We use them all year round in so many sweet and savoury dishes and countless beverages but at this time of the year, they shine brighter, so roll out the red carpet for the very Christmasy stars of cinnamon and clove.
This week's column celebrates the cinnamon and clove. It is not just the flavour they impart that we taste and love, but also the aroma that signals the season, and that holds true not just for us here in the Caribbean. All over the world, screens - both television and computer, are filled with mulled wine and hot spiced cider and everyone is talking about how the aroma fills the house and makes it cheerful.
Well for us in the Caribbean, beverages such as ginger beer and sorrel are seasonal and we really look forward to them at Christmas. Cinnamon and cloves are important in the other foods we make at this time too, such as pepperpot, ham, cakes, etc.
Sorrel
De-seeded sorrel
I know that it's cold where some of you are but there is nothing quite as refreshing as a cold glass of spiced-fruity sorrel drink on a hot day. This first picture is my entry for CLICK!
OR a glass of ginger beer to go with a slice of Christmas cake.
And how can one forget the other star of the holiday table. Clove-studded and stunning :)
Baked ham
For your information, Cassia is a member of the cinnamon family but it has a stronger flavour and therefore requires less when using in a recipe.
Please email me for any of the recipes seen here.
Hey, don't forget to check out Forgive me my nonsense... where Bee talks about Sammy Gitau. Who is he? click here for more.
Have a great weekend.
83 comments:
I have always wanted to make a spice wreath during fall and winter...but spices are so expensive I have not been able to bring myself to do that yet! I think spices are so pretty, each so different in color and shape.
Cynthia, that studded ham is gorgeous...allow me to slice my own thick piece!
I havent tasted sorrel but the colour is so attractive!!
I think this sorrel is seen in our place.Have seen the same, but no one uses it. Will check next time.Does it have sour leaves?
ham looksssss beautifullll and yummyyyyy cynthia
Cynthia these actually are "stars" ,ham is outstanding!
Sorrel fruit??? Cynthia we use sorrel leaves(gongura leaves in our local language) but i used to see this fruit but never even thought you can make a spicy drink with it!!! Those pictures are awesome!! I love the sorrel fruit one the most!!enjoy your weekend
Cynthia, I seriously think you should stop doing this...
your pictures are so tempting and want us to grab off the monitor..and to think you made that drink out of sorrel..for a moment I thought I was wrong in thinking if you talking abt the same sorrel until I saw padmaja say the same thing...wow wow..those look so lovely..I think your lens are really something!..
Beautiful photographs Cynthia. The ham looks especially inviting!!!!
I've been revelling in the smell of freshly ground spices, just having made some masala. Mine was a combination of several, including cinnamon and cloves.
Cynthia, sorrel fruit never knew we could use, I usually nip it off and use the leaves for pickle.
Picks rock :)
wow sorrel - I never knew!
Spiced-fruity sorrel drinks, hmmmm! They make those in Mexico, too, and they are to die for in a hot day. I need to find some up here in Ohio for the summer. Thanks for posting those beautiful pictures!
Cynthia, we had a sorrel plant in our home and ma used to make jams and jellies with the fruit...The colour itself was very tempting...you've revived those memories...I loved plucking the fruit along with my father from our garden.
OK, I have NO idea what Sorrel is, but you make it sound good ... as you do with most things. But, really - now I've got to go searching, and I know it's not the same thing as we'd find in the US, because the American version is some sort of grass!
Thanks. ;)
Ginger beer looks so good!!!!
I have never seen sorrel before. (there is a Indian sorrel used in many Andhra dishes though..but had not seen its flowers) It looks beautiful...
lovely pics, as usual :)
Sorrel does have sour leaves, and the red 'petals' of the fruit is sour too - the taste is unique - not sour in a lemony way, just tart and takes to sugar in a great way.
I can't bring myself to do a whole ham, since it's just my husband and I -
Cynthia, may I suggest some mustard fruits to go with that ham? I don't know if you have tried it, but it's Italian in origin - like candied whole fruit but preserved with mustard syrup - it's excellent with roast pork and ham.
I love Cinnamon and Clove scented candles for the house - but what is especially pleasing, is having cloves in pepperpot and cinnamon in cookies ... don't forget nutmeg in the eggnog.
