Dr. Lonsdorf's Smart Spice Mixture

Yes, we have been eating since my last post... It's exciting to see the start of the local organic produce arriving in the markets, and I've been making "variations on a theme" of my basic soup recipes.

Frequently I use a spice blend recommended by Dr. Nancy Lonsdorf, an expert in ayurvedic (natural) medicine. She calls it Smart Spice, and she discusses the health benefits in her book Ageless Woman... (get the book, get the book.)

I prepare about 8 ounces of it at a time so it's always fresh and always handy:
10 Tbs fennel seeds
6 Tbsp coriander seeds
6 Tbsp cumin seeds
2 Tbsp turmeric powder

Grinding your own mixture instead of using powdered spices will have better flavor and beneficial effect. I use a Magic Bullet but any spice grinder should work to create a fresh, aromatic, finely ground mixture. Stir the mix into a dry pan on medium heat for 1-2 minutes. Cool then store the mix in an airtight container, away from sunlight.

For crockpot soupe, after the grains and legumes have been cooking a while, I sautee 1 Tbsp of Smart Spice in a couple Tbs of organic sunflower oil, until golden and fragrant - a minute or two. Then I add the mix to the crockpot, with the choice du jour of veggies etc. That's it!

You can also use 1/2 tsp of Smart Spice sprinkled on hot veggies, grains etc, or sauteed with a little olive oil on low for a nice drizzle on any dish.

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