4 THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT GINGER
• The ancient Greek tradition of wrapping ginger in bread for an after-dinner digestive aid is the precursor to our modern gingerbread
• Ginger is now an ingredient in more than 50 percent of traditional herbal remedies
• The ginger plant is a distant cousin of the banana tree, in a family that also includes the cardamom and turmeric plants
• The base of the word ginger comes from the Sanskrit words meaning horn and body, referring to the antler shape of the root
3 WAYS TO TRY GINGER RIGHT NOW
• In the ultimate favourite, traditional gingerbread for the holidays
• Together with cooked pears or figs for an elegant holiday dessert
• Mix a little ginger-citrus syrup (like Gingerita) with tequila and Cointreau to make a ginger margarita like those served at Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Spice Market restaurant in New York City. Add ground ginger around the rim of the glass
2 WAYS TO LOOK FOR GINGER AT THE MARKET
• Crystallized or in syrup. Use for a more concentrated flavour in cooked desserts
• In bottles of ginger beer or ginger brandy, to give a holiday punch some punch
1 ESSENTIAL TOOL FOR GINGER
• A ginger grater, like Kyocera's ceramic grater, with ridges in the middle and a saucer all around to catch the gratings
1 TIP YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT
• If your recipe doesn't require the juice from fresh grated ginger, reserve it to give a little kick to your next vinaigrette
1 THING TO REMEMBER AT THE GROCERY STORE
• Look for ginger that is hard and heavy, with a thin, smooth, shiny unbroken peel
Visit the Canadian Living Recipes section for delicious recipes featuring ginger.
Read more in Recipes and Country Pantry
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