The ham looks divine! All your photos are great!
sure, spices do bring everything to life ;)
Lovely pictures (as always) Cynthia. You can make everything look so tantalizing... :)
Once again everything looks beautiful. I use cinnamon and cloves a lot because Greeks tend to use them in savory foods, too. They are so delicious with everything. Your ham looks AMAZING and even though I don't even like ham all that much, I am ready to eat the whole thing :)
Spices are definitely where it's at right now. I'm getting ready to celebrate nutmeg. These pictures are lovely and it's nice to think about cold drinks on hot day. For now, I'll have to enjoy the opposite. ; )
Now Im craving a ham. I have never ssen sorrel fruit. I've used to the hrad to find leaves before in a seafood quiche once. Looks so good and I'm thristy just thinking about it.
Whatever you write about, the pictures are always amazing!!! The one of the cloves is just gorgeous. And yet another ingredient to learn about - sorrel, that isn't green and bitter.
Great stuff, Cynthia.
Spice wreaths sound like a wonderful idea. Maybe if you make them small enough they wouldn't be so pricey.
That ham is mouth watering!
Hi Cynthia,
Was so glad to receive your email and meet a fellow blogger. Your pictures are gorgeous! Do you do them?
I am going to put you up on my site so I can check in with you every day.
Sharon
the studded ham looks amazing! YUM!
beautiful photos my dear cynthia..im simply amazed...you know when it comes with spices im always too scared to use cloves..because you just really need the right proportion or else its gonna be too strong..;sorrel i've never tasted it..the ham looks yummy!!!
Lovely post with lovely pictures,cynthiya!!!
Oooh! Cinnamon and cloves! I love these spices. :)
I'm so hoping you're going to be baking traditional Caribbean Christmas/black cake this year and I'm hoping you're posting a good recipe (hint hint!) :-D
I think we can eat that sorrel raw too. I am not sure.
Ham looks great.
Come and collect your award for a top post at Cerys the Well Done Angel Awards! x
I love baking with them both, Cynthia! My entire house smells deliciously when I do!
Cynthia, your photos in this post are amazing!! And it definitely feels like the holidays with the smell of cinnamon and cloves in the air!
I love cloves and cinnamon.
Thank you for sharing wonderful pictures and loads of info of your culture!
Lovely pictures Cynthia, my first time here, you have a lovely blog :)
I would love some gingerbeer! Preferably with rum and lime!
Ginger beer! Cloves! Cinnamon!
My GOD, Cynthia, you are pressing all of my buttons with this gorgeous, festive post.
I love cinnamon and cloves. I'm just cooking a ham right now with the cloves on it, exactly like yours. What a coincidence. You should smell the house. Nice pictures. I'm wishing you a good week before the Holidays.
Wooo...look at that baked ham! You know what I like - that charred edges and caramelization on the outside. So yummy!
those sorrels are stunning. but where's the nutmeg? i love the cinnamon picture.
The sorrels do look great Cynthia. I find all your fantastic creations incredible here - especially that ham! You are a tease girl!!
Your pictures look really great!
Hello there my dear Cynthia!
I hope your holiday is wonderful and filled with happiness for you and your family :)
I have tagged you for a Meme on my blog Sultanas Palate. If you would like to do it you are welcome to, If not, i completley understand!
happy holidays!
Oh, that ham looks delish!! I saw Tyler Florence make one like that, yesterday, where he stuck the cloves in it. I must try it!
I want to come live in the Caribbean and drink that punch!
Also, I've never had ginger beer and I keep looking for it, but I can't find it. So basically, I want your ginger beer.
That´s something we all seem to have in common in December. A lovely smell of cinnamon and cloves fills up our kitchen.
I never knew what sorrel looked like! And oh does that ham look fabulous!
sorrel leaves are used to make what is according the greatest pickle on earth called gongura in andhra pradesh, india.
i imagine the fruit will be as tasty - i am in fact already salivating :D
The sorrel looks so gorgeous. lovely colour. Ginger beer is something like what my mom makes for Christmas, except its called ginger wine!!! n the Ham is the best. Would love to have the biggest slice. Pls do keep some for me.
lovely post as usual. thanks for the links to bee's post.
Happy Holidays Cynthia..what beautiful pics. When you get a chance,could you please email me the recipe for ginger beer@
indianfood.cooking@gmail.com
Great pics as always, Cynthia. I usually put a little spice in most things I cook- I discovered it's great in home made bread too.
I use lots of spice in my cooking too. And the studded ham...can imagine its' aroma. How I wish i can have a piece of it.
Oooh how I wish for a nice sweet, cold glass of just right Sorrel. That signifies Christmas to me, along with Ginger Beer and Carrot Juice.
The trinity haha.
lovely....I love these spices!
