Your Fall Spice Cabinet

 The summer may have been spent cleaning out the spice rack or cabinet .Now it's time to refill with all those warming fall spices. What do get? Think richly aromatic and tasting ones,perfect for savory and sweet dishes.

Cinnamon is a must  for any autumn spice rack. It's a sweet earthy spice that can be bought in both ground and stick forms. What should you buy? Cinnamon sticks are a better choice. They're more flavorful and don't have to be refrigerated if you want to place it in the fridge. However  the powdered from is just easier to use in recipes and drinks. To be honest go for both. You can use the sticks for mulled wine and chair tea while the powdered is perfect for apple pies and streusel cakes along with sprinkling on top of foamy cappuccinos. Keep in mind that the spice can be used for savory as well as for sweet recipes.It can work well in a Bavarian pot roast adding depth and color to the meat along with adding flavor to Moroccan chicken.Nutmeg is another spice every fall spices cabinet ought to have.Like cinnamon it's sometimes better to have the nutmeg nut instead of the powdered version.The question is where do you buy the whole nuts? Some groceries will carry them. If not there is Amazon.Again it's good in both savory and sweet dishes. It;s even sprinkled onto layers of lasagna for more depth.It  is needed in the classic egg custard dish which makes for a perfect cool weather dessert.

What about pumpkin pie spice mix? Will you need it. Namely yes, especially around Thanksgiving when you bake those pies. The spice mix  can also be used for pumpkin tart and pumpkin souffle as well.Of course you can't forget pumpkin spice lattes which can easily be made hot or cold. Should you buy it already mixed or do you want to mix it at home? If you;re too buy them buy a small bottle of McCormick's if you;re too busy to mix and blend. If not it's just taking ground ginger, cinnamon ,allspice nutmeg cloves and , yes black pepper for a fiery and  yet subtle blend. Do you add sugar? You can if you want to ,Jut make sure it's the granulated kind. A homemade pumpkin pie spice blend is always a nice gift for someone with a fall birthday. You can also use the individual spices too. Allspice is a must .Its a great warming spice for such Caribbeans dishes as chicken jerk.It;s also  a must in Palestinian dishes such as braised green beans and chickpea stew. Yes it's perfect in spice cookies and gingerbread , desserts perfect on a cold October or November day. Ground ginger is another spice necessary in the fall spices cabinet.It's great in all sorts of Asian dishes and a must if you're thinking about making gingerbread cookies or cake.

Fall is fast upon us. It's the perfect time to create highly spice savory and sweet dishes. Make sure your cabinet is ready for these.