Spice Merchant Drowners Grove will close on May 31, 2013 and reopen under new ownership in July 2013.  During the month of June the new owners will be preparing for the Grand Reopening.

Stay tuned for details on the new owners.

Alfredo Sauce

1/2 cup unsalted sweet butter

2 minced Garlic Cloves

2 cups of heavy cream

1/2 cup of freach grated parmesan Cheese

3/4 cup of fresh grated mozzarella Cheese

1/8 teaspoon of Nutmeg

Melt butter over medium heat.  Add Garlic, Nutmeg and Cream to butter. Bring to a Simmer.  Add parmesan cheese to the mixture and simmer for 10 minutes or until the sauce is thick and smooth.   Add the mozzarella.  Make sure to stir often. 

Grilling Fruit

It is time to pull the grill out from hiberation and start grilling some fresh fruits.   You can grill almost any fruit, the trick is to grill them just before they are completely rip and to leave them in their peel if possible.  

1) Cut up the fruit and remove all seeds/cores

2) Soak your fruit in cold lemon water (1 teaspoon lemon for each cup of water).  Soak for 20 to 30 minutes.  Add ice is the water begins to warm.

3) Add Spices if desired to the water.  Try a savory spice like Nutmeg, Ginger, Cinnamon or Cloves.  You can also add it to butter.

4) Lightly spread cooking oil or melted butter over the fruit so it will not stick to grill.

5) Make sure your grill grates are clean.  You dont want to contiminate the fruit flavor with your BBQ ribs sauce.

6) Sugars burn quickly so make sure to watch your fruit. 

7) Grill for approx 10 minutes. Turn Occassionaly

Add your favorite fruit to ice cream or serve as a side dish.  Have fun trying new favor combinations. 

THE CITY OF FAIRFAX IS ABOUT TO GET SPICY WITH THE OPENING OF

SPICE MERCHANTS - FAIRFAX

Offering loose leaf tea, spices & herbs, spice blends, BBQ rubs, tea & spice accessories, sea salts, naturally flavored sugars.  Grand Opening Party, Saturday, June 22, 2013.

Fairfax, VA.  May 15, 2013– The Historic District in the City of Fairfax is about to spice things up with “Spice Merchants-Fairfax,” a new member to the business community, that will prove to be a delight to all your culinary, weekend barbeque, and tea sipping needs.  A project of The Prucker Group, LLC, consisting of three native Northern Virginia partners, “Spice Merchants-Fairfax” will be celebrating its Grand Opening on Saturday, June 22, 2013 starting at 11:30 AM and will feature samples of Teas, snacks prepared with their own custom spices, and raffle prizes.   

“We’ve spent our entire lives in Northern Virginia.  Now that we are raising our families here, we envision a local hot spot for not only the tea and culinary connoisseur, but for the general community, anyone looking for high quality spices and teas.” said Christine Prucker, managing partner.  “With over 100 teas, and 200 common and exotic spices and blends, you’re sure to find something delicious to enhance any dish.”  

Located at 10376 Main Street, in the City of Fairfax, “Spice Merchants-Fairfax” provides an experience of excellent service, quality, and convenience.  Sure to entice you with marvelous aromas, coming from the charming displays of spices and teas.  At “Spice Merchants-Fairfax” you can purchase the prepackaged one ounce bags of spices, teas, sea salts, assorted peppercorns, naturally flavored sugars, as well as their custom barbeque, and spice blends.  Your spice blenders will also weigh out and package any amount you wish to purchase over the one ounce bags.  You can make your selection from the large jars displaying the vast array of fresh and high quality merchandise.  “Spice Merchants-Fairfax” also presents a wide range of ready-made gift boxes, accessories for teas and spices, with many styles of infusers, grinders, tea pots, jars, and spice racks.  If you would like more information about this topic, please contact John Horn at 703-359-2425 or email at John@pruckergroup.com.

Chili peppers are rated for the amount of capsaicin that is present in the pepper.  Capsaicin is a componet of chili peppers that are irrantant to humans.  When Capsaicin comes in contact with human tissue it creates a burning sensation.  The burning sensation a human feels is rated on a Scoville Scale. 

The Scoville Scale ranks peppers on a scale from 100 to 2,000,000. A 100 Scoville is a Green Pepper.  A 30,000 Scoville is Cayanne Pepper.  Two million Scoville is Law Enforcment Pepper Spray.   Because pepper are grown under different conditions the Scoville Scale uses ranges for their scale.

