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Cinnamon - It's More Versatile Than You Think

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CinnamonAs you know from an earlier SuperFoodsRx newsletter and from our book, SuperFoods Healthstyle, cinnamon is a SuperSpice. And for good reason. According to recent studies, it has positive effects on blood glucose levels, as well as triglyceride and cholesterol levels.

We've told you a few ways to incorporate cinnamon into oatmeal, baked apples and yogurt. I've found that using cinnamon in many dishes adds depth and richness to the recipe. You'll love what it does to your meals.

Here are a few new ways to get more cinnamon, and it's SuperHealth benefits, into your diet.

Add cinnamon to stews, butternut squash soup and peanut sauce for your turkey satay. Include it in a rub for grilled chicken, turkey or even lean pork. And you can also add it to your mashed sweet potatoes or your sautéed spinach.

Here are two dinner recipes that include cinnamon:

Cranberry-Orange Turkey
  • 1 Tablespoon butter
  • 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 6 turkey cutlets
  • 1 ¼ cup high-pulp orange juice
  • 3 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ cup dried cranberries
  • salt and pepper

Melt butter and olive oil over medium high heat. Lightly salt and pepper the cutlets. Put cutlets in the pan and cook until golden brown on both sides (about 2 -3 minutes per side). Remove the cutlets and keep warm while you make the sauce. Add orange juice, mustard, cinnamon and dried cranberries to the pan, scrapping the bottom of the pan to loosen any savory brown bits. Bring to a boil and cook until the sauce has thickened. Place cutlets on the plates and serve with sautéed spinach and the cranberry-orange sauce.

Spiced Chicken and Apples

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (divided use)
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/8 teaspoon allspice
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 4 boneless chicken breasts
  • 1 Tablespoon canola oil
  • 3 medium apples (try Gala or Fugi)
  • ¼ c raisins
  • ¾ cup water
  • 1 teaspoon butter

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place chicken between two pieces of parchment paper and pound to an even thickness of ½ to ¾ inch. Mix ½ teaspoon of cinnamon with the other spices and rub all over the chicken. Press to make sure the rub adheres to the chicken. Add oil to oven-proof skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until it is seared. Transfer skillet to oven and bake for about 15 minutes or until chicken is not longer pink inside.

Slice apples and put with water, raisins and cinnamon in another pan over medium-high heat. Cook until apples begin to brown. Remove from heat. Add butter, stir and cover until ready to serve with Spiced Chicken.

When buying cinnamon, don't forget to look for non-irradiated cinnamon. Irradiation may lead to a decrease in cinnamon's vitamin C and carotenoid content. Morton and Bassett Spices makes a non-irradiated cinnamon that is very tasty.

 
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