Friday, December 19, 2008

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup and Other Celery Seed Recipes

By KC Kudra

If you have bought yourself a pack of celery seed or you are wondering what kind of recipes you can use it in, there is plenty of information available on this unique and tasty seasoning. Many cultures have been using celery seed in a variety of ways for a lot of years. Celery seed can easily be integrated into a healthy varied diet. Nutritious, filling dishes such as homemade chicken noodle soup can really be enhanced with celery seed.

What is Celery Seed?

Celery seed comes from a plant called apium graveolons, not the celery vegetable. There are a lot of other small, brown seeds, which are similar in appearance, but the unique smell of celery seed gives it away. They smell just like celery. When you use celery seeds in your recipe, whether you are making crockpot chicken noodle soup, a salad dressing, or a vegetarian casserole, you will find these seeds impart the flavor of celery without having to add stalks of celery to the recipe.

What Can You Use Celery Seeds in?

You can use these seeds to flavor soups and salad dressings as well as in pickling. Chicken noodle soup has a real kick if you add some celery seed. If you suffer from bronchitis, gout, arthritis, and various other inflammations, celery seed is a scientifically proven homeopathic remedy.

Celery seeds are high in phtalides, which means they can be used as a muscle relaxant and sedative. Celery seeds are also high in antioxidants, which are beneficial for the whole body in their fight against the aging effects of free radicals.

How to Make a Great Celery Seed Dressing

As well as being an excellent ingredient in homemade chicken noodle soup, celery seeds are found in many types of salad dressing. You can make your own by combining a teaspoon of salt, a teaspoon of celery seed and a teaspoon of dry mustard. Next, add a teaspoon of onion juice and trickle in a cup of salad oil and a third of a cup of vinegar slowly. The resulting dressing is mild yet tangy and is very tasty on vegetable or fruit salads. You might prefer to add sugar and pepper, depending on your taste.

What foods go well with celery seeds?

Celery should be added when you feel the recipe would suit it. With a bit of experimentation, trial and error you might even be able to come up with some fabulous new recipes. Homemade chicken noodle soup is known for being extra tasty with added celery seed, or crockpot chicken noodle soup if you are at work all day and want to come home to a ready meal. If you normally add celery to a certain recipe, try celery seed instead for a change in texture. Coleslaw and chicken potpie are other recipes, which suit a celery seed flavor.

There are many reasons to use celery seed in your cooking, as you have read. Why not get yourself a small bottle? Celery seed keeps for up to 3 years. Experiment with various dishes to find out what is good. Once you start using celery seed in your recipes, whether you are making homemade chicken noodle soup or a chicken and ham potpie, you will want to add celery seed every time you make it! - 16650

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