First and foremost, thankyou for getting me all hungry again with that chunk of ham!!! I just finished lunch an hour back!!!
Sorrel is also known as gongura in India, but the flowere aint so dark in terms of the red colour..there is a slight greenish tinge.
Great pics!
Hello!! My name is Vanesa, I live en Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain), I like your blog, is very nicely... I do not speak much English, I also have a blog kitchen... is www.misdeseosmasdulces.blogspot.com
Kisses!
loved the sorrel drink :)) i was wondering what it is... but padmaja has mentioned that it is the fruit of gongura. i love pickle made with gongura leaves!
Mmm... I could almost smell the spices in your photos!
Wow beautiful pictures! I want some Sorrel now, I have no idea what it tastes like!
Happy Holidays to you and yours Cynthia!
Haven't heard of the fruit sorret before- learn something new everytime i visit!
The fruit looks stunning and so do the drinks...
I adore cinnamon! I use it often in tomato sauce. I use cloves less often, but always love it when I do. And I've never seen a photo of sorrel. Wow!!
We use the cinnamon in most of the foods prepared here for its lovely aroma & the flavour as well as the cloves, although they are a bit costly here....lovely drink in this cold season....have a nice holiday season!
Oh Cynthia, that ham looks so appetizing, I can imagine it on my plate right now and having leftovers for a delicious sandwich too!
absolutely stunning pictures. i love the fresh colours. i am not a fan of ham for christmas but you may have just converted me:-)
Hi Cynthia
I wish you a good end of 2007 and a good year of 2008.
wow, what is that lovely red fruit?? someting definitely new to me:) looks like u r all set for christmas Cynthia!
Cynthia, great post and photos as well. Now Michael is jealous of your Christmas ham and sorrel drink!!... but I'm afraid we wouldn't get it here... my only hope is that I could make ham like this for him...
Whoa, Cynthia! These drinks look delicious!
Ok, so you really need to dish out the sorrel drink recipe, it looks *so* good!
And your pix are divine :)
Dear Cynthia
I am visiting your blog site for the first time and am very impressed by its content. i will certainly visit more to learn about diffrent recipes.
Greeting comes to you all the way from Botswana from a fellow blogger and a cake lover for a happy Christmas and wonderful new 2008. Happy holidays.
Whenever you have time do visit my blog.
Great photo of Cinnamon, clove, and wine my dear. Wonderful post and I have no words about your as usual nice and unique post.
Happy Christmas and Cheers for beer glass with ginger slice.:)
Meeso, Peter, Shn, Sagari, Bindiya, Bellini, Sra, Sreelu, Ben, Sunita, Ramya, Nags, Half Baked, Richa, Laavanya, Elly, Anali, Sue, Kelly, Kevin, Daphne, Raks, David, Patricia, Deborah, Kumudha, Lucy, Helene, Tigerfish, Bee, Meeta, Flo, Sultana, Emiline, Karin, Lakshmi, Shella, Nanditha, Carol Ann, Willowtree, Big Boys Heaven, Rachel, Kiriel, Kalyan, Veron, David, Margot, Kaykat & Kajal - thank you all for your very kind compliments! This blog would not be that attractive if not for your visits and words of encouragement.
Seena, Padmaja, Vegeyum, David, Shilpa, Glamah16, Dhanggit, Happy Cook, Caff. Cowgirl, Lissie, Sig, Miri, Toni & Mansi - please see this link for more info on what we call sorrel. It is also known as Roselle. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hibiscus_sabdariffa
Srivalli - I heart you!
Ann - hint taken :D
Brilynn - oh yeah :D Come on over.
Shankari - recipe sent.
Mel Nation - big thanks and a hearty welcome! The suggestions are much appreciated.
Sharon - welcome! Yes, I take my own pics :)
Namratha, Precious Pea, Vanesa (I look forward to visiting), Maybahay & Anamika - a big welcome to all of you. It is a pleasure to have you stop by and I hope to seeing you around.
Girlfriend, your photos are looking SO good!
Jaden - thank you dearest!
The ham looks wonderful! Wishing you and your loved ones a very Merry Xmas and Happy New Year!
The ham looks wonderful! Wishing you and your loved ones a very Merry Xmas and Happy New Year!
Your drinks look so good ... makes me want to go get something to drink!!
Cool Pics.....
oh dear it is wonderful picture. I love the color!
Hi Cynthia, photos look absolutely gorgeous :) That blood red color of the sorret drink looks like a perfect party drink :) I have never seen a sorret before. Thanks for the good information you have posted.
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