Five Herbs and Spices Every Kitchen Should Have

Pepper

Pepper is one of most popular cooking spice in the world. Black pepper is produced from the still-green unripe berries of the pepper plant, while white pepper consists of the seed only – with the skin of the fruit removed. Pepper gets its spicy heat mostly from the piperine compound, which is found both in the outer fruit and in the seed. 

Salt

Salt is an essential cooking spice as just one small pinch has the power to bring out the flavour of the food terrifically. There are a few different types of salt – such as sea salt and table salt. Sea salt is made from evaporating seawater in protected bays and has the purest, freshest flavour, while table salt is mined from rock salt deposits of ancient sea beds and is highly processed with additives. 

Garlic

Garlic, a member of the onion family, is classified as a culinary herb. It has a characteristic pungent, spicy flavour that mellows and sweetens considerably with cooking. As a fundamental component in many dishes, a garlic bulb divides into cloves that can be chopped, minced or used whole when cooking.

Thyme

This culinary herb is flavourful but does not overpower, and blends well with other herbs and spices. It is a good source of iron and is used widely in cooking. Depending on the dish you are making the whole sprig may be used, or the leaves removed and the stems discarded. Thyme is slow to release its flavours, so it is usually added early in the cooking process. It is commonly used in fish, chicken and beef dishes to enhance the flavour.

Coriander

Coriander is a culinary herb, but the plant’s dried fruit – known as coriander seeds – is used as a cooking spice. Coriander can be described as warm, nutty, spicy, and orange-flavoured. The herb leaves have a very different taste from the seeds and are rich in vitamins A and B1, calcium, riboflavin and niacin.

By Danie de Villiers - Freelancer

The art of writing speeches

A speechwriter is a person who is hired to prepare and write speeches that will be delivered by another person. Speechwriters are used by many senior-level elected officials and government executives, governors, and the president or prime minister of a country. Speechwriters are also used in the private sector, to write speeches or presentations for company presidents and Chief Executive Officers.

A speechwriter must be able to work directly with senior executives, to determine what points, themes, positions, or messages the executive would like to cover. Moreover, speechwriters need to be able to accept criticism and comments on the different drafts of the speech, and be able to incorporate the proposed changes into the draft. Speechwriters have to be able to work on several different speeches at once, and manage their time so that they can meet strict deadlines for finishing the speech on time. Speechwriters must also be able to accept anonymity, because with few exceptions, speechwriters (like ghost-writers) are not officially credited or acknowledged.

While there is a guild called The Speechwriters' Guild for professional writers who specialise in writing speeches, speechwriters do not usually have specific training in the area or field for which they are writing speeches; a speechwriter preparing a speech for a governor on health policy will rarely have a Master of Public Health degree. Instead, speechwriters often have a broad understanding of basic economics, political roles, and policy issues, which makes them a generalist who is able to "translate" complex economic and policy issues into a clear message for the general public. As well, as with many other writing occupations, most speechwriters do not have specific training in their writing craft. Instead, speechwriters often develop their speechwriting skills by combining a general liberal arts education (e.g., in political science, philosophy, law, or English literature) with a variety of work experience in politics, public administration, journalism, or a related field.

Writing a speech involves several steps. A speechwriter has to meet with the executive and the executive's senior staff to find out the broad framework of points or messages that the executive wants to cover in the speech. Then, the speechwriter does his or her own research on the topic, to flesh out this framework with anecdotes, and examples. The speechwriter will also consider the audience for the speech, which can range from a town-hall meeting of community leaders to an international leaders' forum. Then the speechwriter blends the points, themes, positions, and messages with his or her own research to create an "informative, original and authentic speech" for the executive.

Daniel
PAYBOX

Article to read: How to counter Insomnia

Introduction

Today I launch a new Blog to introduce my Freelance Services. Please check the page My Freelance Services.

I will use this blog to share interesting aspects regarding my services, jokes, photos, and anything that is appropriate and good in life!

Daniel