Tag Archives: cinnamon

Vietnamese Cinnamon

So, this is clearly an out of the ordinary post for us, but when you find something amazing, you share it.  A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to be able to swing by the King Arthur baking store up in Norwich, V.T.  I promptly filled a cart with goodies, and have been testing some of them out.  One amazing find was a small jar of Vietnamese Cinnamon…

This simple little container holds a powerhouse of aroma and flavor that blows ordinary varieties out of the water. One whiff, and you know you are in for a treat.  This cinnamon has a high oil content, which means the taste spreads all the way through your baked goods, drinks, and desserts.  The flavor is wonderfully rich, with that distinctive peppery bite  found in cinnamon gum or candy, warm and long lasting.  Eating something made with this potent spice is a revelation, a sudden understanding of how cinnamon is meant to taste.

Conclusion?  These Innkeepers will never settle for another cinnamon.  And the best part is that a 2 oz. jar of the stuff will set you back a whole $5 with King Arthur.

Get some of your own!

Poached Pears from Highgarden

“The war had not touched the fabled bounty of Highgarden.  While singers sang and tumblers tumbled, they began with pears poached in wine…” -A Clash of Kings

Modern Poached Pears

Thoughts:

These are utterly delicious.  

Imbued with a vibrant pink color from the wine, the medieval pears have a soft, warm texture, and aren’t overly sweet.  The taste is reminiscent of mulled wine, redolent with spices.  This is an authentically medieval dessert that will transport you to a seat at a long trestle table in a huge stone hall, with hounds fighting for scraps in the corner, and the buzz of mead-inspired conversation all around.

The modern recipe produces an absolutely exquisite dessert. The caramel sauce  is warm and gooey, and somehow gives the impression of butter and spices that aren’t actually there, all of which is underlain by the subtlest of orange flavors. It tastes of autumn, of crisp days spent in an orchard, and evenings in by the fire.

Both of these recipes are winners, and can be found in the Cookbook.