Category Archives: Seasonings & Condiments

Roselle (Rosa de Jamaica Hibiscus) Salt

One of the most amazing things we have the joy to have here in Guate is Roselle (Hibiscus Flowers, Rosa de Jamaica) and it’s flavor is a trade mark in Guatemalan cooking. A few days ago I was making a fresh batch of Roselle Syrup, and while I waited patiently by the stove, I was looking for recipes to that used Roselle as part of their ingredients. But what if the Roselle could be something other than an ingredient but a seasoning? After browsing around I found that Hibiscus Salt can go for up to $20 on Amazon! Can you believe that? It’s crazy! There has to be a better way to get it, and this Hibiscus Salt recipe is the answer!

This is the perfect seasoning for Salads. You know the quick lunch salads that you just drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinegar on top? Just sprinkle this on top and your salad will get an entirely new twist. This salt is good just as is to sprinkle on fruit or veggies.. Try it with Avocado! So many uses… And the color, oh so girly :)  This salt became (after just two days) a favorite! Make sure you try it too!

Salt can get extremely humid, so I used the Vanilla Salt I had made before and just mixed it with the ground dried roselle flowers. If you are using regular sea salt, make sure to follow the directions on the Vanilla Salt recipe so you can dry it out to avoid clumps.

Roselle Salt

Roselle Salt

Recipe adapted from Flavors of the Sun

Ingredients:

1 cup dried hibiscus flowers
1/2 cup Vanilla Salt

Directions:

  1. Grind the dried flowers in a clean spice grinder or blender.
  2. Strain through a mesh colander into a bowl. Add the sea salt and mix thoroughly.
  3. Store in a sterilized glass jar in a dark place, such as a cupboard or pantry shelf out of the light.

Roselle Salt

Roselle Salt

© 2012 – 2013, The Foodies' Kitchen. All rights reserved.

Mother’s Day Gift Idea: Seasoning Salts and Vanilla Sugar

Every year, we try to post ideas for Mother’s Day – usually around the meal for that day. This year, we wanted to give you ideas for a Gift: Seasoning Salts and Vanilla Sugar! This year, we’ve been talking with my mom about what to gift and have it be budget friendly.

A few months ago, we were having a foodies meeting (and running some errands) with Helga, and we found these nice containers for just over a dollar at Cemaco - they were so cute I got a couple! Fast forward and I went back to Cemaco to see if they still had the same containers for this year’s mother’s gifts. Turns out they had a few left (7), with black and white lids. That was useful so I would know which salt was what.

Since I was making also Vanilla Sugar, I already saved two other glass jars with white lids and one with a golden one. Those were from Jams and Sauces so, after boiling them and removing the labels they looked as new! Overall, I got the 10 containers under $10. The salt and sugar was about $3 and I spent around $15 on spices. I went to get the spices and vanilla pods at Superb. They have a wide selection and sell them just like Penzeys does in the US. Walking into the store is so much fun! You don’t know where to go and what to grab first. Superb is also the place where I got all the ingredients for the Best Granola Recipe I shared with you back in January. All around, the total money spent on 10 Mother’s Day Gifts is under $30. A bargain if you ask me!

As we want to honor all the moms in our lives, what’s better than give them a little something that they can use on those days where you just have time for a quick meal? Moms, we got you covered!

Italian Seasoned Salt

Spice Seasoned Salt

Rosemary & Lavender Citrus Salt

Vanilla Salt

Vanilla Sugar

Mother's Day Gift Idea: Seasoning Salts and Vanilla Sugar

Mother's Day Gift Idea: Seasoning Salts and Vanilla Sugar

Mother's Day Gift Idea: Seasoning Salts and Vanilla Sugar

© 2012 – 2013, The Foodies' Kitchen. All rights reserved.

Vanilla Sugar

A simple ingredient like sugar can make a difference between a delicious cake and a blah one. With the sweetness of sugar and the subtle flavor of vanilla, you can enhance many of life’s every day things: Oatmeal, Fruit, Coffee or Tea. This is even better when you substitute for plain sugar in baked goods, boosting the flavor – even if it´s just sprinkled on top.

The best thing about Vanilla Sugar, is that you can indefinitely keep making more as you need: just add more sugar to your container and you’re done! This is a perfect way to avoid “wasting” any vanilla beans after they have been used.

Vanilla Sugar

Vanilla Sugar

Recipe adapted from Alton Brown
Makes 2 cups

Ingredients:
2 Cups of sugar
1 Vanilla bean (seeds scraped)

Directions:

  1. After using the seeds of a vanilla bean and save it.
  2. Cut each bean into two or three pieces, enough so they can be placed in a container.
  3. Fill with sugar and after only a few hours, the vanilla beans will be completely dry and a quick shake of the container will break up any clumps of sugar that formed.
  4. The sugar can them be stored indefinitely, replenished with fresh sugar or additional vanilla beans as necessary to make more.

© 2012 – 2013, The Foodies' Kitchen. All rights reserved.



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