101 Amazing Uses for Cinnamon by Nancy Chen REVIEWED

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You learn a lot about people once you marry them. Case in point, prior to marrying the late Mr. O-P, I thought that everyone liked cinnamon. No, he didn’t, not at all. That was disappointing to me because, as a cinnamon lover, it changed the way that I cooked and baked.

Now that I’m on my own, I do what I want, when I want, and that includes adding cinnamon to as many dishes and beverages in as many ways possible. That’s why, when I was offered a review copy of 101 Amazing Uses for Cinnamon by Nancy Chen, I jumped at it. If you are the cinnamon lover than I am, this book is for you. If you can take or leave cinnamon, this book is still for you because I think you will find its many uses nothing short of amazing. 

 

Did you know, for example, that you can make your own cinnamon syrup for coffee, throat lozenges to soothe your scratchy throat, make your own cinnamon broom (I love those when they hit the grocery stores in the fall), even ward off pests in your house plants by using cinnamon? You can, and details on how are all in this fabulous book.

This is going to be one of those reference books that you will find yourself paging through again and again. In doing so you will learn more things about a spice you’ve no doubt taken for granted than you ever imagined. This book provides a wonderful introduction to cinnamon including exactly what it is and where it came from, as well as tips on buying cinnamon, and how to recognize good from bad.

 

The coffee lover in me was thrilled with cinnamon coffee syrup. Why go out for expensive, artificially flavored cinnamon coffee, when you can have the real thing at home? Coffee is not the only beverage that pairs well with cinnamon; you can make loads of cozy drinks using cinnamon including Baby’s Dream Cinnamon Milk to aid slumber, Mexican Super Food Hot Chocolate, and Better Than Coffee Shop Cinnamon Chai.

If you enjoy beverages of an alcoholic nature, cinnamon will not let you down. It makes a wonderful addition to Winter Sangria and Mulled Wine, not to mention a spicy rim rub.

In addition to being used on its own, cinnamon is also a component in many spice mixes. Plenty of recipes are provided in this book to allow you to make your own. Apple pie spice mix, Chinese five spice powder, curry powder, garam masala seasoning, to name a few.

 

You can use cinnamon to flavor meat, or use it as a seasoning in making Chinese chili oil and dishes from Moroccan and Indian cuisine. It goes without saying that it is used in desserts, and there are delicious recipes for them as well.

It may surprise you to learn that cinnamon is also used in numerous beauty treatments. It is also known to boost circulation, lighten hair and stimulate growth, act as an exfoliant for dried lips, a body scrub, a teeth whitener, and even dry shampoo. Divided into clearly marked categories by the use of convenient tabs make it easy to find what you’re looking for.

There is a comprehensive bibliography at the end, divided by chapter, that comes in handy should you be interested in further reading. If there is a downside to this book, it is the lack of an index, a glaring error in my opinion, but in this case, not a deal breaker.

Appealing for every member of the family (including children who can learn to make fragrant cinnamon stick ornaments for the Christmas tree), this is a must for both your culinary and personal libraries. It would also make a great gift for mom on Mother’s Day, not to mention an excellent host or hostess gift should you ever be invited out to dinner again.

I give it four out of five stars; an index would have earned that fifth star.

Thanks to Melissa’s Produce for alerting me to this wonderful volume, and providing me with a complimentary copy.