25 Days of Herbs and Celebrations - December 4

Dear Folks,

Celebrating the Multicultural festivities of December, I thought I would pick an herb or spice which is referenced in the Bible (land of three of the Major Religions of the world) and used in many cuisines around the entire world, as a way of gathering together all the wealth of diversity around us - in true celebration.

Day 4
Herb:  Cassia (Cinnamomum iners) Exodus 30, Psalm 45:8, Job 42:14

Like True Cinnamon (Day 3 Cinnamon zeylanicum), Cassia is mentioned in the bible for its perfume and scenting properties in anointing oil, and was traded in commerce.  Job named his second daughter after the herb (Keziah, Job 42:15  Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job's daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers.)  We can believe that he must have thought them very special to name one after a valuable trading spice and to grant them an inheritance. 
(Image: source: Naturalis Biodiversity Center/Wikimedia Commons)

Food:

Make cinnamon sugar for dusting pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, a final dusting on baked goods before they go in the oven, or the top of whipped cream desserts.  I keep a shaker jar of cinnamon sugar in the pantry right next to the salt and pepper.

To make a large amount, combine:
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

Store in glass away from light and moisture.

A small shaker jar holds quite a bit less.  So adjusting for the size of your shaker, 1 part cinnamon to 4 parts sugar,  = 1 teaspoon of cinnamon to 4 teaspoons of sugar.  Add several grains of rice to the shaker to keep the mix from clumping if moisture gets in.
 

Cinnamon Scented Ornaments and Decorations have been around for decades.  These are a dough-craft which can last for a couple of years if stored air tight between seasons.  They are NOT meant to be edible.  The applesauce in the recipe is designed to make the dough a little more pliable.

Craft:  McCormicks has a fun project to make with the children - Cinnamon/Applesauce Ornaments:  Here is a good recipe to use with the less expensive Cassia Cinnamon.

http://www.mccormick.com/Recipes/Other/Cinnamon-Ornaments

Check around the internet for other cinnamon scented recipes and projects.

Music:

Here are some fun songs to keep you company while making the sugar or ornaments.


Have A Holly Jolly Christmas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVMCUtsmWmQ

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGBie5pT9nw


. . .

If you are enjoying this posts, please share. :-) 

-- Catherine, The Herb Lady

If you enjoyed this post, subscribe in the upper side bar link, to get all my posts!

Disclaimer: Clicking on links on this blog may earn me a small commission if you purchase something. Your price does not change.