Masala Chai Tweetcipe

Masala chai is an old Indian recipe and is translated as mixed spice (masala) tea (chai).  The basic recipe uses Indian spices, milk, sweetener and black tea that are simmered and steeped to make a slightly sweet and spicy hot drink that is wonderfully satisfying.  Like chili, there are lots of recipe variations for masala chai.  I’ve seen recipes that call for black pepper, fresh ginger root, star anise and sweetened condensed milk. Traditionally chai takes 15-20 minutes to make, but as the drink has become popular around the world, so has the need to make it quickly, thus the availability of chai concentrates, flavorings and the ability to order a chai latte from Starbucks.

My thanks goes to my brother-in-law, Rana, who shared his family’s recipe with me, which became my inspiration for creating my own.  This chai recipe takes some time, but the results are worth it!

Masala Chai

1 teaspoon whole fennel seeds

1 4” stick of cinnamon

3 cardamom pods

3 whole cloves

2 cups water
1 tablespoon loose leaf black tea or 2 small bags of black tea
1 qt whole milk or half and half
sugar or honey, to taste

Place the spices between 2 sheets of paper towel.  Using a flat bottom skillet, smash the spices several times to release their aromatic oils.  Place the spices and water in a large saucepan and bring to a boil.  Remove from heat, add the black tea and steep for 5-10 minutes.

Put the saucepan over medium heat, add the half and half or milk, and bring to a very low boil.  Stir occasionally.  When the chai is steaming hot, add 1-2 T of your favorite sweetener to taste and stir.  Pour the masala chai through a strainer directly into a mug and serve.  Makes 3-4 servings.

12 Tastes and Aromas of Christmas

Richard Paul Evans wrote in The Christmas Box that the “smells of Christmas are the smells of childhood.” Walk into Grandma’s kitchen during the holidays on a crisp, cold day and, more than likely, you will find yourself transported to a simpler yesterday that was full of mouthwatering sensory  experiences. This is not your imagination.

Research shows that a strong connection exists between smells, emotions and our past experiences, especially those from early childhood. Specific smells can bring about once-forgotten memories. These memories remind us not only of favorite places, family and friends; they remind us of favorite foods.

On the first day of Christmas baking,

Your kitchen spice rack needs

A heavy dose of cinnamon please

Conjure up fond memories with a variety of tastes in your holiday cuisine. Some of the more popular spices you may find in your kitchen (which may be obtained organically if you don’t have them) include cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger and cloves.

On the fifth day of Christmas baking,

Your kitchen spice rack needs

FIVE WHOLE CLOVES

4  teaspoons of ginger

3 pinches of  allspice

2 nutmeg sprinkles

And a heavy dose of cinnamon please!

These “warm” spices add delicious flavor to pumpkin recipes, gingerbread, carrot cake and homemade chai tea. However, chai just wouldn’t be complete without the spicy-sweet flavor of cardamom on your palette. I smash a cardamom pod to release the oils when I brew my chai. Native to Scandinavia and East India, ground cardamom can also be used in puddings and cakes, as well as chicken and vegetable recipes. Cardamom pairs well with fruit, too.

The holidays aren’t complete without delicious drinks. Several holiday beverages combine festive seasonings with apple cider, oranges and raisins. Scandinavian glögg (pronounced “glurgg”) combines many of these ingredients with wine and brandy or vodka for a delicious hot drink that will warm your spirit as well as your body. Serve your Glögg with a side of baked breads featuring cinnamon, cardamom and allspice. For me, the mouthwateringly delicious smell of banana nut bread wafting through the house may be one of the most endearing and enduring memories of the holidays.

Perhaps the most popular tastes of the holidays are chocolate and peppermint. With some extra time during the holidays, you can enjoy Alton Brown’s recipe for chocolate peppermint pinwheel cookies. These two tastes may be enjoyed in short order, too, by simply adding bits of a peppermint candy cane or peppermint schnapps to your hot cocoa. Sometimes the simplest tastes and smells – combined simply – impart the most vivid memories.

On the twelfth day of Christmas baking,

Your holiday spice rack needs:

12  peppermint canes

11 mugs of  chocolate

10 banana breads

9 cups of  raisins

8 juicy oranges

7 crispy apples

6 cardamom-infused cups of chai

FIVE WHOLE CLOVES

4  teaspoons of ginger

3 pinches of  allspice

2 nutmeg sprinkles

And a heavy dose of cinnamon please!

This holiday, I hope you will explore and experiment with these flavors to create a variety of festive foods. May your holiday season bring you flavorful food, abundant aromas and myriad happy memories for the coming years.

Until next year, eat well!