New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-12
80 7=0V5EH0[6'
ES "A, TALKS
SPICES AND CONDIMENTS.

The prejudice which exists in the minds OF many
| people against spices and condiments Is without
any valid foundation Probably there Is no artl-
Gle that Is used as food or used as seasoning 10
food that has not at time another been
condemned as injurious. Even salt. which science
has proved 10 be essential. supplying daily needs
of the body, has been. At different times con-
demned 1t has been proved that rich foods, con-
tanning fats so necessary for supplying the fires of
life with fuel, much more easily digested II
properly sp!ced. Mustard Itself. so frequently con-
demned az nj only for "paates grown calous al
most to disease" when properly used IS n whole
some stimulant to the digestive powers. piece
Of cold roast meat Is much easily dlgested.
well more palatable. II It is served with mus
tard or mustard pickles. which many worthy per-
sons look upon food to be avoided alike on
hygienic and temperance grounds.
There are some people who consc.entiously be-
lleve that spices. mustard and other condiments
are n direct cause Of incompetence. There are
few things so likely 10 a desire for alcoholic
stimuants A piece OF cold beef, served without
mustard or any other condment. is more likely 10
cause Indigestion than almost any article OF food
piece OF boiled lobster requires considerable more
time TO digest than n lobster salad. properly
served In a smooth mayonnaise. which stimulates
the digestion and is soothing and agreeable to the
taste.
A plum pudding, properly spiced and seasoned Is
a rich and nutritious article OF food not as likely
70 incite the evil spirits OF dyspepsia under
done potato or a slice Of cold beef unseasoned
SPICES NECESSARY TO HEALTH
IT'S therefore necessary TO health, as well as to
good appetite chat every housewife should keep a
proper supply OF spices in the store closet The
spIces for the new year are usually sent TO market
In October and November, ana THIS Is the Dest
season to "A years supply.
There Is vast difference between the fresh
new spice and the old stock. from which all the
essential oils have evaporated. Nutmeg and mace.
which are produced from the same tree though
their favor is quite different both depend for their
value on a volatile essential oil This soon evapo-
rates II the spices not kept closely shut up In
metal boxes. The mace Is the lining. or arilus.
around the nutmeg, which is the kernel OF the
fruit o, the nu5mes and possessed Of no nu
rious powers. unless used alone and In great ex,
ccss New nutmegs are oily. and when scraped
with the finger the oil moistens the spot at once
Mace IL new IL oily. This spice should be pur-
SS erchan wh0 Is better to grind the whole
as it is needed in spice mill similar TO coffee
mill and kept only for spices, than TO buy II al
reaay some parts of the country is quite difficult
90 oct a good quality of cinnamon. There Is only
a limited supply Of the thinnest Ceylon cinnamon
in market The best cninese c,n1a aTSo or caSsa
sold for household use. Coarse, heavy cassia bark
UNIT for GOd P ns Ga
dower buds of the cinnamon tree; are more desira-
bic than ,ne nroeaTs in good quality than CHINA
mon because there IL less demand for them. They
Ga n he used in spiced fruits and In some dishes In
Mace of cinnamon. though their favor Is not
quite the same. , u.
fCioves can usually be obtained In a good quality
because their Is less demand for them, as q small
amount OF cloves goes great way me Cove OF
commerce IL the miniature HOVER bud OF a beauti-
mi little tree Of the tropics. and II LETT TO ex-
nond blossoms into lovely roseate flowers, Cloves
ap now cultivated in the West Indies and various
parts OF the tropical world The new new dried crop
~ cloves arrives In market In the fall WIN otner
snices and this Is the best time TO buy them
New ginger root Is also sent TO market Ia a, 'hls
Jamaica ginger which is prepared from the dried
root freed from Its epiderms, or thin SKID: II Is
a light yellowish powder. quite different from the
hrownish yellow dust Of the inferior black ginger
SO often sold for seasoning
= Allspice or pmento Is very little USED To-Day,
except I'm boiled pudding and some SORTS OF cakes
II is well TO secure small amount OF u Tor me
spicebox and II is better 10 buy the wnoe spec
and grind 1t when needed. Allspice Is the dried
berry OF n large tree. the pimento' or Jamaica
nenrer tree of the West Indies