Pumpkin Pie Spice

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Pumpkin Pie Spice

Grinding Your Own Option

My Little Blue Heron

 

 

Whisk these spices together and you’ll have perfect pumpkin pie spice. Freshly grated nutmeg makes a difference. 

And if you can grind your own: whole allspice and cloves, you will notice a remarkable difference. If you don't have a spice grinder, dedicate a coffee grinder (not a burr one) for spices. This one is good because it has a removable bowl - easy. I own this one, and it's good, too. If you're getting serious about grinding your own spices to make masalas, try this one. I have it, and it's great. There are less expensive models that I'm sure do the trick, too! 

On Amazon .. always look for deals ("used like new"), and I think "Black Friday" is nigh.

This mixture is aromatic and wonderful. Use it wherever you crave the taste of pumpkin pie.

If you're looking for a great resource for spices, try Penzeys. Their spices are top shelf, and they're good people. 

Once you have a spice grinder, check out my post from 2021 for different masala recipes!

Make this fresh every season. 

 

Have fun! 

peace, love and warmth,

Jane

 

Pumpkin Pie Spice

 

 

3 Tbsp. ground cinnamon

2 tsp. ground ginger

1 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg

1 tsp. ground allspice (freshly ground if possible)

½ tsp. ground cloves (freshly ground if possible)

 

Mix well with a wire whisk and store in a spice jar.

 

Porridge with Apples and Ginger - for the colder days to come

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Porridge with Apples and Ginger

for the colder days to come

Adapted from a comment contribution 

NY Times article “5 Nutritious Grains Experts Want You to Try”

by My Little Blue Heron

This recipe was offered by a NY Times reader in the comment section as one of many interesting offerings to the above cited article, published on 17 October, 2024. If it works, follow the link and read the NY Times article. It’s excellent! 

It’s been globally-warming hot in NYC, but if/as the weather cools, this is a yummy breakfast cereal recipe. And if like me, you don’t eat gluten and especially if you have any gut issues and are on or considering following a low fodmap diet (the link will take you to a brief pdf from Stanford University about fodmaps and why they may be a problem for your gut), the hunt for fiber is always in season. I freeze it in small portions. 

I love a dollop of this gorgeous porridge on my yogurt. Add a few berries or raisins, and cold is cooked. This cereal adds texture, fiber and nutrition.. and taste. It’s totally delicious. 

Feel free to sub butter for ghee, cow or ‘other’ milk for almond milk, other sweetener .. less if you prefer, too, for maple syrup, but DO put together my fall spice mix. It makes this taste gorgeous. And you’ll use this spice mix on your other cereals, yogurt, cottage cheese, in smoothies … you’re going to love it. So, the first part of this recipe is the Fall Spice Mix (which is from an Ayurvedic recipe, and this recipe is kinda Ayurvedic, but who cares? It’s just delicious.

You’ll need steel cut oats, millet, quinoa, apple and fresh ginger. Grating ginger can be a pain, but if you have a ginger grater, it’s easy. I have this one, and it also zests fruits and grates garlic. Unless you want to wait for Black Friday - maybe you’ll get lucky, I totally recommend this handy kitchen tool. Grating ginger is, for me, a pain, but this little tool makes it very simple. 

Directions below are for pressure cooker or stovetop. I make mine stovetop. Next time, I'll try my Instant Pot. 

Okay, here’s to Democracy and protecting our government and election process at every poll site in every county, in every state and to every damn vote being counted.

Peace and Love and Democracy,

And Democracy.

Jane

Porridge with Apples and Ginger

8-10 servings

You will need (and then you will enjoy) this wonderful concoction. For spices (and if yours are ancient (more than a year old), replace them!), try Penzeys. Their spices are amazing and they’re good people. 

Recipe: Everyday Sweet Spice Mix:

This is a quick and easy to put together spice mix. These sweet spices are a little “fiery” and may help stir up your digestion. I sprinkle this on yogurt, oatmeal and on baked sweet potatoes! When I want the additional taste of nutmeg, I grate it fresh. You can add some nutmeg to this recipe if you love  nutmeg! 