To determine where a pepper falls on the Scoville Scale, the amount of capsaicin present in the pepper is measure by high performance liquid chromatography.  This method identifies and measures the concentration of Capsaicin.   The results of the measurement are called American Spice Trade Association pungency.  This number is multipled by 15 to get Scoville Scale rating.

Toffee Bites                 

1 ½ sleeves wheat saltine crackers

1 stick of butter

½ tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. honey

1 cup packed light brown sugar

2 cups chocolate chips

Powdered sugar or shredded coconut

¼ cup crushed pecans and or almonds

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cover a baking sheet with wax paper and align as many crackers as the sheet will fit without the crackers touching.  Place the butter, nutmeg, honey and brown sugar in a sauce pan over medium heat. Stir occasionally until it begins to boil then you can start topping the crackers.

Bake the crackers for up to five minutes or until they start to bubble.  Then place a couple of chocolate chips on each cracker and let them melt.  With a knife spread the chocolate so that it covers the whole cracker. Add your choice of nuts and the powdered sugar or coconut.  Finish by refrigerating the crackers for about 30 minutes.

Spice Merchants Annouces a New Location in the Downtown Grand Rapids Market

Spice Merchants announces they will open a new location in the Downtown Grand Rapids Urban Market.  Spice Merchant will join other vendors such as Old World Olive Press, Dorothy and Tony's Popcorn, Aperitivo and Field and Fire.  Urban Market it located at 435 Ionia Ave SW Grand Rapids MI.  The Urban market is scheduled to open in August 2013.

Have you ever seen a flavored sugar but had no idea how to use it?  Here a five ways to use the sugars:

1) Rim your favorite beverage with a flavor sugar.  Having Margarita?  Rim the glass with Lime Sugar

2) Add Vanilla Bean to your coffee or in your Chocolate Chip Cookies

3) Add Raspberry Sugar to your oatmeal.  The Raspberry Sugar can be used to rim your favorite glass of Champagne. 

4) Sprinkle Clove Sugar on your carrots

5) Combine our Tangerine Sugar with honey and rub on your chicken breast before baking for a citrus sweet glaze.

The bottom line is to be creative.  If your recipe calls for a sugar kick it up with a flavored sugar.

Artichoke and Prosciutto Pasta

8 ounces pasta

½ cup diced prosciutto ham

¼ cup chopped spinach

1 tablespoon butter

14 ounce can water packed artichoke hearts, drained and quartered

3 tablespoons lemon juice

2 cups whipping cream

½ cup fontanella cheese

¼ cup grated parmesan cheese

½ teaspoon garlic salt

½ teaspoon dried basil

Cook pasta to al dente stage, as directed on package. In skillet sauté prosciutto in butter, and add artichoke hearts, spinach, lemon juice, garlic salt, and dried basil. Simmer for about 5 minutes, add cream and boil. Turn down heat and simmer until sauce thickens. Add cheeses; stir until melted and sauce is thick. Serve sauce over hot pasta. Makes 2 servings.

Cheesecake Squares

Crust:

1 ½ cups honey graham crackers crumbs

5 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Cheesecake filling:

¾ cup strawberry preserves or cherry (at room temp.)

8 ounce package cream cheese, softened

1 cup sour cream

¼ cup sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Cover an 8 inch pan with parchment paper letting it over hang slightly and spray with nonstick cooking spray.  Mix together the graham cracker crumbs, cinnamon, and butter then spread across bottom of the pan. Bake for 6 minutes and let cool. Turn oven up to 350.

At medium speed in a large mixer bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream and sugar and beat until smooth. Then slowly add the egg, and vanilla until fully blended. Pour the filling over the graham cracker crumbs and spread evenly. Bake 25 to 30 minutes and let cool. Just before serving cut into squares and drizzle over the top with preserves.

Want to kick up your turkey sandwich or burger?  Try chipotle Mayonnaise.

1 cup Mayo

2 Chipotle pepper

1 tbs of Chipotle Pepper Puree

1/2 lime (Juice)

Salt and Pepper (Pinch)

Puree the mayo, pepper and Puree.  Let sit in fridge for 2 hours.

2 TBS of Chopped Dried Habanero

1 cup of Olive Oil

1 dark 8oz Bottle with cap

Place the 2 tbs of dried habanero in the bottle.  Heat the olive oil over low heat.  After 15 minutes add the olive oil to the bottle with a funnel.  Place the cap on and store in a dark cool location for one week.

Zucchini Bread

Spring has sprung and it is time to plant some Zucchini.  Here is one of my favorite ways to use Zucchini.  Make this summer and freeze if for those long winter nights.

