By Isabell Macrina
Hometown Weekly Staff
Nearly everyone has a spice cabinet at home, overflowing with different jars full of flavor that sometimes you don’t know what to do with.
Thankfully, Therapy Gardens partnered with Dover Town Library to teach us a bit more about what’s in our cabinets, from health benefits to pairings, and even got the chance to make our own.
Anne Bishop, an active Registered Nurse, led the class through some of the most common spices and the linked health benefits.
Starting with cinnamon, which has potent antioxidant properties. It has been shown to reduce cholesterol and triglycerides in the blook, and even lower blood sugar! Turmeric, the spice that gives curry its yellow color, has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. It has anti-inflammatory properties and has been reported to decrease joint pain in people with osteoarthritis. Garlic is considered a functional spice because it has a diverse array of nutritional values. It contains high levels of potassium, phosphorus, zinc, and sulfur, as well as moderate levels of selenium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, and iron.
Bishop also included some guides to herb gardening, highlighting the most popular ones like basil, oregano, and parsley, and what the benefits are for fresh herbs.
After handing out a recipe sheet that shows how to make some classic spice blends, like Cajun seasoning, Ranch, and showing what blends go well with what foods, it was time for everyone to create their own seasoning blend.
Everyone was armed with a small cup, plastic spoon, and a bag and set off to the table where spices and herbs were in jars for everyone to add. The recipes were done in parts so you could make an even mix, or try your own for experimentation! To top it all off, no salt so they didn’t have to watch their sodium levels.
Everyone went home with their own seasoning blend and the inspiration to try more. They say variety is the spice of life, and spices make every meal that much more flavorful and fun.
