Avanti Spice Blends :: Golden Spice & Hawaij ::

Avanti Golden Spice Blend & Hawaij :: Spice blends for health, flavor & speed in the kitchen

There is so much chemistry in cooking, and there’s chemistry in the combining of flavors too.  So when combining spices we should ponder the chemistries of both Health & Flavor.  Here are some recipes for Avanti signature spice blends that will make cooking in your kitchen fast, flavorful & full of phyto-nutrients.  Whip up some spice blends based upon your tastes and nutritional target interests and reach for one jar instead of several when it’s time to cook up a meal. 

Let’s start w/ two versions of Avanti Golden Spice, based on health food principles from India.  Ayurveda has known about the power of turmeric for centuries.  The holistic communities around the world have known foods’ abilities to heal and keep us young for quite some time.  Modern medicine just discovered it yesterday.  It’s positive to see science and tradition coming together.  These blends are all made up of ground spices.  Choose the best quality and freshest sources of ground spices you can find. 

Golden Spice, Simple Blend

Amount	Measure	Ingredient	Prep Method
1 ½	Cups	Turmeric
1	Cup	Fenugreek powder
¼	Cup	Asafoetida	Optional
¼	Cup	Paprika

Directions:

Combine all.  Makes 3 cups total.  Store in a glass container, in a dark cabinet.

Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, liver cleanse are just a few of the many healthful properties of turmeric.  Fenugreek nurtures the cardiovascular system and kidneys, reduces symptoms of menstrual discomfort and menopause, and may help to stave off diabetes.  Asafoetida treats headaches, respiratory disorders & strengthens the stomach.  It has a bitter taste, so perhaps start w/ less than the recipe calls for, until you acquire a taste for it.  You’ll learn to like it’s potent fragrance & strong flavor.  Paprika is loaded w/ vitamins A, E & B6, iron & capsaicin.  It’s a natural anti-bacterial. 

Here’s a more complex blend.  This gives you added spices for more healthful properties & flavor.

Golden Spice, Ginger Blend

Amount	Measure	Ingredient	Prep Method
¾	Cup	Turmeric
½	Cup	Fenugreek powder
½	Cup	Coriander powder
¼	Cup	Asafetida
1/8	Cup	Paprika	Not smoked
1/8	Cup	Ginger powder

Directions:

Combine all.  Store in a glass container, in a dark cabinet. 

Coriander has been studied for its beneficial effects on the nervous system, blood sugar & insulin.  Ginger is a potent anti inflammatory.  Inflammation leads to a host of illnesses and DIS-ease.  In addition ginger has impacts on arthritis, brain health, infection and more. 

All of these spices are considered anti-cancer compounds. 

I use some of the sea salt lime brine from the process of making Moroccan Preserved Limes w/ a hearty dash of Avanti Golden Spice in a glass of sparkling water to start the day w/ a hearty, energizing full body cleanse.  Add a wee fresh chili too to great the dawn!

Now let’s move to the Middle East for a tantalizing curry like spice blend, as fun to taste as it is to say, Hawaij

Hawaij Avanti

Amount	Measure	Ingredient	Prep Method
2 ½	Cups	Ginger	Ground
2/3	Cup	Cinnamon	Ground
½	Cup	Cardamom	Ground
2/3	Cup	Cloves	Ground
½	Cup	Paprika	Ground
2	Tablespoons	Lemon peel powder	POWDER
3	Tablespoons	Orange peel powder	POWDER
¼	Cup	Turmeric	Ground
¼	Cup	Fenugreek	Ground

Directions:

Combine all in a glass container.  Store in a dark cabinet.   

Cinnamon is known to regulate blood sugar, boost brain function & improve colon health.  Cardamom helps control cholesterol, boosts mood & supports gastrointestinal health.  Cloves are a potent anti bacterial, support the liver & bones.  Citrus peel powders are available in quality spice shops and online.  They add flavor & digestive health benefits.  We’ve used both orange peel & lemon peel powder in this fragrant version of Hawaij.

Whip up a batch of these great blends and use them daily.  A little spice in w/ anything makes for a tasty meal in minutes.  Make some fun labels & bag or jar up these fragrant wonder spices for gifts and stocking stuffers.  You’ll give the gift of flavor & health to everyone you know and for pennies a packet. 

-->

Eating Healthy & Delicious is a Win Win Win Situation!

Eat, Live & Party Well

Blog post by Chef Mark Cleveland

Avanti is the longstanding leader in organic, sustainable, local, flavorful cuisine in Orange County, CA.

Meaning 'forward' in Italian, Avanti Natural is a culinary philosophy that integrates the best of traditional European and Asian healthful eating with the latest nutritional information for optimum health.

At Avanti Natural, we believe that you don't have to sacrifice taste to eat healthy.  You can Eat Well & Live Well.  Follow us on social media to see what Avanti is up to now.  We are Whole Foods Experts.  Post photos of your versions of Avanti Natural recipes on our Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram pages.  Check our blog on the website for how to recipe blogs.  We’re excited to see and share your culinary creativity!

