Allspice

Allspice is sometimes called Jamaica pepper, Myrtle pepper or pimento. The spice is the dried unripe fruit of the Pimenta dioica plant. The name "allspice" was coined by the English, who thought it combined the flavor of several aromatic spices, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.Christopher Columbus brought allspice to Spain from the Caribbean, where it got the name "pimienta," which is Spanish for pepper. Although he was seeking pepper, he had never actually seen real pepper and he thought allspice was it. Its Anglicized name, pimento (not to be confused with the little red pepper that is stuffed inside green olives) is occasionally used in the spice trade today. Before World War II, allspice was more widely used than it is nowadays. During the war, many trees producing allspice were cut, and production never fully recovered. Most allspice is produced in Jamaica, but some other sources for allspice include Guatemala, Honduras, as well as Mexico. Jamaican allspice is considered to be superior due to its higher oil content, which gives it a more appealing flavor.

The fruit is picked when it is green and unripe, traditionally they are then sun dried. When dry they are brown and look like large brown peppercorns.

Allspice is most commonly sold as whole dried fruits or as a powder. The whole fruits have a longer shelf-life than the powdered product and produce a more aromatic product when freshly ground before use. Allspice is one of the most important ingredients of Caribbean cuisine. It is used in Caribbean jerk seasoning, in mole sauces, and in pickling; it is also an ingredient in commercial sausage preparations and curry powders. Allspice is also indispensable in Middle Eastern cuisine, particularly in the Levant where it is used to flavor a variety of stews and meat dishes. In Palestinian cuisine, for example, many main dishes call for allspice as the sole spice added for flavoring. Allspice is commonly used in Great Britain and appears in many dishes, including in cakes. Even in many countries where allspice is not very popular in the household, such as Germany, it is used in large amounts by commercial sausage makers.

Fun Factoid : Allspice has also been used as a deodorant; 18th century Russian soldiers would put allspice in their boots. Volatile oils found in the plant contain eugenol, an antimicrobial agent also found in cloves.

Hot Apple Cider

Just in time for winter, this stuff is great simmering on the stove all day.

Ingredients:

½ gallon apple juice (use the non sweetened cloudy kind only)
1 ½ TBSP Allspice
2 - 2 inch cinnamon sticks
2 TBSP Hibiscus Flowers
1 TBSP Cloves
Optional - you may add several strips of well scrubbed, scored orange peel

Directions
In a large pot simmer all the above for at least 15 minutes. Enjoy the scented air in your house. Take a deep breath. Smile. Strain and sip the spiced cider. Look outside at the falling snow. Smile.