cinnamon

At the beginning of the month, I resolved to simplify every respect of my life, including the number of items and ingredients I keep stocked in my kitchen. That's because I've discovered that in cooking, as in life, sometimes less equals more!

One unintended consequence of this newfangled declaration? I've suddenly been eating far more meatless meals made from pantry staples (think beans, lentils, eggs, and grains). My favorite dish as of late has been a Mediterranean-North African twist on eggs in purgatory, prepared by baking eggs in a slow-simmered onion-and-tomato sauce spiced heavily with cinnamon, allspice, and cloves.

Baked eggs of any sort are often thought of as a brunch dish, but I actually love to eat this any time of day, dinner included; the faraway flavors of the sauce make this dish the perfect way to end a long day. Keep reading if you want a recipe for cinnamon-spiced eggs.

If something you are eating (or drinking) needs a bit of a kick, don't turn to salt or sugar to do the trick, try adding some spices! Spices are not only lower in calories, but also offer a long list of health benefits including curbing hunger, strengthening muscles, boosting your brainpower, and improving your mood.

A simple way to spice up your life is to start with your daily cuppa joe. Instead of sugar, you can use spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, or a pumpkin spice mixture to help add some flair to your coffee. Research has shown that cinnamon can temper the blood sugar surge that follows a sweet treat, so get creative and add some cinnamon to your meals! Use it in fresh fruit salads, yogurt, or even this cucumber salad.

When it comes to really pungent cayenne, you can experiment by adding it to pasta dishes or sauces to give them a kick. The active ingredient in cayenne spice — capsicum — is said to be able to kill cancer cells without harming healthy ones and help with digestion and gas, so be adventurous when mixing it into dishes.

Learn about more spices that are good for you.

Some people have a serious hankering for cottage cheese. I like the white stuff alright, but it's the fixins that really make me crave the lowfat snack. Apples and oats are always a delicious addition, and avocado cups make me happy, but the easiest and perhaps tastiest treat I've found so far comes in the form of a cinnamon stick.

When your sweet tooth attacks, satiate it with a few sprinkles of cinnamon on a small bowl of lowfat or nonfat cottage cheese. The combination of the natural spice and cottage cheese will add just the right amount of kick to your taste buds while providing the benefits of calcium, vitamin D, and keeping your blood sugar levels in check. You'll be surprised you're not lapping up dessert!

Flickr user S. Diddy

One of my favorite perks of the holiday season are the homemade treats that my friends deliver to the house. To reciprocate the kind gesture, I considered doing some canning and cooking for their gifts, but then thought better of the little time I have and decided a jar full of tasty and toasty almonds was a better option. On their own, almonds offer up a bevy of health benefits with the loads of protein, vitamin E, and fiber, just to name a few. Add a dash of cinnamon and a bit of egg protein and you've got yourself a snack that is bursting with flavor and other healthy perks. So before you go buy a bottle of wine for that holiday party, remember to give this a try. It may be more memorable and tasty than any old merlot could hope to be.

Ready to see the recipe? Just read more

Last night, a craving for a gooey cinnamon roll hit me. Given the amount of calories and fat in one, it was a craving I didn't want to indulge in. But when the taste of cinnamon and sugar wouldn't leave my brain, I trekked into the kitchen to find a healthier way to satisfy it. Usually when this sort of craving hits, I do a warm apple or pear crisp, but it's Summer and apples and pears are nowhere to be found.

Remembering a favorite from my childhood, I made a piece of cinnamon-sugar toast. I swapped out the white bread for whole wheat and barely put any sugar on it. Instead of a rich cream cheese frosting or butter, I opted for a small amount of nonfat cream cheese instead. The result tasted delicious and totally satisfied my craving for a cinnamon roll. It was warm, gooey, and had the perfect amount of sweetness. A friend of mine also does something similar whenever she craves a pastry. She warms up a whole wheat tortilla and gives it a light filling of honey, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Or, if she wants something more custard-like, she makes whole wheat cinnamon french toast minus the maple syrup. What healthy ways do you satisfy pastry and cake cravings?

Source: Flickr User veganbaking.net

Although I love to sip more than one beverage at a time, I didn't want too many drinks crowding the table at Easter brunch, so I settled on a holiday tipple that did double duty as part morning joe, part festive cocktail. This quick and simple libation makes use of cachaça, a sugarcane liquor that's similar to rum and wildly popular in Brazil. When combined with chilled espresso and sweetened, condensed milk, it tastes like an espresso martini, only less lethal. A sprinkle of cinnamon adds layer of nutty flavor. Jive with a twist on java when you read more.

Although I'm a fan of interesting vinegars and exotic sauces, it can be pricey to purchase a bottle of something you may only use once. That's why it's nice to look toward the juice aisle. Juice is an incredibly affordable flavoring agent — and you can drink it after you cook with it. In this recipe, cranberry pomegranate juice is used to season savory chicken thighs. It's an effortless dish that's also elegant enough to serve friends without breaking the bank. Check out the technique and read more