Spice Blends for Autumn
“Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting, and autumn a mosaic of them all.” – Stanley Horowitz
Fall is a vibrant time for Vermont. Richly colored apples and squash obscure my countertops; beets and Swiss chard find their way into breakfast, lunch, and dinner; and most notably, the aromas of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and all of my favorite warming blends fill my senses. Surrounded by falling leaves, and starting to feel the chill in the breeze, I can’t help but feel inspired by it all. Mulled cider and wine make regular evening appearances and chili often cooks in a crockpot throughout the day, filling my home with these wonderful smells.
Your sense of smell is your most emotional sense of them all. Science backs it up, too. Your sense of smell is directly linked to your limbic system and your amygdala, the parts of your brain that processes emotions and stores emotional memories. We strongly associate familiar aromas with nostalgia, reminiscing, comfort, pleasure, and senses of place. When I recognize the scent of familiar recipes, I long for family meals and celebratory gatherings.
Here are my favorite blends to use through the cooler months for satiating recipes and an emotional connection to seasonal eating. These are easy to make in batches to store in an airtight container (glass Ball jars are ideal) to keep them tasting fresh. All of these ingredients can be found in our Bulk department in the spice aisle! To find inspiration in fall flavors, try these spice blends once and use them all season long.
Mulling Spice Blend
Try this blend in mulled cider, mulled wine, or a hot toddy cocktail.
Yield: 2 ½ cups (10 quarter cup servings)
This recipe can be easily adapted depending on the spices you like best. Try adding raisins or vanilla beans to round out the flavor and for a little added sweetness. Recipe adapted from The Mountain Rose Blog.
4 whole nutmeg, roughly ground or broken into small pieces
½ cup cardamom pods, roughly ground or broken into small pieces
2 Tbsp. cinnamon, ground
¼ cup dried orange peel
2 Tbsp. dried lemon peel
¼ cup ginger root
¼ cup whole cloves
¼ cup whole allspice berries
2 Tbsp. whole star anise pods
6-10 small cinnamon sticks
After breaking up the nutmeg and cardamom pods, combine all the ingredients together. Either store in an airtight glass container or divide into ¼ cup servings. When ready to use, tie a piece of cheesecloth around a ¼ cup serving. Add bundle to 6 cups of apple cider or 1 bottle of red wine and heat over medium heat. Add extra cinnamon sticks as desired while mulling.
Pumpkin Spice Blend
Try this blend brewed with your coffee grounds, in a granola recipe, in a pie, on ice cream, or even on your morning toast!
Yield: about ½ cup
1/3 cup ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp. ground ginger
1 Tbsp. ground nutmeg
1 ½ tsp. ground cloves
1 ½ tsp. ground allspice
Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container.
Chili Seasoning
Use this generously in a crockpot chili recipe, as a rub on chicken, or stewed with black beans.
Recipe adapted from: Wellness Mama
Yield: about 1 ½ cups
2-3 dried chilies, crushed (with seeds for more heat)
½ cup chili powder
¼ cup garlic powder
3 Tbsp. onion powder
¼ cup oregano
2 Tbsp. paprika
¼ cup cumin
1 Tbsp. thyme
Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container.
Jamaican Jerk Seasoning
Use this for a flavorful rub or this Roasted Jamaican Jerk Chickpea recipe.
Recipe adapted from: Wellness Mama
Yield: about ½ cup
¼ cup onion powder
2 Tbsp. sea salt
2 Tbsp. thyme
2 tsp. ground allspice
1 Tbsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cayenne powder
2 bay leaves, crumbled
Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container. When using, it is especially good if mixed with honey and painted on meat. Alternatively, use as a dry rub.
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Sources:
Angier, Natalie. "The Nose, an Emotional Time Machine." The New York Times. The New York Times, 04 Aug. 2008. Web. 16 Sept. 2015.
Reed, Danielle Renee, and Antti Knaapila. "Genetics of Taste and Smell: Poisons and Pleasures." Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science. U.S. National Library of Medicine.