Thursday, November 13, 2008

A Toast to Cinnamon

Today's Wonder of the World is...Cinnamon!

Flickr photo by countrysideusa
Mmm. Cinnamon.
I'll have my stick in a mug of cider, please.

Flickr photo by angel vjckyshjakawaj girlmars 9x
Thank you! You're too kind!

Maybe it's all this bark talk from yesterday's post on birch trees, but I've got cinnamon on the brain.
Cinnamon rolls. Cinnamon toast. Cinnamon in pumpkin pie.
I'll stop now, before I drool on my keyboard.

I'd love to see someone harvest cinnamon.

Flickr photo by giant laowai
I wonder if it smells really cinnamon-y.

Did you know that for centuries, people actually believed that there were such things as giant Arabian cinnamon birds? It's true! The cinnamon traders made up this crazy tale about how the birds were the only living creatures who knew where to find cinnamon, and so they'd fly back with the sticks and build nests with them on the side of sheer cliffs. No wonder the cinnamon was so expensive! The traders had to collect the sticks right under the giant birds!

How did they do it? I'm so glad you asked!
They'd put fresh oxen meat near the cliffs, and the hungry cinnamon birds would be so tempted by it that they would haul it all back to their nests. The extra weight of the meat would send the nests crashing to the ground.
How about that! What brave men those traders were! Ha ha.

I love cinnamon in practically anything.
Except this.

Flickr photo by instatick
Sorry, Big Red. It's nothing personal. I'm just not a gum chewer, particularly your kind. It's not that I'm a gum chewing snob. I've tried bowing to peer pressure, chewing politely with the polite, smacking loudly with the smackers. But it's just not me. I've just never had the urge to unwrap a piece of sugary rubber, gnaw on it a while, and then spit it out. I'm weird that way.

Plus, I like my cinnamon sweet, not spicy.

Did you know that most French folks I know aren't big fans of cannelle? In my experience, they found pumpkin pie to be entirely too spicy. Plus, it's a tarte made from a vegetable. Eew.
(Don't get your feelings hurt, pumpkin pie. I'll still cuddle with you whenever you want.)

I don't mind these little hearts.

Flickr photo by little grey
They're sweet and spicy! And I can swallow them, and not have to worry about carrying a big wad of indigestible gum around in my stomach for the rest of my life.

I might lose my heart to this cinnamon bear.

Flickr photo by samparks 23
That's lose my heart, meaning I'd fall in love. Not that he would tackle me and rip my heart out. At least I hope not.
That cinnamon color you see there is a normal color phase in the life of a black bear, by the way.
(I looked it up.)

Now, onto my favorite: Yummy cinnamon chow!


Flickr photo by flckr_TH
Oops! No, not a Cinnamon Chow Dog!
Cinnamon food!
Like cinnamon raisin bread.

Flickr photo by L@cey
And one of my most favorite cookies, the Snickerdoodle!

Flickr photo by momofthreewi
And of course, the Queen of Glorious Cinnamon Treats: The Cinnamon Roll!

Flickr photo by randallk
I bow to you, Your Majesty!

Have a wonder-full Thursday, everybody!
And before you go, watch this and drool a little on your own keyboard!



Love, Becky

26 comments:

Tara said...

I absolutely love cinnamon. Cinnamon Stick tea by Bigelow is lovely! I have a hankering for a cinnamon roll right now!

Tara
http://tattedlacetreasures.blogspot.com/

jama said...

Delicious post!! Yummmm! Cinnamon has great health benefits, too.

Anonymous said...

And don't forget about the Cinnamons in Yellowstone National Park! They are baby bison and are so adorable. We sat in traffic for 30 minutes waiting for a herd of bison (complete with cinnamons) to walk down the road. We got great close up pictures of the cinnamons!

Elise

steve said...

Cinnamon toast, anyone? My daughter has just discovered this yummy part of our childhood, Becky!

Rosemary said...

Love the smell of cinnamon!!
I made homemade applesauce last night with lots of cinnamon!
Yummy post Rebecca!!
Have a great day!
Rosemary

Attic Clutter said...

Oh what neat CINNAMON post Becky (:) It just a great theme park to come to here everytine~!!*
Thanks on my sweet Carter too ~!
hugs, Patty

Anonymous said...

It's such a warm smell. I do love it.

a Tonggu Momma said...

