Best Ways To Use Cinnamon Powder!

In my last article, we went over some benefits and the important functions that ginger powder can provide to you. In this article, we will now be going over the ways you can implement the usage of cinnamon powder and the benefits of it! The usage of cinnamon powder in Malaysia is still at its infancy, but, this cannot be considered to be something that will not change in the near future as the people in Malaysia often try and implement new things into their food and their lifestyle.

For those of you out there who are unaware of what cinnamon powder is, this cinnamon powder basically comes from the bark of tropical, evergreen trees. In order for people to harvest cinnamon, it is peeled off of the insides of the bark of the trees. There are two primary types of cinnamon which are Ceylon and Cassia. The vast majority of the cinnamon you will find at your local grocery store is Cassia. Ceylon mainly grows in Sri Lanka and it is not as common as Cassia.

This Ceylon cinnamon may often be referred to as the truer cinnamon between these two. But there is some debate about whether or not that is the actual case. Ceylon and Cassia both belong from the cinnamon family tree, but are accessed from different parts of the world and also from a different variety of trees. You have probably tried sprinkled cinnamon onto your foods such as toast, rolls, and also desserts. But cinnamon has the benefits more than just as a topping for your sweets, which includes improving your health in general. In this article, we will be looking at both the health benefits and the uses of consuming cinnamon powder.

Keep in mind that these benefits can result from either the direct application or the consumption of the cinnamon powder. The usage of cinnamon powder can aid in a plethora of different things ranging from arthritis, all the way to cancer. Hence, the cinnamon powder is often considered to be a very much versatile food and can be useful in abundance of way for the person having it. First, we will be starting with the best ways to use this cinnamon powder in your kitchen by hurling a couple of quick recipes your way!




CINNAMON SPICED DOUGHNUTS
Well, most certainly, cinnamon powder can also be used for baking. And this first recipe is a combination of cinnamon powder and doughnuts! This recipe has a total cooking time of roughly about 9 hours. So you are definitely going to have to work for your doughnuts! This particular recipe will also yield about 40 doughnuts.

Ingredients:
For the doughnut you will be need half a cup of milk, 1 teaspoon of sugar plus a quarter cup of it, 1 and a half spoons of active dry yeast, 1 egg, a quarter cup of water, 2 and a half cups of all-purpose flour, half a teaspoon of salt, one eighth teaspoon of ground nutmeg, 4 tablespoons of melted butter and some vegetable oil for frying. As for the coating, you will need 1 cup of sugar and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon.

Directions:
To make the doughnuts, in a small saucepan, warm up the milk slightly with just 1 teaspoon of sugar. Add in the yeast and let it sit for 5 minutes to proof. In a smaller bowl, beat in the egg with the water. In a standing mixer with a paddle attachment start mixing in the flour, add the remaining quarter cup of sugar, salt, and also nutmeg. After that, add in the proofed yeast mixture, beaten egg mixture, as well as the melted butter. Switch out the paddle, switch it to a dough hook, and start mixing until everything is well blended and kneaded, this will take about 15 minutes. Then, transfer the dough to a larger already greased mixing bowl.

Cover it with a plastic wrap and let it chill overnight. Then on a floured surface, roll out the dough to about a quarter inch thickness and transfer it to a sheet pan. Cover it up with a plastic wrap, and chill it for about 30 minutes, this will allow the dough to rest. Cut dough into one and a half inch squares. Line up a sheet pan with a buttered sheet of some parchment paper. Arrange the dough squares half an inch apart on the sheet pan and cover it with another sheet of buttered parchment paper.

Place that at a warm place to rise for about 30 minutes. And to make the coating, in a smaller bowl, combine both the sugar and the cinnamon to coat the doughnuts. Heat up the oil in a larger pot to about 375 degrees Fahrenheit and fry the doughnuts for about 1 to 2 minutes on each of the sides. While doughnuts are still warmer, toss them into the cinnamon sugar mix, to coat them well.




APPLE CINNAMON BAKED OATMEAL
This recipe is typically had for breakfast and yields about 6 servings.

Ingredients:
This recipe will require 2 cups of rolled oats, 1 cup of chopped walnuts, 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon, a quarter teaspoon of ground ginger and salt, 1 cup of diced apple, half a cup of apple sauce and milk or almond milk, 2 eggs, a quarter cup of maple syrup, 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract, a quarter teaspoon of pure almond extract and a quarter cup of coconut oil.

Directions:
Start by positioning the rack in center of the oven and preheating it to 350°F. Lightly grease or you could also spray with nonstick cooking spray, an 8 by 8 inch glass baking dish. In a larger bowl, combine the oats, walnuts, cinnamon, ground ginger, and also salt. Start mixing in the diced apples, applesauce, milk, eggs, maple syrup, vanilla, as well as the almond extract. Stir in the coconut oil until all the ingredients are well stirred and combined. Spread the mixture into the prepared baking dishes and bake for about 30 minutes or until set and light golden brown on the top. Allow it to cool in the baking dish for at least 5 minutes or so before slicing it. Serve them warm with optional garnishes of your liking, such as warm milk drizzled over the top and also some additional chopped walnuts.

Now, we will be going over the benefits of using cinnamon powder!



POWERFUL MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Cinnamon is made from cutting the stems of cinnamon trees. The inner bark of the tree is then extracted and the woody parts are removed. When it dries, it forms strips that usually curl into rolls, known as cinnamon sticks. These sticks may then be ground to form the cinnamon powder. The distinct smell and flavor of the cinnamon are due to the oily part of it, which is quite high in the compound called cinnamaldehyde. Scientists stand by the fact that this compound is responsible for most of cinnamon's powerful effects on a person's health and their metabolism.

REDUCES THE RISK OF HEART DISEASE
Cinnamon in general has often been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, the world's most frequent cause of premature death. In individuals with type 2 diabetes, 1 gram or about half a teaspoon of cinnamon a day has been proven to show beneficial effects on blood markers. It brings down the levels of total cholesterol, bad, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, while good, HDL cholesterol remains stable. More recently, a big review study showed that a cinnamon dose of just 120 milligrams a day can have these effects on your body. In this study, cinnamon also increased the good HDL cholesterol levels. In additional animal studies, cinnamon has also been shown to reduce blood pressure. When combined, all of these factors may drastically reduce your risk of any heart disease.

LOADED WITH ANTIOXIDANTS
Antioxidants help to protect your body from oxidative damage that may be caused by free radicals. Cinnamon is full with powerful antioxidants, such as the polyphenols. In a study conducted, which was comparing the antioxidant activity of 26 spices, cinnamon wound up victorious, even outranking other super foods such as garlic and as well as oregano. As a matter of fact, the cinnamon and cinnamon powder is so powerful that it can quite simply be used as a natural food preservative on its own.

Thank you.