Pots and Pins

Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice...

 Years ago, just as I was about to start a recipe that called for pumpkin pie spice, I realized I was fresh out.  Off to the local Safeway I went where I picked up a tiny little container of pumpkin pie spice and saw it was $5.99...for like TWO tablespoons of spice!  Right there in the spice aisle I almost had a full-blown-come-apart.  The nerve of McCormick Spices!  The nerve of Safeway!  Where did they get off charging that kind of moolah for something that is a necessity to my well-being!???  I wanted to start a spice revolution right then and there but alas, I needed to make pumpkin pie and I needed the pumpkin pie spice and I was the only one in the spice aisle and you can't start a revolution with just yourself, as that's called a meltdown. 

 

So I calmed myself, bought the tiny jar of spice and went home to make my pie.  But the very next day I did what I should have done to begin with and what you should do right now...I made my OWN pumpkin pie spice and I've never looked back!  It's not only easy, it's much, much more economical.  You can make a vat of pumpkin pie spice and still feel like you can retire at a decent age. 

Why would one want to make a large amount of pumpkin pie spice, you ask?  Because it makes for great party favors/gifts this time of year.  And if you're a baker then you know it won't go to waste...pumpkin spice season lasts for three full months so you'll use it!  We are lucky enough to live by an Indian grocery store (Apna Bazaar) where I bought ground nutmeg, ground ginger, cinnamon and ground cloves - super cheap!  (Asian markets also carry these spices for much less money than my local Safeway.)  The only thing I can't purchase at the Indian market is allspice, so I buy that at Fred Meyers.  (By the way, if you ask at the Indian market for allspice they will hand you garam masala - it's their all-spice!)

The little jars I used came from World Market - $.99 each.  This takes about 5 minutes to put together...add the spices to a zip-lock style bag, give it a couple of good shakes to combine, and then fill your jar(s). I usually make 9 times the recipe - which gives me about 2 1/4 cups of pumpkin pie spice...enough to take care of whatever pumpkin spice cravings I have and enough to share...if I'm so inclined...some years I don't share; hoarding pumpkin pie spice might just save my life when the zombie apocalypse begins, I'm told it will put a zombie in a trance...  

I ordered these cute chalkboard label stickers from Amazon.  They were under $8 and they came with two liquid chalk markers...arrived the day after I ordered them...so my love/hate relationship with Amazon continues, right now I'm loving them more than hating...I have mail order issues.  

Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice - Pots and Pins

This recipes makes 1/4 cup of spice, enough to fill a small spice jar (2.5 oz.)  Double/quadruple as you see fit!

3 tablespoons ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons ground ginger

2 teaspoons ground nutmeg

1 1/2 teaspoons ground allspice

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves

Mix altogether in a zip-lock style bag or a small bowl.  Keep in an airtight container/jar.  Enjoy!

Did you know you can sprinkle pumpkin pie spice over an unscented or vanilla candle for a delicious scent in your home?  You can also just add it to water in a small pan and put it on your stove top to simmer...just don't let the water simmer out of the pan!  You can even make sachets with it to put in your car or sock drawer so your dog will follow you around even more than normal.  But definitely bake with it...make something wonderful to serve at all of your fall parties...

 

We had a family painting party - sure to be an annual event!  Elsa and Catherine assembled haunted gingerbread houses - another annual event - Trader Joe's still has some houses left, so does Costco, but hurry, they won't last long!  I'll leave you with a throwback picture as I count down the days until I can don my cape once again...

 

A Word About Aleppo...

I had no idea what was Aleppo was...for all I knew it could have been a virus (like the one I accidently sent to everyone on my FB page - again, so, so sorry!) or some sort reptile, as in, "I don't know how it got out but the door was open and my Aleppo is gone!"  But I kept seeing the word...last week at World Market I noticed a big display of spices, "Featuring:  ALEPPO!"  Okay, mystery solved...Aleppo is a spice...whoop-de-do...at my age if I haven't heard of it then I'm certain I don't need it.  Then, two days later I visited Smitten Kitchen and her post read, "Sour Cream Cornbread With Aleppo"...seriously!  So twice in two days I see Aleppo...two days after I see Deb's post the mister and I stop into the new Penzey's Spices in Seattle and they have Aleppo on display!  The Spice Gods were trying to tell me something, ya think?  So I bought me a bottle of Aleppo... This is what Penzey's has to say about Aleppo: 

"This Turkish crushed chili has an ancho-like flavor with a little more heat and tartness.  Put a jar right on the table and shake on pizza, subs and salads.  Aleppo Pepper is great on grilled meats like chkcken breast, steak, chops...makes an attractive sprinkle for potato, chicken and tuna salad and deviled eggs, too..."  Amen!

Folks, Aleppo is the new Black...it's colorful and zesty and on top of macaroni and cheese (from the blue box) it was just the ticket!  (Yes, every now and then I like to eat gutter food, don't you?) So far this week I've used Aleppo on a lunch tuna salad, a green salad for dinner, grilled pork chops and baked potato!  The mister would have nothing to do with it until I sprinkled it on top of some deviled eggs...and then he was sold, too!  (Yes it's spicy but not too spicy for the man who hates spice!)  If you're out and about and find yourself face to face with Aleppo - buy it!