Micro Basil Cinnamon by Fresh Origins Highly Recommended by the Peachy's Pantry Panelists!
I have never tried Micro Basil Cinnamon from Fresh Origins before and was really excited to use it! I thought a pumpkin pie would showcase the Micro Basil Cinnamon really well. I was right! Its slightly sweet spiciness went so nicely with the pumpkin flavor! It also serves as a beautiful garnish. Everyone loved the pie as well! The Micro Basil Cinnamon really enhanced the flavor of this dessert. I can't wait to use it to make more delicious treats!
Fresh Origins Micro Basil Cinnamon tastes so delicious! This is the perfect garnish to every dish! I made a luscious salad and was so excited to garnish it with this micro basil. You can use this garnish to make your food look beautiful. I love the way it makes your food look like it is made in a restaurant. Open the container and the scent will sweep you away. It makes every dish perfect. This really is a must have!
Being a novice chef, I initially wasn’t sure how to use the Fresh Origins Micro Basil Cinnamon. My initial thought was fish, and I decided to go with that intuition. I paired the Micro Basil Cinnamon with a fresh fillet of haddock, light-flavored olive oil and garlic salt. Having some Fresh Origins Fennel Flower Crystals in the house as well, I decided to try my hand at creating a sweet-and-savory taste, so I sprinkled the Fennel Flower Crystals on top of the haddock before baking it. After removing the fish from the oven, I added a few more sprinkles of the Fennel Flower Crystals and quite a bit more of the Micro Basil Cinnamon for a fresh look and taste (as the Micro Basil Cinnamon added before cooking had wilted and baked its flavor into the fish as it cooked). I had no idea what to expect from my experiment, but it ended up being fantastic and unique. The result was a light and fresh-tasting dish and was perfect for this between-holidays period when our palates sometimes need a refreshing but satisfying meal in-between holiday parties and meals.
One of my go-to meals is turkey burgers, mashed potatoes and a homemade vegetable and crushed tomatoes dish. I try to change it up now and then and try to do something different with it. I absolutely love basil. I use it whenever I can. The Micro Basil Cinnamon from Fresh Origins is now my new favorite type of basil. I used it to help flavor my turkey burger. It was amazing. I even used some to garnish my burger after I was finished cooking it. I can't wait to try this basil in other recipes.
And, our resident gourmet who used this as part of a culinary extravaganza, adds:
First Course: Salad of Micro Basil Cinnamon Greens, Mache and Assorted Delicacies, Wine-Lemon-Mint Emulsion Dressing
I found a recipe for a “Lemon Thyme Emulsion” for fish which I adapted for the Mint Herbal Crystals. In my opinion, it worked beautifully in lieu of a salad dressing and it would work just as well over fish or scallops.
In a sauce pan, I combined half a cup of the Red Hook 2009 Seneca Lake Riesling, a delicious sparkling wine I chose to pair the meal. (The Red Hook Winery in Brooklyn was devastated by Hurricane Sandy and, having been there a few months back to sample their wine, I purchased a case of this sparkling beauty. The Winery kept some inventory off premises and current sales will go towards rebuilding .)
To the wine I added the juice of half a lemon and two generous pinches of Mint Herb Crystals. I whisked the mixture over medium heat until very fragrant and then added 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. Reserving most the dressing in a glass jar, I left a bit behind to braise few whole radicchio leaves (one per guest). The radicchio softened and sweetened without removing the character of the leaf.
In a large salad bowl I combined the micro cinnamon basil, mache, pomegranate seed, organic pumpkin seeds (shelled) and organic dried cherries. I poured the emulsion, once cool, on the greens. Each plate was laid with the braised radicchio leaves and topped with the dressed salad. As a finishing touch, I sprinkled Himalayan sea salt crystals on the salad and topped the mount with two matches of 12-month aged Manchego.
Bottom Line: It is hard to go back to salad dressing after this mint emulsion. Mint leaf is often added, with great success, to complex salads. The Mint Crystals in the emulsion lend a subtle taste of mint to the beautifully aromatic cinnamon basil, mild mache and all other ingredients in this multi-layered salad.
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Micro Basil Cinnamon
Light green leaves, heirloom variety. Great flavor combination of Basil & Cinnamon! Refreshing aroma. Another wonderful Holiday herb. Perfect garnish for soups, stews, & meat dishes. Add a creative twist to desserts with this fresh spice. Great addition to any dish containing Cinnamon!
