Page 4 - ROOT - May-June-2024

Spice It Up: SAFFRON
Saffron is a spice known for its vibrant color cream, and to flavor meats. Outside the food
and hefty price tag. Its reddish or golden industry, its uses include making fragrances or
yellow threads add a subtle yet distinctive dyeing textiles.
flavor to dishes. Saffron has a sweet, earthy Saffron is also a boon to our bodies. It’s a
flavor with a hint of bitterness.
powerful antioxidant, which makes it a good
The spice’s expense is due to its growth cycle. tool in the fight against cancer, depression, and
Saffron flowers bloom for only one week a year PMS.
and must be handpicked when the flowers are
closed to protect the threads. Luckily, a few Source:
saffron threads go a long way in cooking. https://www.foodnetwork.com/how-to/
packages/food-network-essentials/what-is-
This spice is native to the Middle East and is saffron
typically grown in hot, dry climates. Spain, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/saffron
Iran, and India are its main exporters. Saffron
is used to make rice, risotto, soup, stew, and ice

spotlight on superfOOds: OLIVE OIL
The term “superfood” is the perfect fit for Wasting money, not cooking hazards, is the
olive oil. It enhances all kinds of foods and reason to avoid using olive oil as a lubricant.
is bursting with nutrients. It’s even a useful Recent research has debunked two myths
ingredient in skincare products. about frying with olive oil:
Because it’s a rich source of polyphenols, • Olive oil has a lower smoke point, the
monounsaturated fats, and vitamins E and K, temperature when oil smokes, than other
olive oil can reduce the risk of cardiovascular vegetable oil.
disease, certain cancers, bone deterioration, • High temperatures destroy polyphenols
high blood pressure, and dementia.
and create dangerous compounds.
People worldwide have used olive oil for High-quality extra-virgin olive oil is expensive,
millennia to prepare entrées, marinades, salad so using a few tablespoons to sauté some
dressings, and even desserts. Depending chicken breasts may not be worth the money.
on the type of olive that is the source of
the oil and how it is farmed, harvested, and Olive oil improves the taste of many foods,
processed, olive oil can have many different your health, and your skin. You can find
flavors, including black pepper, citrus, nuts, quality olive oil at every price point, which is
and artichokes. Choose the brand based on good because you can get the one that works
the notes you want to add to your food. best for the different jobs that olive oil can do.
Rookie cooks mistakenly add olive oil to Source:
foods with intense flavors or use it to grease https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/
cookware. Bold flavors mask the taste of cooking-tips-techniques/olive-oil-smoke-
olive oil, so it’s a waste to use in dishes with point-myth
strong tastes. https://www.epicurious.com/ingredients/
seven-ways-to-tell-the-difference-between-real-
and-fake-olive-oil-article