The Mahdi Times The Mahdi Times, Issue #28, March 2015 | Page 20

to its full potential. Garam masala is a pungent, intense blend of spices cinnamon included - and is the star of many Indian meat dishes. It's heated up in a skillet before it's used, releasing the aromatic oils of the spices. Hot curries frequently call for cinnamon. Beef curries with cinnamon are especially delicious. In Sicily, ravioli are sometimes made with cinnamonsweetened ricotta cheese fillings. Or, try one of these quick ideas:  Add ¼ to ½ a teaspoon to chili for an aromatic twist.  Give hearty, cold weather soups and stews a unique depth with a bit of cinnamon.  Simmer cinnamon sticks in a pot of milk until warm, lace with honey and sip blissfully on a frosty winter’s day.  Jazz up generic storepurchased meat rubs by adding 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, then use for grilled chicken or other meat.  Toss 2 cups of raw nuts in a blend of ¼-cup honey and ½-teaspoon cinnamon. Roast at 350F for 15 minutes.  Add cinnamon to sweet rice with chopped nuts and fruits.  Two or three dashes of cinnamon on your coffee grounds before you begin your morning brew tones down the acidity of coffee.  A few shakes of cinnamon into pasta sauce gives it an earthy sweetness that will leave everyone begging for your secret recipe. Try simmering a few cinnamon sticks in a pot of water - the aroma will last for hours and you'll think your home has been transformed into an ancient palace. Cinnamon is a powerful natural insect repellent - toss a stick or two into any bags of flour and cornmeal hanging out in your pantry to keep unwelcome visitors away.