3 eggs

1 cup milk

1 tablespoon vinegar

2 cups sugar

¾ cup vegetable oil

2 cups shredded zucchini

5 tablespoons vanilla

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

½ cup raisins

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. In a mixing bowl beat together eggs, milk, vinegar, and vanilla. Mix in the rest of the ingredients. Pour batter in two greased and floured 9x5x3 inch loaf pans. Bake one hour and 15 minutes then cool on rack.

Chinese Fajitas

¼ cup soy sauce

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic

2 tablespoons dry sherry

½ pound flank steak

2 large tomatoes

2 large onions

2 large peppers

½ teaspoon seasoned salt

½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

¼ teaspoon cumin

2 tablespoons hoison sauce

16 ounce package flour tortillas

Combine soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and sherry in 9x9 inch pyrex pan and use to season the steak. Cover the meat with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. The next day chop up the tomato, onion, and peppers with the steak place in oiled sauté pan and bring to medium heat.  Add the salt and hoision sauce. Sauté for up to 10 minutes or until steak is medium well. Heat up the tortillas and fill with the steak and vegetables. Serves 4.

Ham Cheese Puffs

Filling

·         8 ounce package cream cheese, softened

·         2 tablespoons dairy sour cream

·         4 ounce can mushrooms, drained and chopped

·         1 green onion, chopped

·         ½ cup chopped ham

·         1 tsp onion powder

·         1 teaspoon garlic powder

·         1 tsp salt

Base

8 ounce can refrigerated crescent dinner rolls

Heat oven to 375degrees F. In a small bowl mix together all the filling ingredients. Cut the dinner rolls into 4 rectangles and then cut each one into 10 small squares. Spoon a small amount of filling into center of each square. Wrap the dough around the filling to make a ball. Bake 10 to 13 minutes or until lightly browned. Makes 40 appetizers

Spinach Pie

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 large onion, chopped

1 bunch green onions, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 pounds fresh spinach, rinsed and chopped

1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp dried basil

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 cup ricotta cheese

2 cups crumbled feta cheese

12 sheets phyllo dough

1/3 cup olive oil

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly spread oil on the bottom of a 9x9 inch square baking pan.

Start by drizzling 3 tablespoons of olive oil into a large skillet and bring to a medium heat. Add the onion, green onions and garlic, until moistened and lightly browned. Stir in spinach, parsley, garlic powder, dried oregano, and basilthenproceed to sauté until spinach is limp.  Set aside from heat and let it cool.

In a medium mixing bowl, whip together eggs, ricotta, and feta. Continue to stir while adding the spinach mixture.Place 1 sheet of phyllo dough in baking pan, and brush lightly with a layer of olive oil. Lay another sheet of phyllo dough on top, brush with olive oil, and repeat process with four more sheets of phyllo. (The sheets are meant to overlap the pan.) Spread spinach and cheese mixture into pan and fold outside ridges of dough over filling. Brush with oil, then layer remaining six sheets of phyllo dough, brushing each with oil. Wrap the overhanging dough into pan to seal filling.

Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until golden brown. Cut into squares and serve while hot.

Cinnamon, Brown Sugar, Honey Butter

1/2 cup of butter (softened)

4 tablespoons of Brown Sugar

1 tablespoon of Cinnamon

1 teaspoon of nutmeg

1 teaspoon of honey

Whip together.  Serve with your favorite bread or roll.

1 to 2 small fresh jalapeno peppers, seeded and diced
1/2 Pound grated Muenster cheese
1 Cup sour cream
1 Cup cottage cheese
1 Bunch scallions, chopped

1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

sift the powder of 1 pkg of Liptons Onion Soup mix, and add 1 tablespoon of the powder

1 tsp. cumin

1 tsp. paprika


Mix together all ingredients and let sit for 6 hours or overnight to let the 
flavors blend. 


Serve alongside salsa with tortilla chips or bread.

 To start off all you need is a .035”x24”x48” sheet of brushed stainless steel, neodymium magnets, baby jars or mason jars, and labels

Steps:

      Find an empty wall space in your kitchen to mount the sheet of brushed stainless steel.  

      Glue the neodymium magnets to the top of the jars.

      Stick the label either on the side or the bottom of the jar.

      Once you are finished it is time to place the jars on the stainless steel sheet and begin cooking your favorite meals. 

Spiced Lentil Soup

This is a soup for those end of the winter colds and beginning of spring allergies. These spices will help clear the sinuses and aid in weight loss so that your ready for summer.

