Happy Holidays!

Welcome to December when we get to celebrate several traditional American holiday goodies like Pumpkin Pie (on the 25th) and Fruit Cake (on the 27th). Plus, we can enjoy creamy Egg Nog’s National Day (Christmas Eve, December 24th), Week (4th week), and Month. And, to celebrate flavorfully we must have on-hand plenty of freshly grated Nutmeg, this month’s …

THE SPICE OF LIFE - Nutmeg and Mace Blade

Most people think of Nutmeg for baking and dessert purposes; however, this spice and its lacy covering called an aril, Mace Blade, have so many other purposes for flavoring savory foods like spinach. Yes, spinach. Next time you sautéed or steam this vegetable sprinkle and toss it with freshly grated Nutmeg before serving. This warm spice will help spinach’s flavor pop! Whole Nutmeg is so easy to use and it will save you money over time because it lasts for years.

Whole Nutmeg is the wrinkled gray-brown kernel of the seed from an evergreen tree’s fruit which looks like a pale yellow apricot; and, Mace Blade is the outer orange-red lace-like covering (aril) on the seed. At maturity (fifteen years), this tree will produce about 2,000 nutmegs a year. Once removed from the seed and dried, the mace blade becomes dark yellow-orange in color. Mace, without the word "blade" refers to the ground form of the spice.

One whole nutmeg when fully grated is equal to about one tablespoon of the ground spice.

The ratio of Nutmeg to Mace is about 25 to 1 - every twenty five pounds of Nutmeg yields about 1 pound of Mace.

Like Bay Leaf, Mace Blade must be removed … read more >>>

MONTHLY EVENTS

December is the Month for:

National Egg Nog Month

National Fruit Cake Month

And, some of our favorite food days in the month include:

December 1 - National Pie Day

December 2 - National Fritters Day

December 8 - National Chocolate Brownie Day

December 9 - National Pastry Day

December 12 - National Hot Cocoa Day

December 14 - National Bouillabaisse Day

December 16 - National Chocolate Covered Anything Day

December 23 - National Pfeffernuesse Day

December 24 - National Egg Nog Day

December 25 - National Pumpkin Pie Day

December 26 - National Candy Cane Day

December 27 - National Fruit Cake Day

SPICY TIDBITS

Food ALERT! Widget

MERCHANTS & RETAILERS:

Atlantic Spice Company - www.atlanticspice.com

Durkee® - www.durkee.com

McCormick® - www.mccormick.com

Milford Spice Company - www.milfordspice.com

Penzeys Spices - www.penzeys.com

Savory Spice Shop - www.savoryspiceshop.com

Spice Islands® - www.spiceislands.com

The Spice House - www.thespicehouse.com

Spice Accessories Websites:

Bottles, Containers & Jars:

Bottle Store - www.bottlestore.com

eBottles.com - www.ebottles.com

SKS Bottle & Packaging, Inc. - www.sks-bottle.com

Labels:

Online Labels - www.onlinelabels.com

Spice Racks:

Tubular Spices - www.tubularspices.com/Spice_Racks.asp

Spice Rack Source - www.spiceracksource.com/all-spice-racks/

Check out our website that's All About Sweet Potatoes

YOUR TURN

Use our Contact Form to give us constructive feedback or ask questions. Thank you!

Ellen White