Arrowroot is made a from a tuber that was first used by the Caribbean Arawak people. It is an effective thickener as well as a useful alternative to wheat flour in biscuits, cakes and various baked goods. Corn starch is made from the corn kernel’s endosperm and was originally considered inedible, but later became popular […]
Maple Sugar Vs. Brown Sugar: SPICEography Showdown
Native Americans were the first to discover the means of making maple sugar. They boiled the sap of maple trees sap down to create a solid product that could last for long periods and that was easier to transport than sap or syrup. They passed that knowledge on to early European settlers and that knowledge […]
Potato Starch Vs. Corn Starch: SPICEography Showdown
Potato starch and corn starch are both effective for thickening and for use in baked goods. You will be able to use either one in most recipes and wind up with very similar results. That said, there are some differences between the two as each of them is better for some applications than for others. […]
What’s A Good Potato Starch Substitute?
Potato starch is essential if you are on a gluten-free diet or if you want a resistant starch that can help you to lose weight. Use it to thicken everything from gravies to pie filling. Can’t find potato starch or need an immediate alternative? Let’s review your best potato starch substitute, as well as a […]
What’s A Good Lemon Pepper Substitute?
Lemon pepper is a popular and versatile seasoning blend. The best-known applications involve using it on poultry and fish; however, it can be used on beef and vegetables as well. This blend is useful enough to keep in your spice cabinet at all times. What should you do if you run out or can’t find […]
Potato Starch: The Andean Thickener
Potatoes are indigenous to the Andes and would not be introduced to Europe until the late 16th century. The people of the Andes were the ones to discover and use potato starch, which would later on be called almidon de papa. This potato product was made from ground potatoes that were first soaked and then […]
Lemon Pepper: A Seafood Seasoning And Much More
In its most basic form, lemon pepper is simply a combination of two popular flavoring agents: lemon and black pepper. The point in history at which these two spices were first combined is unknown. As with many simple seasoning blends, the identity of the inventor was never documented and has been lost to history; however, […]
What’s A Good Poppy Seeds Substitute?
Poppy seeds are visually striking and can offer a nutty flavor along with a crunchy texture to enhance dishes as diverse as curries and lemon poppy seed muffins. They are a common ingredient in both European and Indian recipes. If you regularly cook dishes from either of those cultures, you may want to keep some […]
Cane Sugar: The Original Sugar
Sugar cane is indigenous to Polynesia but would make its way to India about 8,000 years ago. When the Persians invaded India, they adopted it and developed a method for extracting cane sugar around 600 BC. Note that some historians claim that cane sugar extraction first took place in Northern India. Alexander the Great’s Indian […]
Poppy Seeds: An Ancient Sumerian Baking Spice
Poppy seeds are believed to have originated in either Western Asia or the Western Mediterranean region. Historians believe that they were first cultivated in lower Mesopotamia by the Sumerians around 3400 BC. It was at this point that opium was discovered and first used. The plant, along with its medicinal and dietary uses would be […]
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