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DIY BBQ Rub March 14 2016

Calling all pitmasters! It’s time to rub your meat with a blend of spices that will take your slow cooking to the next level. If you’re getting sick of the “standard” BBQ rubs, it’s time to put them down and make your own.

Ingredients:

La Flor Sea Salt

La Flor Black Pepper

La Flor Garlic Powder

La Flor Cumin

La Flor Cayenne Pepper

La Flor Ground Cinnamon

La Flor Paprika

White Sugar

Dark Brown Sugar

Directions:

Mix all contents in a large bowl. Apply liberally to pork, beef or chicken approximately 1 hour prior to cooking.

When taste is everything, La Flor is all you need to transform your slow cook into an extraordinary culinary delight. Shop our selection of spices, herbs, and blends on the web - keep it spicy, America!

Recipes for a Snow Day January 23 2016

Jonas isn’t stopping anytime soon and as such it’s better (and safer) to stay home, cue up the next episode of [insert favorite TV series here], and raid your pantry.

Not sure where to begin? We’ve got some belly-warming recipes perfect for fueling you through your Netflix binge:

Sopa de Ajo Castellana (Castilian Garlic Soup) - The perfect companion to a cold winter’s day. This classic soup hails from the Castilian region of Spain, featuring serrano ham, La Flor's paprika, cumin and black pepper - and a lot of garlic. Recipe here »

Mexican Hot Chocolate - Not your kid’s hot chocolate, that’s for sure. Here we include some mezcal and La Flor’s cinnamon and cayenne to spice things up. Recipe here »

Beef Stew with Beer and Paprika - A simple beef stew featuring your favorite cold brew and La Flor paprika. This will take a little over 2 hours to make - start now and it’ll be ready just in time for dinner. Recipe here »

When taste is everything, La Flor is all you need to transform your everyday meal into an extraordinary culinary delight. Shop our selection of spices, herbs, and blends on the web - keep it spicy America!

photo via Flickr

6 Spices for Detoxing November 12 2015

During the holidays there are so many delicious treats abound, it’s no wonder that people start their diets after the holiday season ends. But, you can get your body back to where it once was, now, with..... spices!

Not only do spices and herbs transform your dish into a culinary delight but many pack some surprising detox benefits:

Cilantro helps with mercury detoxification, typically due to consuming too much fish. This herb is filled with minerals as well as vitamins A and K and is also proven to be an anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antiseptic.

Cayenne seasoning encourages digestion and muscle movement in your intestines and helps your body absorb nutrients. It is both an antioxidant as well as an anticoagulant that helps clean the blood from unwanted toxins.

Turmeric helps in detoxing your liver because of its active ingredient, curcumin. Curcumin stimulates the production of bile in your gall bladder that is needed to eliminate toxins as well as rejuvenates liver cells that break down harmful compounds.

Cinnamon paired with honey can help in preventing the accumulation of certain fats as well as reduce inflammation in the body. Cinnamon is a good dietary fiber and an excellent source of manganese, calcium, iron and vitamin K.

Rosemary, according to a study, can protect the liver and stomach against carcinogenic and toxic ingredients. It contains phenolic antioxidant rosmarinic and essential oils which are known to have anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antiseptic properties.

Ginger is a great source of sulfur which is important when excreting toxic substances from your body during phase two of the detoxification process. This spicy root also helps in cleansing our system, digesting and settling your stomach.

Everyday we ingest unwanted chemicals and additives without even realizing, so it’s important to filter them out regularly. Help your body bounce back this holiday season and rid any unwanted toxins by adding the above spices to your cooking!

Pumpkin Seed Recipes October 14 2015

Whether you're a pumpkin carving Picasso or are simply giving your artistic ability a chance, one thing's for sure - post jack-o-lantern carving leaves us with a mess of pumpkin parts. But rather than tossing them to the side and ultimately to the curb, collect the seeds instead!

