Round Up of EP Series Herbs & Spices Event ~ Basil and Cardamom

Dear all, here is the much awaited Round Up of EP Series Event ~ Basil and Cardamom. I would like to thank Julie once again for giving me the opportunity to host this Event and I thank all my dear blogger friends who participated in the event and made it a great success. Without any further delay let me declare the awards as categorized. Please collect your well deserved award and post them at your space and feel proud :-)

The Best Innovative Recipe awards goes to

                                 

1. Baked Stuffed Tomatoes by Sanika at Delectable N Delicious. Check out for her Stuffed tomatoes recipe, make it and snack it. Healthy, tangy and yummy bake they are, Brilliant prep Sanika.
2. Yakhni Pulao by Shobha at Food Maaza. Never made Pulao with chicken stock, this recipe sounds like full of flavor and awesome taste. A new one for me and great recipe Shobhaji.
3. Linguine with Pesto and roasted Tomatoes by Shweta at Shweta in The Kitchen. I'm a die hard fan of pesto, though many people don't like its hard flavor. I really appreciate her extra effort of making everything at home including roasted tomatoes instead of using any store bought one's. Good one Shweta, lovely prep.
4. Eggplant Parmesan Sub by Roshni at Roshni's Kitchen. Ahhhh, here comes another awesome recipe, girl you made it better than any fast food restaurant Sub, the pics look so perfect and delicious, I felt like grabbing one and having it right away. Awesome dish Roshni
5. Walnut Urad Dal Ladoo by Swasthi at Swasthi; The Health Freak. These nutritious and power packed walnut-urad daal balls is definitely a great recipe, So well explained Swasthi. 
6. Apple cupcake with cardamom apple frosting by Achu of Tangy Minds. Have you ever used cardamom powder in a butter cream frosting. Thats what Archana did for her mini apple cupcakes, I'm sure it added a great flavor and taste Achu. 

The Best Healthy Dish Award goes to The Herbal Rice linked by Ez CookBook.

Top Contributor Award goes to Swasthi; The Health Freak for her lovely and delicious dishes with 10 entries.

And for all the Dear participants, please grab the below logo as the token of love for your participation and thank you dear all for your constant support for the EP Series

Check out for this month's EP Series at Kaveri's Plakkad Chamayal with Fenugreek leaves and Green chilly as the main ingredients. 

Here's the flavorful and delicious entries of the event in the linky tool below :-)

EP Series - Herbs & Spices ~ Basil and Cardamom 'Event Announcement'

Dear All,

I'm really glad and excited to announce the guest hosting of Julie's EP Series-Herbs & Spices for the month of June 2012. Thank you so much dear Julie for giving me this opportunity. As many of you know that Julie started this monthly event which I believe helps us know the health benefits and use of all the herbs and spice much better. Of course we all use many herbs and spices in our daily menu, but when you are asked to cook with some particular herbs and spice as a main ingredient I'm sure you will definitely give it a second thought which will make you explore much innovative recipes. What say??? Don't you think so?? Give it a try and I'm sure you'll come up with new, interesting and excellent  recipes. 

The Herb and Spice I choose for the month is Basil and Cardamom both being my favorite. 

Did you know Basil is originally native to India? Me neither, I believed Holy Basil(Tulsi) was of Indian origin and Basil are of Italian as I see them being used in Italian cuisine more till I read about it in Wiki.Where ever may be the origin it is treated as the 'king of herbs' by many chefs and is treated with great respect in many parts of the world. Does Cardamom needs any description?? Not really, I know. But do you know Cardamom is the world's third most expensive spice by weight, outstripped in market value only by saffron and Vanilla(says Wiki). 

Before moving onto the important aspects of the event let me mention some of the benefits of Basil and Cardamom. (Health benefits mentioned here are based on the info found in wikipedia and other sources found on web. If you are told to use it for any health related medication don't rely on the notes here, please check with your physician.)

Benefits and Use of Basil:-

Compound in basil is considered to have potent antioxidant, antiviral and antimicrobial properties and potential for use in treating cancer.

Fresh Basil leaves are an excellent source of Iron.

Basil contains good amount of minerals like potassium, manganese, copper and magnesium.

Basil is traditionally used for supplementary treatment of stress, asthma and diabetes in India. 

Holy Basil(Tulsi) is used as a healing agent for cold, cough and fever.

And yes, it is used as a main ingredient in many Cuisines. 

Benefits and Use of Cardamom:-

• Cardamom are used as flavorings in food and drink and as a medicine
• It is said to be used to treat infections in teeth and gums, to prevent and treat throat troubles, congestion of the lungs and pulmonary tuberculosis, inflammation of eyelids and also digestive disorders.
• It is also used to break up kidney stones and gall stones.
• It is used as a healing agent for cold, cough and fever.

Now let me walk you through the essentials of this Event:-

1. The event runs through the period of June 1st - June 30th 
2. The theme for this month is Basil and Cardamom. You can use one ingredient in a dish or use both but that ingredient should be one of the main ingredients.
3. It can vary from starter,main dish ,dessert or any other recipes,sweet or savory anything.(No recipes which don't follow this rule will not qualify for the event) 
4. Bloggers and Non bloggers can participate. Bloggers can link their recipes with the linky tool below. Non-bloggers and blogger who find it difficult who has issues linking the recipes can send in their recipes to email id:- cookezee@gmail.com with the following details:-

Your Name:
Recipe Name:
Recipe Details:
Pic of the Dish:
(If blogger send in recipe link)

       5.  Recipe must be linked to this event announcement page and to Julie's Event Announcement  page.
      6.   You can link both Veg and Non Veg recipes.
      7.   Send in any number of entries.You can link in your old entries too (limiting 2 per person), just add the logo and the link under the post (2 archived posts)
      8.   Usage of the below logo is appreciated for all the entries.

That is not the end to it; There are 4 awards for the BEST INNOVATIVE RECIPE AWARD, TOP CONTRIBUTOR AWARD, BEST HEALTHY DISH AWARD & PARTICIPATION AWARD.

So, friends put on your innovative caps and think tight, do right and send in your recipes at the earliest before 30th June.

Notes:-
1.   Either Basil or Cardamom pods can be used or both can be used.
2.   When I say Basil, it can be Fresh basil leaves, dry basil leaves, Holy Basil(Tulsi), Lemon Basil or any variety of Basil. But make sure it is a compulsory ingredient and at-least 1 tsp of them should be used.
3.   If Cardamom is being used at-least 3-4 cardamom pods should be used.

Best Wishes to All, Happy Cooking !!!!