Cardamom

Cardamom is a widely used spice in blends that you've probably never used on its own. It's also a key spice for making Chai. You will find it mostly used in Middle Eastern, South East Asian, and Nordic cuisines.

There are three types of cardamom; green cardamom, black cardamom and Madagascar cardamom. You can buy it still in the pods, which are removed and discarded, as seeds or already ground. Buying pods will provide the strongest flavour. Most recipes call for green cardamom. Cardamom has a strong, spicy-sweet taste, though black cardamom is more smokey.

Garam Masala

• 1 Tbsp ground cumin
• 1 1/2 tsp ground coriander
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
• 1 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

Homemade Apple Pie Spice mix 

• 4 tsp ground cinnamon 
• 2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 tsp ground cardamom 

Jicama Chicken Salad

A crunchy flavourful salad that makes an excellent Phase 1 meal.

Ingredients:

• ‎1 1/2 cup jicama, cut into matchsticks
• 1/2 cup ‎red onion, thinly sliced
• 8 oz chicken, cubed
• 2 tsp Apple Pie Spice blend
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 tsp lemon
• salt and cracked black pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Heat a pan with a little oil, unless using a non-stick pan. Add the chicken cubes and Apple Pie spice with a little water and mix to coat. Put a lid on it and cook through, which should take approximately ten minutes.
2. Remove from heat and let the chicken cool.
3. Combine the jicama and onion in a bowl. Add cooled chicken along with oil, lemon, salt and pepper. Toss until well mixed. Serve and enjoy.

Homemade Apple Pie Spice mix 

• 4 tsp ground cinnamon 
• 2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 tsp ground cardamom 

Apple Pie Jicama

Jicama has a similar crunch and taste to ‎apples. In this recipe, we showcase just how tasty it can be as an apple substitute. This dish is delicious with Ideal Protein Oatmeal, as a dessert or served with pork.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup jicama, thinly sliced 
• 1 tsp Ideal Protein maple flavoured syrup
• 2 tsp apple pie spice

Directions:

1. Place jicama in a bowl.
2. Pour syrup onto the jicama, followed by the apple pie spice. Toss until evenly coated and serve.

Homemade Apple Pie Spice mix 

• 4 tsp ground cinnamon 
• 2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 tsp ground cardamom 

An Ideal Treat for Valentine's Day - Cherry Raspberry Delight

A sweet treat to share with your valentine.

Cherry Gelatin Preparation:

1. Pour 5 fl oz (150 ml) of very hot water into a bowl.
2. Add the contents of one packet and stir until dissolved.
3. Pour the dissolved mix into two cups (fill only half of the cup).
4. Refrigerate for 30 to 45 minutes until firm.

Once the gelatin is ready, follow the steps below.

Raspberry Mousse Preparation:

1. Pour 1.4 fl oz (40 ml) of very cold water into a bowl.
2. Add the contents of one packet and whisk until the mousse is light and fluffy. 
3. (For best results, use a hand mixer at low speed for 5 seconds and at high speed for about 2 minutes)
4. Scoop the mousse into the cups containing the gelatin.

Please keep in mind that this recipe creates 2 servings containing 1 packet of Cherry Gelatin and 1 packet of Raspberry Mousse. Therefore, this recipe should be enjoyed with a loved one.

If your sweet tooth isn't that strong, try substituting a pudding for the gelatin (vanilla or chocolate) in this dessert.

Jicama

Jicama is a root vegetable that can take as long as 9 months to grow. Sometimes called Mexican yam, turnip or potato, it has a sweet starchy flavour and is often eaten raw.

So what do I do with it?

Jicama is fantastic raw as a snack or in salads and can also be added to dishes like other root vegetables. We'll be posting some of LillyPad's jicama recipes later this month.

In the meantime, check out this article All About Jicama on LowFatLowCarb.com for more about this vegetable and a great jicama fries recipe.