Hearty Homemade Winter Spice Blends

In winter when fresh flavors are harder to come by, we can rely on rich spices to add depth and variety to cooking, while also creating warming meals. Traditional winter spices such as ginger, allspice and coriander lend a comforting taste and warmth to the dishes of the season (read our guide to winter spices here). Along with their delicious flavor, many culinary spices offer a host of health benefits, from fighting cancer to reducing inflammation–a major cause of many diseases.

We can make creating hearty, healthy spiced winter dishes easier by premaking our own spice blends, and we can save by shopping for spices in the bulk bin aisle where we can purchase only the amounts we need. Below, find spice blends for homemade pie spice, perfect for seasoning apple pies and other pastries; a Moroccan spice blend that adds rich flavor to meat and fish; and a homemade curry blend that will enable you to easily whip up Indian-inspired dishes. If you’d like to give a thoughtful, useful gift to a friend or neighbor, double or triple the recipe and package a portion in a mason jar tied with a ribbon and cooking instructions.

Pie Spice
Sometimes referred to as “apple pie spice” or “pie spice,” this blend is the most popular way to flavor fruitcakes, shortbread, sweet pies and all kinds of delectable pastries. Simply mix together these ground spices:

4 teaspoons coriander seed
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons cassia
½ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon green cardamom seeds
½ teaspoon allspice
½ teaspoon ginger
¼ teaspoon cloves

To impart a deliciously fragrant, sweet spice flavor to cakes, biscuits, cookies and pastries, add 2 teaspoons of mixed spice per cup of flour to the dry ingredients. Fruitcakes, mince pies, and rich or sweet foods require more—up to twice the amount if a distinct spiciness is desired.

—Adapted from The Spice and Herb Bible by Ian Hemphill
Read more: http://www.naturalhomeandgarden.com/cooking/buying-cooking-with-winter-spices.aspx?page=3#ixzz1jeEfXT1K