Spice It Up: Cloves

About

Cloves are made from the unopened flower buds of the clove tree, a small tropical member of the evergreen family. The tree is native to the Maluku Islands of Indonesia, also known as the “Spice Islands”, although it’s also grown in Madagascar and Tanzania. When the flower buds change from a pale green color to a bright red color, they are harvested and dried. Named after its distinctive shape, the word clove comes from the Latin word clavus, meaning nail. The dried flower buds can be used for cooking and seasoning as well as medicinal purposes

Spice It Up: Vanilla

The word vanilla is sometimes used for things that are boring, blah or basic. However, true food lovers know that vanilla is anything but plain. Its complex flavor profile, laborious growing process and interesting history all contribute to what makes this spice so intriguing.

About

It grows as a vine and can be up to 300 feet long. The vine features pale green-yellow flowers that, when pollinated, grow a fruit that looks like a string bean. It takes about nine months for a vanilla pod to ripen, and then it must undergo a long and tedious curing process. The little specks that you can see in high-quality vanilla bean ice cream are the tiny black speeds that fill vanilla pods.

Easy Party Appetizers

With the holidays just around the corner, you'll likely find that your calendar is filling up quickly. Whether it's a family gathering, an ugly sweater party, an office potluck, or friends coming into town, the season is filled with festivities. When you don't want to show up empty-handed, and you don't want to spend all day in the kitchen, we've got you covered! These appetizers are easy, require only a few ingredients, can be put together last minute and will definitely be popular at parties. We like to keep some of these items on hand for any last-minute events that may pop up, or for surprise guests that may pop in.