Avantinatural.com

Pinterest

https://www.pinterest.com/avantinatural/avanti-natural-lifestyle-media/

https://www.pinterest.com/avantinatural/mark-cleveland-creative/

https://www.pinterest.com/avantinatural/

Youtube

Avanti Natural

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8Q6ljhrJ56QXRF3vR4snMQ

Avanti Café

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYaIGYey-BCf7gIh1-DcSQA

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/avanti.natural?ref=hl

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Avanti-Natural/665626266871334?ref=hl

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Avanti-Culinary-Consulting/166822256677277?ref=hl

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chefs-Mark-Cleveland-Tanya-Fuqua/296158060441737?ref=hl

Twitter

https://twitter.com/AvantiNatural

Instagram

https://instagram.com/avantinatural/

Avanti Natural Website & Blog

http://avantinatural.com

http://avantinatural.com/blog.html

linkedin

https://www.linkedin.com/pub/mark-cleveland/b9/a1/823

Beet Greens :: YES :: How To ::

The only thing not much good for eating on a bunch of beets is the rough skin on the beets themselves.  There's much flavor and nutrition to be had in both the stems and the greens.  Almost all the time at the green grocer we hear the produce & check out staff asking customers if they want to keep the beet greens.  And more often than not, they say no.  Well, Avantiacs always say yes.  Now, if they are bug eaten, wilted and tired as they often are in the summer, keep them for your back yard chickens or to compost.  And if you have neither a chick nor a compost bin, then do discard them.  But from early fall until late spring the mighty, organic beet greens are usually plump, rich and full of flavor potential.  

Indeed, they must be washed well, especially those that are organically grown.  It's easy to do.  Fill your sink or a wash tub w/ cool water, cut the greens and stems from the beets, just above the beet itself.  Put the greens and stems into the cool water and soak for about 15 mins.  Pull them out of the water and into a colander.  Rinse out the sink or tub and repeat.  I find that the lucky number 4 works best when washing the dirt off the greens and stems.  It's a little time consuming cutting the stems.  But hum a song, say a prayer and find your mojo as you tackle the task.  Here's what the stems and leaves look like when separated and the stems are cut nicely.

Next add the stems to a skillet along w/ a few cloves of minced garlic, your favorite sea salt blend, black pepper, extra virgin olive oil or grapeseed oil and a bit of liquid.  I prefer Japanese sake or an Italian dry white vermouth.  A little minced ginger and onion add flavor and healthful properties too.  See The Mighty Trinity Roots.  

We've added salt to the cold pan, since the beet stems are fibrous and we plan to sweat them.  Turn the heat to medium and bring to a simmer.  Stir frequently.  Once most of the liquid has cooked down, add a splash of water, then add the chopped beet leaves.  Stir once, put a lid on the skillet and turn the heat off.  Allow to steam and cool for about 15 mins.  Now these gorgeous flavorful greens are ready to use in any culinary way you can imagine.  Try them in pasta, on pizza, in risotto, w/ polenta, to flavor your favorite tagine.  Chicken and seafood adore them, savory rice porridge and oatmeals are enlivened.  Serve them w/ some capers or with the roasted or boiled beets as a dish on their own.

Once done, they look like this.  Ahhhh, scrumptious indeedy!

Voila!  A serving suggestion of the lovely golden and red beet greens paired w/ sauted mushrooms, whole roasted garlic cloves, whole wheat penne, brown & wild rice & basil blossom & organic homemade crema garnish.  Bon Apetit!

Eating Healthy & Delicious is a Win Win Win Situation!

Eat, Live & Party Well

Blog post by Chef Mark Cleveland

Avanti is the longstanding leader in organic, sustainable, local, flavorful cuisine in Orange County, CA.

Meaning 'forward' in Italian, Avanti Natural is a culinary philosophy that integrates the best of traditional European and Asian healthful eating with the latest nutritional information for optimum health.

Our successful restaurant Avanti Café was located on 17^th St in Costa Mesa from 2005 through 2014.  Follow us on social media to see what is new and in store for Avanti in our culinary futures.

At Avanti Natural, we believe that you don't have to sacrifice taste to eat healthy; you can Eat Well & Live Well

We are Whole Foods Experts  It’s time to take Avanti Natural to restaurant menus & kitchens everywhere.

Post photos of your versions of Avanti Natural recipes on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.  We’re excited to see and share your culinary creativity!

www.avantinatural.com

Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Avanti-Cafe/166822256677277?ref=hl

Twitter  https://twitter.com/AvantiNatural

Pinterest  http://www.pinterest.com/avantinatural/boards/

Instagram http://instagram.com/avantinatural

Flavor & Nutrition Alchemy

Every Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 AM until 4 PM, here at Avanti Cafe, on our brunch plates you'll find a delicious organic brown rice medley to start your weekend day w/ a flavor & nutrition blast.  But did you know that there is a lot of alchemy going on in each pot of the tasty nutritious grain ...

