Quick and easy Hot Chocolate recipe

Ainsley Harriott cooks his camera crew a special hot chocolate recipe. Try it out yourself! Delicious recipe idea from BBC cookery show Ainsley's Gourmet Express. Watch more high quality videos on the Food YouTube channel from BBC Worldwide here: http://www.youtube.com/bbcfood

SWISSAID Brings Hope To Colombian Cardamom Farmers.

It took several years of hard work but finally it had paid off and Colombian Farmers are elated.

The SWISSAID federation has given the green light to the cooperative of Colombian farmers from Caramanta to begin growing cardamom in what it will be at first 40 hectares of land in the south east region of Antioquia.

SWISSAID officials visited the land around september of 2011, investigated thoroughly about the project and the viability to make of it a program that would help the community most importantly.


For those who don't know about SWISSAID, One of Switzerland’s leading aid organizations; founded in 1948. They are involved in cooperative development projects in nine countries, try to influence policy-making on development in Switzerland, and inform people about the causes of poverty and underdevelopment. They have 122 staff worldwide, 31 of whom work in Switzerland.


Here an excerpt taken from their website explaining their vision:

Farmers Cooperative In Caramanta

"At  SWISSAID, we believe that everyone is equally entitled to prosperity and to contribute to and participate in the beauty of our world. Participation means codetermination, cooperative creation and shared responsibility in regards to other people, society and the environment. Sustainable development that respects human dignity is possible only if women and men are on equal terms. Cultural diversity and respect for other beliefs and ways of doing things are an important ingredient for quality of life. Inequality, poverty and suffering are not determined by fate. We believe that it is possible for us, as human beings, to use our abilities to bring the vision of a more peaceful and just world into being. The only things missing are insight and the willingness to make the necessary changes"

Cardamom Plantation

"The most remarkable aspect about this project is the social impact that is generating" says one of the project precursors. Mr. Alonso Munera, who's been in the Cardamom business for many years and foresees a remarkable future for Colombian Cardamom over the next decade.

Cardamom in Caramanta grows next to coffee plants and under the shadow of trees, with no use of chemicals whatsoever, although is not organic certified yet, it complies with all of the guidelines to be a 100% organic product. that is why Colombian Cardamom is rated amongst the highest quality on the market. it is up to us to make of it the best in the world.

The project means big business, cardamom being one of the priciest spices on the market only behind vanilla and saffron.

The market for Cardamom is expanding, not only in Asia, Africa and Europe but all over the world, Cardamom is becoming more of a household item and less of an ethnic spice these days. Here in New York you can find it in North American Pastries, in Cocktails, in Fusion style couisine, it's the trendiest spice of 2012 according to Mc Cormic, one of the leading spices purveyors in the country.

Its culinary uses are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to talking about the benefits of cardamom, we have written ominously here and here about all the different uses for cardamom, from a medicinal standpoint to a beauty product. the various uses of cardamom are remarkable, no wonder in India is known as the Queen of Spices.

What people most recognize about Colombian Cardamom is its freshness, its taste and aroma and that's where we have to focus our efforts.

it is important for us to understand the quality of our product and how can we strive to make it even better, not only the spice itself, but the whole operation around it. making it as enviromentally sustainable as possible.

If you wish to learn more about our Colombian Cardamom Project in Caramanta, the people behind it and how you ca get involved write us at  sales@merit-trade.com or you can  visit our website www.merit-trade.com.

Saffron poached pear recipe - The F Word

Gordon Ramsay's recipe for saffron poached pear with mint and cardamon custard. on The F Word.

Season 5 of The F Word. A bold, modern and mischievous take on the world of food combines location VTs, kitchen actuality, celebrity interviews, stunts and recipe based challenges to give the format its trademark energy, pace and visual richness and create waves in the food world and beyond.

MCX cardamom hits upper circuit

MUMBAI (Commodity Online): Cardamom futures hits upper circuit in MCX on the back of firm domestic demand amid weak arrivals from the fresh crop.

In MCX cardamom April contract hits upper circuit at Rs.1132.90 per Kg against the previous close. Open interest of the contract stood at 7970 lots and open interest pf the contract is 14749 lots.

As per market source, dry spell conditions in major growing areas have unfavorably affected the crop. According to the media sources, around 20 per cent of the plants got damaged in Idukki district. Added, some of the midlands in Idukki district received rains late last week but the high ranges continue to remain dry.

Read the Full Story Here 

http://www.commodityonline.com

Pork Vindaloo

Ingredients:

2 pounds pork butt/shoulder
8 dried new mexico chilies
1 cup cider vinegar
2 teaspoons fresh ginger
7 or 8 cloves garlic
2 teaspoons cumin
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cardamom
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
2 teaspoons salt


1 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
3 Tablespoons oil or butter
1 jumbo onion
(optional) 1 tablespoon brown sugar near the end of cooking
I forgot to add the sugar!

Moroccan Couscous

Ingredients:

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 red onion, cut in half and thinly sliced
1 red, green, or yellow bell pepper, cut into 1" pieces
2 zucchinis, halved lengthwise and cut into 3/4 inch pieces
1/2 cup golden raisins
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Grated zest of one orange


1 (14.5 ounce) can low sodium garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup orange juice
1 1/2 cups couscous
3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint

Method:
Place a large, heavy bottomed pot over medium heat. Stir in the cumin, ginger, cloves, cayenne, cardamom, coriander, and allspice; gently toast until fragrant, about 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in oil and onion, cook until softened. Stir in the bell pepper, and zucchini; cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the raisins, salt, zest, and garbanzos.

Pour in the chicken broth and orange juice; turn heat to high and bring to a boil. When the mixture is boiling, stir in the couscous and remove from heat; cover, and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork, and fold in chopped mint.

Tisane (Cardamom & Rose Petals Tea)

Ingredients :

Love to eat to love. Indian cuisine is replete with dishes designed to inflame the passions. Chef Zubin presents traditional recipes packed with aphrodisiac qualities. This is the perfect reliever for headaches. Cardamom is considered the second most expensive spice in the world after saffron and the wide ranging curative properties that it possesses sure ensures that you will get your money's worth.