I thought, as I somewhat patiently wait for my baby-to-be to arrive, I would greet everyone with a Happy 2012 New Year, a recipe, and some neat information about cinnamon (the spice!). 

We celebrated New Year’s at home.  Nothing too “over the top”, yet it was really nice.  I took a nice warm bath while the family watched movies and then made my favorite and really fast ice cream (recipe following below, I’ll make you read all of this first).  My twins, who are 7 1/2 really wanted to stay up to midnight so we let them try.  My son made it to 11:45 and then he was in a deep sleep on the couch.  My daughter did it and was in bed at 12:15.  Both, this morning, are crabby (not surprised!) and watching more cartoons in my bed.  I had constant contractions (not the real deal, though) for about 4 hours.  But not enough to get me to a hospital and now everything is calm again.  So, this baby is going to be a 2012 baby.  And now it’s just a lazy day of tv and the annual tradition of visiting my Mom and Dad along with my sister and her family.  And I’m going for my annual New Year’s Day walk before we go. 

Since this is a year of more blogging, sharing, and growing, I thought it would be nice to introduce my favorite spice, Cinnamon, properly.  I mean, Cinnamon really is good for you! 

From a new addition to my library, A Kid’s Herb Book, for children of all ages, by Lesley Tierra. 

Cinnamon:  Bark of Sweetness
Cinnamon is a kitchen medicine.  “The cinnamon tree grows in the Orient and is used there as a spice in cooking and as a medicinal herb.  Cinnamon comes from the dried inner bark of the shoots of the cinnamon tree.  It has a hot energy and will warm you up nicely on cold days! 
Uses for Cinnamon:  feelings of coldness, colds and flu with strong chills and a mild fever, coughs of clear congestion, indigestion, diarrhea, gas, cramps, abdominal pain, and whitening teeth!  
Make as a:  tea, milk, paste, tincture, spice, powder, capsule, tooth powder, oil, potpourri, sachet, syrup, pill, candy, liniment, mulled cider, chai tea.” 

And here are some of the suggested recipes:
Cinnamon Brew:  This will warm you up!  Steep 1 teaspoon cinnamon bark in hot water for 15-20 minutes.  Sweeten if needed.  (You can also mix 1/2-1 teaspoon cinnamon powder into 1 cup hot water and sweeten, if needed)

Cinnamon Milk:  “Herbal milks are often used in India.  Their ancient system of medicine uses these milk ‘decoctions’ for nutrition and to heal different ailments, depending on the herbs used.  Cinnamon milk especially helps to firm loose or runny bowels (this works well for both children and grandparents!).  It also warms the body and aids digestion. 
Heat one cup milk (your choice of “milk” in a pant to scalding); add 1 teaspoon powdered cinnamon; add 1 teaspoon sweetener if desired.  Stir well.”

Bright Smiles:  “When you brush your teeth with finely ground cinnamon powder; it helps whiten and brighten your teeth.  Try it!  It tastes so very good.  The powder must be finely ground or it can scratch your teeth.”

Ant Barrier!  “Did you know that ants do not like cinnamon?  To keep them off your counters and out of your plants, sprinkle cinnamon powder along their tracks and around the areas they are traveling.  They won’t cross the cinnamon barrier.  Soon, they will leave the area entirely.”

This is just the beginning, more information on Cinnamon will keep coming.  But this is a fun start. 

Ok, here’s Cinnamon’s recipe.  I made it as my New Year’s Eve dessert, I call it “Banana Halavah Ice Cream” and it was so yummy!

In your favorite blender put in the following:
frozen bananas (always have peeled bananas waiting in your freezer for this)
tahini (or a nut butter of your choice)
a sweetener (agave, brown rice syrup, maple syrup, a pinch of stevia, dates) mix and match for more “depth”
cinnamon!
a splash of “milk“, again your choice

Blend like crazy till it’s like a soft ice cream or even a milk shake.  It’s so decadent. 

Happy New Year!