Panty-Ready Spices for Autumn Dishes

By Chef Judi Gallagher –

It is time to refresh your spices and seasonings. With Labor Day over, the white pants and white sandals are packed away and seasonal clothes come out. Now, it is time to do the same with your spice cabinet.

spices

First step

Throw any spices out that are over one-year old. They have long lost their optimum flavor profile. If you have a few cloves, cinnamon sticks and allspice that need to go, you can certainly steep them in some orange tea and pour over ice. But, fresh is best  so check those expiration dates and that especially includes baking powder and baking soda.

cardamom
Cardamom Spice

 

Second Step

Assemble your favorite fall recipes. Make a list of things like nutmeg, ground ginger, cardamom, (lovely with gingerbread) and pumpkin spice that you will use most often. Place them on a separate shelf. I keep those spices on the baking shelves in my cupboard for easy access.

 

Third Step

You don’t always have to buy  commercial spice blends. You can make your own. Here are a few popular ones.

All-Spice: mix equal parts of ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg and ground cloves.

Apple Pie Spice: 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg,1 teaspoon allspice, ½ teaspoon ground cloves, dash cardamom.

Hot Mulled Cider: 2 cinnamon sticks, whole allspice berries, 2 cloves

cinnamon sticks
Cinnamon sticks

 

On the savory side it is time to think poultry seasoning, sage, bay leaves rosemary and turmeric.

 

Cinnamon Chai Tea

1 green or black tea bag
4 whole cloves
Sprinkle of ground cinnamon
Sprinkle of ground cardamom

Vanilla Bean Sugar
Vanilla Bean Sugar

Place tea bags and cloves into hot water and let steep for 3 minutes. Remove the tea bags and cloves. Add cinnamon and cardamom and mix well. Add nonfat milk or soy milk if you like. Serves one.

Homemade poultry seasoning blend:

1 teaspoon of poultry seasoning, combine 3/4 teaspoon rubbed sage and 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme or marjoram, 1 teaspoon garlic salt, 1 teaspoon paprika.

 

F&M

1 thought on “Panty-Ready Spices for Autumn Dishes”

  1. “PANTY READY SPICES” Verrrry interesting concept, very interesting. Could this be Victoria’s Secret? Sounds like some the spices will enhance the flavor of the eatable undergarments. So just WHERE are you putting these spices? Shouldn’t the spices be kept in the bedroom dresser rather then the kitchen? So if I to put spices down there, is that a guarantee for best results? Seems as though you could do this all year around. I can just picture different spices for various seasons

    With a name like mine “Eleanor Sage” when spices are mentioned, I pay close attention to the their use.

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