The usual salt and pepper recipe certainly isn't the only thing they're good for - here's a list of other ways that you can enjoy your pumpkin’s leftovers this fall:

To begin:

Gather up your seeds in a colander, rinse in cool water, and pat dry. Then line them on a rimmed baking sheet and place them in the oven at 300 degrees. Bake them until they are dry throughout (about 50-60 minutes) and remove from the heat, raising the oven temperature to 350 degrees.

Transfer your cool seeds to a bowl, choose a flavoring below and then pop them back into the oven for another 10-15 more minutes.

Options:

Maple Mocha - because sweet and salty never tasted so good!

2 tablespoons of coconut oil
2 tablespoons of maple syrup
1 tablespoon of coffee grounds
1 tablespoon of cocoa powder
½ tablespoon of granulated sugar
1 teaspoon of La Flor cinnamon
½ teaspoon of La Flor nutmeg

Gingerbread - because it’s not just for winter

4 tablespoons of melted unsalted butter
2 tablespoons of La Flor brown sugar
2 teaspoons of La Flor cinnamon
½ teaspoon of ginger
½ teaspoon of La Flor allspice
½ teaspoon of La Flor nutmeg
¼ teaspoon of La Flor ground cloves

Rosemary Parmesan - for the cheese lovers in the audience

2 tablespoons of extra-virgin Olive Oil
2 tablespoons of La Flor rosemary
¼ cup of finely grated Parmesan cheese
½ teaspoon of La Flor garlic powder
Season with La Flor salt and pepper to taste

Curry-Sriracha - for the spice obsessed!

2 tablespoons sriracha
2 tablespoons sesame oil
1 teaspoon of La Flor curry powder
½ teaspoon of La Flor paprika
Season with La Flor salt and pepper to taste

For more pumpkin seed recipes that you’ll love, check out Real Simple’s list.

When taste is everything, La Flor is all you need to transform your everyday meal into an extraordinary culinary delight. Shop our full selection of spices, herbs, and blends on the web - keep it spicy America!

Spices for Fall Cooking September 30 2015

Although no spice is off limits for fall cooking, there are some that are especially suitable. And no, we’re not just talking apple or pumpkin spice - there are plenty of other flavors that are key for cooking this season:

Nutmeg- With a nutty yet strong sweet flavor - you can add this to any dish from sweet to savory. Need a dip for the big game? This baked creamy spinach dip will definitely switch things up.
Cinnamon- Sweet and pungent with an earthy flavor - cinnamon is great to mix with fruits and deserts but that’s not all! Apple cider beef stew gives cinnamon a whole new meaning.
Ginger- Hot yet sweet, even a little woody, ginger is key for desserts, drinks, and savory dishes. The famous dessert that we have all come to know and love is gingerbread cookies but wait until you taste ginger spice cookies.
Cloves- They have a strong, bitter yet sweet and almost hot aroma. Don’t know what to cook with cloves? This recipe of baked sweet potatoes with a hint of cloves would be a hit at Thanksgiving.
Allspice- A happy combination of nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves - a great fall meal that you can enjoy with some allspice would be marinated pork with caramelized fennel.

These spices can certainly be used year round, but really enhance the flavors fall dishes bring. Do you have any go to fall recipes with particular spices or seasonings? Share with the La Flor community on our Facebook page!

How to Use Cinnamon Sticks September 24 2015

Fall is back! As the weather cools off and the leaves begin to change color, the urge to indulge in some delicious fall treats is overwhelming. You're probably thinking we're about to rattle off 20 pumpkin spice recipes, but we're not that basic.

Frankly, we can't think of a better ingredient to highlight in the fall than cinnamon. So bust out your flannels and over-sized sweaters, get ready to add some cinnamon to your autumn cooking:

Add it to your warm beverage - While you can always add a cinnamon stick to your coffee or tea for a kick of flavor, try steeping it in hot water for a cup of comforting cinnamon tea. It can also double as a stirrer for your hot cocoa, cider, and hot toddies!

Toss some in your crockpot - Adding a cinnamon stick into your slow cooker with meat (like a roast, chicken, or short ribs) can add another delicious flavor to your meal.