Brunch rice ready to cook:

To every pot of rice we add the nutraceuticals reishi mushroom and nopales powder.

Reishi has been prized for centuries in traditional Asian medicine as a potent immune booster, cardiovascular support & allergy alleviator.

Reishi Benefits
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingzhi_mushroom

Nopales provide anti oxidant support and are thought to reduce the risk of diabetes

Nopales Benefits
http://www.livestrong.com/article/115063-nopal-cactus-health-benefits/

Our famous Avanti Golden Oil incorporates the ultra famous powerhouse root Turmeric

The Mighty Turmeric
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-weil-md/turmeric-health-have-a-happy-new-year_b_798328.html

as well as the lesser known but surely mighty fenugreek which is reputed to assist in cholesterol reduction and healthy skin & has been known to aid in good digestive health for centuries in Ayurvedic philosophy.

Learn about fenugreek
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-weil-md/turmeric-health-have-a-happy-new-year_b_798328.html

While our Avanti Brunch Rice is not spicy to the tongue, we do include two types of hot chili in the rice mix, red & yellow chili peppers, not to mention red sweet pepper powder as well.  As they are simmered in the organic brown rice cooking pot, they release flavor and nutrition, but not much heat.  According to Chili Pepper Madness, the benefits of chilis are numerous.  Notably, it has been reputed for years that chilis are potent blood purifiers.

Chilipeppermadness
http://www.chilipeppermadness.com/chili-pepper-health-benefits.html#.UFN7j47R30c

Next we have the dried green herbal powerhouses.  Who knew regular use of dried herbs keeps us healthy and fit --- Well most folks in the medical professions from the beginning of time until the beginning of the 20th Century knew for real.  Then the industrial revolution took over everything including the doctor's office and we lost the ability to see medicinal value in anything other than pills, tablets and capsules.

Oregano is a powerful anti oxidant, anti bacterial and anti fungal herb and is thought to reduce pain

Oregano's benefits
http://www.gardeningchannel.com/health-benefits-of-oregano/

then w/ thyme we have vitamin K & the ability to increase healthy fats

A stitch in thyme
http://www.gardeningchannel.com/health-benefits-of-oregano/

Savory, also in the mint family has many of the same properties and is thought to be an appetite suppressant as well.  Eat a hearty Avanti Brunch, then a light dinner peoples

Savor your Savory
http://www.farmerjohnsherbs.com/Topic/13-savory-nutritional-health-info.aspx

Mexican oregano is a New World native and actually in the verbena family.  It was known to the native peoples to boost the respiratory system and contains similar volatile chemicals to its European name sake hence the similar flavor.

Mexican Oregano
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_oregano

So you see, while our delicious brunch rice medley may be vegan and gluten free, it's packed w/ vitamins, nutrition, flavor & the alchemic knowledge of the ancients, each day being confirmed in new ways by ultra modern science.  You really can 'Spoon your way to excellent health!'

And here it is in all its flavorful & health giving glory paired w/ a extra favorite seasonal brunch special, Ratatouille Omelet Brunch. Come taste it this Sat & Sun too.  South Coast Farms heirloom eggplants are at the peak of harvest flavor right now.  Brunch is every Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 AM till 4 PM.

Ratatouille omelette.  Oo La La, organic eggplant, tomato & summer squash, garlic too.  Served w/ our famous rice and beans and multi-grain toast.

Eating Healthy & Delicious is a Win Win Win Situation!

Eat Live & Party Well 

As we say, eat w/ us several times a week and it’s likely you’ll become healthier than you already are!  And your taste buds will love every minute of it too. How many restaurants can legitimately make that claim !?!

Blog Post by Chef Mark Cleveland

Chef/ owner Avanti Cafe

Avanti Café  is a vegetarian & vegan friendly restaurant with many gluten free options [including our famous gluten free pizzas] in East Side Costa Mesa California [bordering Newport Beach].  Everything is custom made in house using the freshest ingredients.  We support local organic farms such as South Coast Farms in San Juan Capistrano using their fine produce in our dishes and hosting a Community Supported Agriculture site every Thursday.  We serve highest quality artisan beers in bottle and on tap, organic, biodynamic & sustainable wines, by the bottle and glass.  All of our desserts are made in house using organic whole grains, flours and sweeteners.  Always organic eggs & milk.  We make our own organic ricotta & feta cheeses in house and smoke organic mozzarella w/ bourbon soaked oak and chamomile.  Avanti is the longstanding leader in organic, sustainable, local, flavorful cuisine in Orange County.

www.avantinatural.com 

Avanti Café on facebook   AvantiCafe on Twitter & Pinterest