Food and Drink
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Simply Wonderful Scented Sugars
   
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The Harmony Between Wine And Food
Scented sugars are so easy to create and they're simply wonderful. Wine is a social drink which should be enjoyed in the company of friends and .. food.
The right combination between food and wine is a source of ultimate bliss for every connoisseur. Both wine and food can .....
They make perfect gifts too.
To make your own scented sugars youll need some clean, dry jars with
good seals, cheesecloth, plenty of granulated sugar (and other sugars, if
desired), and a nice variety of herbs, spices, and flowers (always
choose fresh herbs and flowers that have NOT been sprayed with
chemicals).
Try the following combinations, then experiment to come up with your
own signature variety of scented sugar.
NOTE: The herbs and spices will begin to flavor the sugars in about 3
days, but let them sit in the jars, undisturbed, in a cool, dry place out of
direct sunlight, for about 2 weeks for the most flavor.
LAVENDER SUGAR
Put 2 tablespoons of dried lavender into a piece of cheesecloth and tie it
closed. Place the cheesecloth in a jar and add 1/2 cup granulated
sugar. Tightly close the lid to the jar.
VANILLA SUGAR
Split a whole vanilla bean and put it in a clean, dry jar. Bury the bean in
granulated or confectioners sugar. Tightly close the lid to the jar.
GINGER SUGAR
Mix 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger with 1/2 cup of granulated sugar in a
clean, dry jar. Tightly close the lid to the jar.
STAR ANISE SUGAR
To create this licorice tasting sugar, put 8 whole star anise and 1/2 cup
of granulated sugar into a clean, dry jar and mix them together. Tightly
close the lid to the jar.
CLOVES SUGAR
Combine 10 whole cloves with 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a clean, dry
jar. Tightly close the lid to the jar.
CITRUS SUGAR
Use a vegetable peeler to remove long strips of zest (the outside peel)
from a large orange, 2 medium lemons, or 4 medium limes. Put the zest
in a clean, dry jar and bury it with granulated sugar. Tightly close the lid
to the jar.
MINT SUGAR
Wash and thoroughly dry some fresh mint leaves (use your favorite
variety of mint - spearmint, peppermint, chocolate mint, etc.) Put a little
granulated sugar in the bottom of the jar, then add a layer of mint leaves,
then another layer of sugar. Keep layering the mint leaves and sugar
until the jar is full. Tightly close the lid to the jar.
SCENTED GERANIUM SUGAR
Wash and thoroughly dry some leaves from a scented geranium (rose,
lemon, orange, pineapple, or chocolate-scented geraniums, etc. - not
regular geraniums). Put a little granulated sugar in the bottom of the jar,
then add a layer of scented geranium leaves, then another layer of
sugar. Keep layering the scented geranium leaves and sugar until the
jar is full. Tightly close the lid to the jar.
TO USE THE SCENTED SUGARS:
Sprinkle any variety of scented sugar over fruit, or hot or cold cereal.
Use scented sugar instead of plain sugar in a sugar cookie recipe or
in any cake, cookie, or custard recipe that calls for granulated sugar.
Add citrus sugar to hot or iced tea.
Try a little vanilla sugar in coffee, or mix it with powdered cinnamon and
use for cinnamon toast or French toast.
Add mint sugar to tea or lemonade.
Use scented confectioners sugar when making icings for cakes and
brownies.
Final Note: Once the herbs, spices, or flowers have flavored the sugar,
remove them from the jars if you will use the jars of sugars as gifts.
For daily food tips and other fun food information, visit the Three Angels
Gourmet Co. blog at http://www.threeangelsgourmet.blogspot.com
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