Rebecca ~ I adore snickerdoodles. Really. I've even blogged about it before, my obsession is so great. I love most things cinnamon. I think I'll make it a cinnamon day today. Hmm....

Unknown said...

Those naughty traders telling old wives tales about cinnamon! Now I am wanting some cinnamon chow...! It's definately breakfast time! :)

Naturegirl said...

Becky cinnamon is one spice that I love! At times I'll just simmer sticks on the stove so the house has that glorious scent throughout..great if people are coming over because it gives the house a ~homey~ feel!
BTW: I have posted MORE of MONET'S
garden!

Kellan said...

Your Chow is beautiful!!! I am addicted to Red Hots - eat them by the handfuls!! Love cinnamon too!

Take care and have a good day - Kellan

Adrienne said...

I'm with you on the gum chewing - it just makes me hungry. Of course, now I'm hungry for a cinnamon roll!
I love walking into stores this time of year when everything smells like cinnamon.

Cindy said...

YUM! Cinnamon is good for sugar levels too. Course not if it's on a Cinnabon...but if it's in your oatmeal. Uhhhhhmmmmmmmmm...Cinnabon.....


c

Barb said...

I love the smell and taste of cinnamon (especially mixed with sugar)!

I need a Cinnabon right now. I may have to head out to the mall.

Unknown said...

Those gooey cinnamon rolls sound so delicious right now. Something about fall and winter just makes me crazy them. I agree about the sweetness--I much prefer my cinnamon sweet also. We have this bakery here that makes the best cinnamon loaf bread.

Okay, so now I know why my husband (he's French) raises his eyebrows whenever we pass the pumpkin pie to him during Thanksgiving. He just doesn't care for it; although, I think pumpkin pie is finally growing on him. He seemed to enjoy it last time he ate it.
Thanks for a great post!

Rhondi said...

Hi Becky
I'm drooling. We used to make cinnamon toast when I was a kid. Buttered toast with sugar and cinnamon mixed spread on top. It was good. Actually I think I'll go and make some now to have with a cup of tea!
Hugs, Rhondi

lotusgirl said...

I absolutely love cinnamon. In all its forms. Cinnamon Toast! Cinnamon Toast Crunch! and all the things you named even the Big Red, but I'm not a big gum chewer either. Esp. after the time I spent in France, I completely lost the habit.

I was even called cinnamon when I was in France. My maiden name is Connell and when I would say it the french would think I was saying Cannelle and say "ah, like the spice." I also got called "quenelle" a lot--another very tasty item.

Kat said...

AHHHHH! This post is EVIL!
Now I want some cinnamon rolls, and cinnamon raisin bread, and Snickerdoodles (which I made yesterday and are almost gone)! HELP!!!!

I love those mugs at the tops. Ohhhhh.

Susan Sandmore said...

I am the only person to visit your blog who doesn't like cinnamon. It actually makes me feel ill. I may be the only person in the world to feel this way. Loooonely . . . I'm so looooonely . . .

Jennifer R. Hubbard said...

What a coincidence, your telling that cinnamon-trader story! Because birds actually write my books.

I put fresh oxen meat near some cliffs, and hungry novel-birds are so tempted by it that they haul it back to their nests. The weight of the meat sends the nests crashing to the ground. Then the novels spill out, and I pick them up and sell them.

Well, it's more glamorous than the real story, which is that I sit here squeezing out one word at a time!

;-)
Jennifer H.

Alexandra MacVean said...

I just KNEW there was a reason why we connected so well...I LOVE SNICKERDOODLES, TOO!! I bake them every year for Christmas. :D

PS Is cinnamon-y a word?? :P

hee hee

Susan Tuttle said...

Mmmmm-- now I have cinnamon on the brain -- what a delicious post!

Susan
xo

Rebecca Ramsey said...

How I love you people!

Susan, bless your heart! What kind of childhood trauma made you grow up disliking cinnamon? I love you anyway, just the way you are.

And HA! Jenn, honey, you really shouldn't reveal your secret in public like this! Next thing you know, people will be trying to pop those novel birds of yours into a burlap sack!

Unknown said...

Yummy! Makes me hungry, but not so good for losing weight. :)
I like the Big Red gum.

CC said...

I love cinnamon in sweets! Yum! And that is my favorite scent of candles...

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

One of my favorite flavors! Absolutely. It wouldn't be fall without cinnamon.

And that Chow Chow looks just like our first dog, Max.