Kitchen Operas

Cinnamon, star anise, nutmeg, cloves & cardamom are instant bringers of festive cheer. This is a warming holiday beverage that will make your entire home smell like joy.

Ohhhh Chai spices — I love them so much!  They are so warming and comforting and make you feel like everything is right with the world.  I love Chai tea, and make my own masala chai (mixed spice tea) by blending tea and this spice mix.  The nice thing is you can customize the blend […]

One very last India post for you — and this is one of my favourite recaps! We were lucky to go to two different spice plantations when we were in South India: one in Goa, and one in Periyar (Kerala).  The pictures in this post are from both spots. We had two lovely guides, both […]

If you’ve got your Niter Kibbeh all ready to go, what you need now is your spice blend. You can buy Berbere already made at Ethiopian groceries, as either a dry spice blend or a paste. Or you can make your own and make your kitchen smell divine. The Niter Kibbeh is a spiced oil, […]

So if you’ve decided you want to master Ethiopian food like you’ve been eating in restaurants, you’d better start making yourself some spiced oil to cook with.  And if you are doing it while you’re celebrating Vegan Mofo, you’d better figure out how to do it without butter. A great resource for vegan (and gluten-free!) […]