Flavor your oats - Instead of topping your morning oatmeal with cinnamon powder - include a cinnamon stick in the pot while cooking (just make sure to remove before serving).

Make some homemade applesauce - It IS apple picking season after all, so grab a few pounds of your favorite apples, a cinnamon stick, and get cookin! Try this recipe here »

When taste is everything, La Flor is all you need to transform your everyday meal into an extraordinary culinary delight. Stock up on your cinnamon sticks this season, simply purchase online or shop in stores!

Herbs and Spices that Can Save Your Skin August 26 2015

Want to make your skin glow? If so, incorporate more spices into your diet! It will give your skincare regimen a boost while making your food taste delicious. Talk about a win-win situation! From antioxidants to anti-inflammatory agents, the herbs and spices below have everything your skin needs to be healthy:

Chamomile to calm razor burn: A natural anti-inflammatory, chamomile has the power to reduce redness, itchiness, and swelling that can come along with beard burn. Simply steep chamomile tea in boiling water for 2-3 minutes so the anti-inflammatory enzymes can release, then place the tea bag in the fridge to cool before applying it to irritated skin.

Cinnamon for a bright complexion: Cinnamon is packed with antioxidants that fight skin damage. Feel free to add half of teaspoon to your coffee grounds before brewing for an easy antioxidant boost!

Hot peppers to fight wrinkles: Cayenne, paprika, and chili pepper do more than just heat up your taste buds. Vitamins A and C help combat free radicals - plus as we learned in our previous blog, peppers contain capsaicin which has been shown to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cancer-fighting properties. Try adding some cayenne to your guacamole, chili pepper in curry sauce, or make a rub for your meat with paprika.

Turmeric to reduce inflammation: This herb has powerful anti-inflammatory benefits due to its high concentration of curcumin. Studies have shown that curcumin may fight melanoma if applied topically. This substance inhibits angiogenesis - which is the growth of blood vessels. A lot of cancer research has been done showing curcumin to be a potent inhibitor of tumor activity. Sprinkle some into your pasta salads or soups!

Start spicing up your diet and reap the benefits the above herbs and spices have to offer. When taste is everything, La Flor is all you need to transform your everyday meal into an extraordinary culinary delight. Shop our selection of spices, herbs, and blends on the web - keep it spicy America!

5 Miracle Spices with Huge Health Benefits August 06 2015

Spices not only are key in transforming a bland meal into a flavorful dish - but many are known to pack in some unexpected health perks as well. From protection against some of the deadliest chronic conditions to simply helping to relieve stress - see below for five miracle spices with huge health benefits:

Turmeric - A distant relative of ginger, turmeric is a staple ingredient in Indian cuisine. Curcumin, a substance found in turmeric, may help reduce inflammation and ease symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Sprinkle turmeric on your egg salad, add some to chicken or seafood casseroles, or try it in a traditional curry dish.

Thyme - Popular in stews, soups, and sauces - people use thyme to treat bronchitis, whooping cough, arthritis, high blood pressure, as well as various types of cancer. The essential oil of thyme contains thymol - a naturally occurring compound that can destroy harmful organisms such as MRSA infections as studies have shown.

Ginger - Aside from helping to settle an upset stomach, this spice can also lessen muscle soreness. Gingerol, a chemical in ginger, is thought to reduce inflammation and block nerve pathways that process pain. Try using ginger in a stir fry, add some to your meat, or grate some fresh ginger over veggies or noodles.

Basil - With strong antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory properties, basil can help with cardiovascular health. The essential oils in basil have been shown to lower blood glucose, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels. It also contains phytochemicals which studies suggest may lower cortisol - a hormone secreted when tense. Next time you’re feeling frazzled, add this herb to your tea.

Cinnamon - Known to bring out and warm up the flavors in the foods it’s paired with, cinnamon also works to keep your arteries healthy, manage blood sugar levels, and lower cholesterol. Studies have shown that eating half a teaspoon of cinnamon daily defuses risk factors for diabetes and heart disease within 6 weeks! Sprinkle some in your coffee, oatmeal, or peanut butter!