Celebrate the Flavors of the World on Grain Coast

 

It was a spice called "Grains of Paradise", carried by camels across the dessert to Europe, that led to the West African coast title "Grain Coast". The peppery and fragrant seeds grow in pods from a five foot tall perennial plant-a member of the ginger family. When ground, the spice was sold as a cheaper substitute for pepper with only one third the heat. It's herbaceous flavor blends well on rice, vegetable or meat stews, salmon, cocktails and apples. We loved the effect on these baked apple pastries.

Apple Rosettes

(6 Servings)

Remove apple cores and slice apples 1/8 inch thick. Cover with lemon juice and water. On stove-top, bring to a boil and simmer 2-3 minutes.

2 red apples

Juice from 2 lemons

Drain and pat dry on clean cloth.

 

Mix spices with marmalade.

3 tablespoon orange marmalade

1 teaspoon grated ginger

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon cloves

1/4 teaspoon grains of paradise

1/4 teaspoon cardamom

 

Roll pastry to a 12 X 14 inch rectangle. Slice lengthwise in 6 (2  X approximately 14 inch) strips. Brush with marmalade.

1 recipe Sourdough Pie Crust 

Place apple strips at the top of each pastry strip, with peel end extending over the top of the pastry and overlapping each apple strip slightly.  Flip bottom of each dough strip up over bottom of apple slices. 

Lightly grease a muffin tin. Roll each apple pastry into a rosette and drop into tin. Bake at 395F for 35 minutes.

 

This recipe is based on those in the book "Spice" by Dr. Stuart Farrimont.  

Now to another grain-only grown in Africa, particularly on the west coast. "Fonio", an ancient grain-sometimes called hungry millet or hungry rice-cooks quickly with a consistency like couscous. Unlike many cereal grains, fonio is rich in the amino acids methionine and cystine. The gluten free grain thrives in rocky and poor soil.

I've mixed fonio in stuffed pepperhttps://cindyshealthymeals.blogspot.com/2021/04/going-for-new-grain-in-stuffed-peppers.html

s and meatballs. Because it reminds me of a childhood favorite breakfast food-Cream of Wheat, I enjoyed it as a hot cereal. This one is whole grain!

March is National Nutrition Month. This year's theme embraces global cuisine.