Using sound judgment to be more self-reliant.
Hearty soups are a cold weather favorite, and this chicken wild rice soup is no exception. It’s creamy and delicious, and a great way to use up leftover chicken.
For an extra treat, pair the soup up with these homemade bread bowls. (Carbs don’t count if you get out and burn them all off in the cold!)
…Come fall, the world seems to go crazy with pumpkin spice everything, from lattes to Spam. We share a quick and easy homemade pumpkin pie spice mix, with a couple of variations, and some suggestions for using your spice blend.
Pumpkin pie spice typically includes ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground ginger, ground cloves, and sometimes ground allspice. These spices pair well with recipes calling for pumpkin.
Proportions vary, depending on the tastes of the baker. Some recipes only include cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. Cloves have a strong flavor, so most recipes that include them use them in smaller proportion.
I buy my spices in bulk from the organic section at our local supermarket. For me, I really taste the difference between conventional and organic – plus you can’t beat the price for organic spice. If you do bulk buy, make sure the store turns over product regularly so your spices are fresh.
It’s best to mix up a fresh batch of spice each year, because the flavors do fade with age. I measure into a small bowl to mix, and then store in an airtight container, away from direct heat. (Don’t keep your spices on the back of the stove, as the heat causes the flavors to fade more quickly.)
The small container I used for the photos is a mini vintage milk bottle that I received as a party favor at a baby shower. It was so cute I wanted to reuse it.
You can also store your spice blend in a small mason jar, or get small glass jars that are made just for spices, like the ones below.
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Perfect for pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread or your pumpkin spice latte, this pumpkin spice blend is sure to please.
Mix together all ingredients in a small bowl. Store in an airtight container, away from direct heat and light. Best used with one year.
If only a small amount of the spice blend is desired (for instance, for a single pie), use 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ginger, 1/8 teaspoon cloves and 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg. It’s fine to mix as little or as much as you need.
Variations:
Add 1 teaspoon allspice or 1/2 teaspoon cardamom to the mix.
If you don’t have a premade spice blend or the all the spices listed in the mix above, you can substitute cinnamon, or nutmeg, or allspice alone, or in different proportions than listed above. For instance, half cinnamon and half nutmeg.
Be aware that the flavor will not be the same as a mix of several spices, but it can do in a pinch if you’re in the middle of a recipe and realize your short on spices.
To get a printable list of other common kitchen substitutions, visit the article “Handy Kitchen Substitutions“.
When you’re ready to use your spice blend, check out:
The right spices really bring out the flavor in store bought pumpkin, or your own homemade pumpkin puree. This time of year is perfect weather for these warming spices and baking.
This easy pumpkin pie recipe with graham cracker crust is naturally sweetened with maple syrup. The custard filling is rich and delicious, made with cream, not evaporated milk.
We’ll take you through the recipe step by step (with video) and share some variations for different diet preferences and allergies.
These easy pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting were one of my mom’s “go to” recipes for fall gatherings. The bar is rich and moist, and the frosting adds just the right touch of sweetness.
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This easy cranberry orange bread recipe combines tart cranberries and sweet orange flavor into a moist and delicious bread. It works well for full sized loaf pans, mini loaf pans – even muffins.
I got this recipe from my old college roommate’s sister, who’s been a professional baker for around 50 years. It’s one of the most popular breads at their small bakery during the holiday season. They bake the bread as mini loaves, and use fresh cranberries.
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