Serves 6 

2 onions, minced

2 garlic cloves

4 tomatoes, roughly chopped

1/2 teaspoon turmeric

1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

6 cardamom pods

1/2 cinnamon stick

1 1/3 cups red lentils, rinsed and drained

3 3/4 cups water

14-ounce can coconut milk

1 tablespoon lime juice

salt, freshly ground pepper and cumin seeds to garnish

Put the onions, garlic, tomatoes, cumin, cayenne, nutmeg, turmeric, cardamom pods, cinnamon, lentils, and water into a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and let simmer for 20 minutes, or until lentils are soft.

Next remove the cardamom pods and cinnamon stick. Puree the mixture in a blender. Press the soup through a strainer and place back in sauce pan. Add the lime juice and most of the coconut milk only to save the rest for the garnish. Stir well and season with salt and pepper. Reheat the soup until hot, pour in the remaining coconut milk and garnish with cumin seeds.

-adapted from The Soup Bible

Picking a Spice Rack

Choosing a spice rack that is functional and fun can be difficult.  Here are 5 tips that will help you choose the perfect spice rack.

1) Determine where you would like to store your spices.  If you placing them in a cabinet decide if you want to place the rack on a shelf, drawer or on the cabinet door.  After you pick the spot, measure the area.

2) Decide if you want to purchase empty spice jars or prefilled.

3) Decide what material you would like your spice rack made of.  Most spice racks are manufactured in wood, acrylic or metal.

4) Determine how many spice containers you want.  The number of spice containers can vary from 5 to 40. 

5) Determine a budget.  Spice racks vary for $12 to several hundred.  Price varies due to quality of material and spice.

After you have determined all the elements above begin your search online or at one of our locations.   A spice rack is an item you will keep around for a long time.  When you find a spice rack ask yourself, will I still like this in a year?  If I move will in work in a new location?  If you answered yes to these two questions and it fits your needs, you have found your spice rack.

We are very excited to introduce our newest locations.

Corp Owned Stores:

401 East Pine Ave

Anna Maria, FL  34216

Directions

(Now Open)

Coconut Point Mall

23106 Fashion Dr.

Estero, FL  33928

Directions

(Opening May 2013)

420 Phoenix St.

South Haven, MI 49050

Directions

(Opening June 2013)

20 Washington

Grand Haven, MI 49417

Directions

(now open)

Urban Market – downtown Grand Rapids

(opening early July 2013)

Franchise stores:

311 Ocean Ave.

Laguna Beach, CA  92651

Owner:  Paul Greer

Directions

Opening March 22^nd

10376 Main St.

Fairfax, VA  22030

Owners:  Christine Prucker & Charles Woodard

Directions

Opening April 11^th

903 Canal St.

Winona Lake, IN  46590

Owners: Christine & Jerry Ouding

Directions

Opening April 19^th

Stop by today and say "Hello".  We look forward to servicing your spice and tea needs.

Ginger has been said to aid in nausea, and it has been tested proving that it limits the release of vasopressin. Vasopressin is a key hormone that creates nausea from motion sickness. Ginger may also help prevent and treat arthritis, asthma, cancer, cholesterol problems, heart attack, heartburn, indigestion, migraine, morning sickness, stroke, elevated triglycerides.

Here are some ideas for adding ginger to your diet:

• Chop fresh ginger over cooked tofu, vegetables, soba noodles or stir fry.
• Use our Teriyaki Gnger Rub on your favorite meat
• Ginger Tea
  

Combine ground ginger and a little brown sugar and sprinkle on acorn squash or sweet potatoes before baking.

Richard Anderson, PhD, a scientist at the Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, proved that cinnamon helps prevent/treat diabetes. He discovered that cinnamon mimics the action of insulin, which allows excess sugar to move out of the blood and into the cells. Cinnamon may also help prevent and treat: Cancer, cholesterol problems, food poisoning, heart disease, hypertension, insulin resistance, polycystic ovarian syndrome, stroke, ulcer, vaginal yeast infection, wounds.

Here are some ways to incorporate cinnamon into your diet:

Add a whole cinnamon quill in soups or stews.

Sprinkle cinnamon on apples, bananas, melons, oranges, and rice pilaf.

Mix together equal parts cinnamon, cardamom and black pepper, and use as a seasoning for meats.

Make spiced tea: Put a quart of brewed tea into a pot, add 2 cups of apple juice, and gently simmer with a sliced lemon and two cinnamon sticks for 10 minutes.