jaggery, Cardamom extract, Nutmeg extract and a little Saffron extract. The extracts make my job a bit easy. No peeling cardamom pods or grating nutmeg :)

Cardamom extract

2007-09-13T15:24:00.000-07:00

I love cardamom tea. Just add 1-2 drops of cardamom extract to your cup of regular tea and enjoy!

Also, have you tried coffee with cardamom extract?

Duke Jasmine

2007-09-13T08:50:00.000-07:00

Look at the size of this Duke jasmine flower !!
I am so thrilled that my duke jasmine plant has started flowering and also has sprouted some new leaves.

Spice Extracts

2007-09-13T06:48:00.000-07:00

There are lot of advantages of using spice extracts. They blend well with other ingredients in your recipe and also give you the option to add a spice after the cooking is done. Say, for example, you feel that the curry that you just cooked could have used more garlic. Just add some drops of garlic extract, mix and now you have the desired amount of garlic.

Green Chilli extract

2007-09-13T06:44:00.000-07:00

Green Chilli extract is nothing but pure fieriness of green chillies in a bottle.

I have 2 small kids and hence my cooking leans more towards the less spicy category. My husband loves spicy food and had to compromise :). But now, with the Green Chilli extract he can make his portion of meal as spicy as he wants. He just adds 1 or 2 drops and he is happy.

The ingredients in Tabasco sauce are peppers, vinegar and salt. But Supreme Spice's Green Chilli extract has only ONE ingredient - Green chilli

Zuma Beach

2007-09-13T06:43:00.000-07:00

Sunset at Zuma beach, Los Angeles

Garam masala - What's in it?

2007-09-06T15:20:00.000-07:00

Garam masala extract is a blend of 9 spices - Coriander, Chilli, Peppercorns, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Cloves, Cumin, Turmeric and Fenugreek seeds.
This masala is a very aromatic and flavorful blend. Use this blend to pep up the dish.

You get Garam masala powder in all Indian stores. So why use extract? The garam masala powder that you buy in stores loses its flavor and fragrance within weeks of opening the container. Extracts do not. Our extract never loses flavor and aroma and has long shelf life.

Try using Garam masala extract in marinades. The extract will blend very well and will be absorbed by the meat/vegetable fairly quickly without any spice pockets.

Just 3-4 drops of Supreme Spice Garam masala extract is equivalent to 1/2 tsp of Garam masala powder.

Nutmeg

2007-09-06T15:19:00.000-07:00

Nutmeg is an excellent remedy for insomnia. It is a very warming spice and is also used to improve digestion.

Next time you a feel stressed out and can't get good sleep, try a cup of coffee or warm milk with 1-2 drops of nutmeg extract. It is very calming and induces sleep.

Why should you use Asafoetida ?

2007-09-06T15:18:00.000-07:00

Ayurveda encourages us to include all six tastes in our meals. The six tastes are - salty, sweet, sour, bitter, astringent and pungent. Asafoetida is a pungent spice. Foods and spices that are pungent stimulate appetite and improve digestion. Adding asafoetida to our meals also reduces bloating and the feeling of heaviness after meals.

A pinch of asafoetida in buttermilk is a very good remedy for indigestion.

Asafoetida improves digestion and is an blood purifier.

What are Spice Extracts ?

2007-09-05T06:32:00.000-07:00

Spice extracts, also called Oleoresins, provide the flavor of the source spice in a more consistent and easy-to-handle form. Spice extracts contain the essential oil of the spice and also its resinous part. Essential oil give the spice its aroma and the resinous part gives it the flavor.

Spice extracts are used extensively by the food manufacturing companies. For example, the salsa that you enjoy with your chips has spice oleoresins added to it.
Did you really think they were staying up whole night to chop up all that garlic needed to make thousands of pounds of salsa?? :)

Spice extracts are concentrated , free of any contamination and last for a long time. They eliminate the need to peel, chop or grate the spices and lets you easily customize the amount of spice in a dish.

Garlic extract

2007-09-04T13:32:00.004-07:00

My daughter hates garlic.
Which kid doesn't? But we Moms know the benefits of Garlic and want our kids to eat it.
I think the best way to get garlic into kids system is to hide it in sauces, dips, curries, etc. This is where Supreme Spice Garlic extract comes extremely handy. Add a drop or two in your kids meal and they won't even know that they are getting all the health benefits of garlic.

1 drop of Supreme Spice Garlic extract = 1 clove of garlic

If your kid comes back from school with a runny nose, increase his/her garlic intake to improve their immunity.

Garlic is a natural antibiotic, an excellent stimulant and protects and builds up the digestive power.

What is Kesar Milk Masala?

2007-09-04T13:29:00.000-07:00

Kesar Milk Masala is a blend of Nutmeg, Saffron, Cardamom and Curcumin.

This wonderful and rich blend of 4 spices gives an amazing makeover to a plain glass of milk. Just add 1-2 drops of Kesar milk masala extract to a glass of warm milk and you will be amazed with the results. Or use it in any dessert. I use this extract in my Kheer and Rice pudding too.

Or, next time you make Suji Halwa, kheer or carrot Halwa, add 1-2 drops of Kesar milk masala extract and taste the difference.

Articles on Mahanandi

2007-08-31T15:20:00.000-07:00

Recently I started doing a guest series on spices on Mahanandi, an amazing Indian food blog. Here is the link to my articles. I will update this list every time I post an article on Mahanandi.

Article on Turmeric
Article on Asafoetida

Photography

2007-08-31T14:46:00.000-07:00

I recently bought this wonderful Hibiscus from my local nursery. I also bought 3 different kinds of Jasmine plants - single Jasmine, double Jasmine and Duke Jasmine. The word "fragrant" doesn't even come close to explaining the Duke Jasmine flowers. It is something out of this world.

Tulsi - Indian Holy Basil

2007-08-30T10:40:00.001-07:00

Indian Holy Basil -Tulsi

There are many different varieties of Basil. The Indian variety is called Tulsi (botanical name - Ocimum Sanctum). Tulsi is a perennial plant and has a light lemon scent.
Tulsi has a very special place in Ayurveda. Tulsi acts as a diaphoretic and hence Tulsi Tea is used to help sweat out a fever. It is also considered to be antibacterial and antiseptic. Tulsi stimulates the immune system by increasing the production of antibodies.

Tulsi Tea provides relief from colds, coughs, headache and fevers. A simple way to make Tulsi Tea using Tulsi extrac t is as follows:
Add 1-2 drops of Tulsi extract to a hot cup of water. Add little honey .
Sip slowly and enjoy.

Tulsi Tea is very soothing and refreshing. It stimulates nerves and is a great stress reliever.

Next time you feel down and gloomy, try Tulsi Tea.