Keep this in a small spice jar. Enjoy it! 

 

2 Tbsp. ground cinnamon (any of Penzeys cinnamons are great - read about them!)

2 Tbsp. ground powdered ginger

1 Tbsp. ground cardamom (grind pods yourself or buy ground)

Porridge

Ingredients:

1-2 Tbsp. Unsalted ghee or butter

1/2 cup steel cut oats

1/2 cup quinoa (any color), rinsed

1/2 cup millet, rinsed

1 large or 2 small apples (preferably organic), peeled and grated (I use a box grater)

1 3-inch finger of ginger, peeled (use the edge of a teaspoon to peel!) and grated 

3 c. milk .. you choose (I used unsweetened almond milk) Nut, hemp, cow's, you're the boss

1 1/2 c. water (see below - for stovetop recipe you’ll need an additional 1 cup)

6 Tbsp. maple syrup

1/2 -1 tsp. Everyday Sweet Spice Mix (you’re the boss)

1/2-1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt (or none if you’re restricting salt)

Procedure:

Pressure Cooker or Stovetop (YOU WILL NEED AN ADDITIONAL 1 CUP OF WATER):

Warm ghee or butter over medium heat - just melted and then add just the oats (they are dry, not rinsed) and stir over medium heat until they begin to impart a wonderful, nutty aroma. Be careful not to burn the oats. 

Add the rinsed millet and quinoa, the grated apple and ginger, milk, water (additional 1 cup for stovetop), maple syrup, spices and salt and stir well. 

Pressure Cooker: Seal and cook on high pressure for 11 minutes. Allow to release pressure naturally. Stir well.

Stovetop: After adding that additional 1 cup of water, raise heat to high, bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, cover the pot and simmer, stirring occasionally,  for 30 minutes, or until the porridge has reached your happy texture. You may need to add additional water. 

You'll have enough to feed a crowd (8-10). If you don't need the entire batch, portion the cooked porridge into individual or small serving containers and freeze. 

Serve as-is, or as an addition to ....

Raspberry Bakewell Flapjacks

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Raspberry Bakewell Flapjacks

Adapted from Lyle’s Golden Syrup by My Little Blue Heron Kitchen

Dedicated to Leon Pozniakow 

Flapjacks have become my obsession. In the U.S., flapjacks are ‘pancakes’, but to the British, they’re sweet treats made from oats. British oats, porridge oats, seem to be different than our "American" oats (like Bob's Red Mill or Trader Joe's). They seem much softer, so I recommend using them. I like Flahavan's porridge oats. You can, of course, find them on Amazon. Try to get to a local shop that carries imports from the UK or Ireland. Also, so wonderful and special: Lyle’s Golden Syrup (or light treacle syrup that has this remarkable and addictive butterscotch taste), and Demerara sugar, a sugar that is different in taste: it’s richly caramel (originally from Guyana and more often now from Mauritius, Africa).  I recommend getting these ingredients for your pantry. You'll need Lyle's Golden Syrup to make this confection. You can probably noodle your way around the oats and Demerara sugar, but I wouldn't.

Maybe you know what a Bakewell Tart or Pudding is, but I didn't until I read about it. Here's what I found out: “Bakewell” refers to the infamous Bakewell Tart. Wikipedia: “A Bakewell tart is an English confection consisting of a shortcrust pastry shell beneath layers of jam, frangipane, and a topping of flaked almonds. It is a variant of the Bakewell pudding, closely associated with the town of Bakewell in Derbyshire.” So to make a mock Bakewell Tart, we have oats, butter, and caramel sweeteners for our shortcrust pastry, raspberry jam, and ground and extract of almonds as stand-ins for frangipane. And our topping is, of course, almonds.  

If you're nut-free or don't like or tolerate almonds, try coconut and vanilla extract. (There's always chocolate, but if you do opt for chocolate, give unsweetened chocolate chips a try. Pascha makes them and they're amazing. You can buy them directly, or from other places like Vitacost and some markets and of course the "A" word). Fool around with different fillings and jams. You're the boss.

 

Raspberry Bakewell Flapjacks

Ingredients:

225 g unsalted butter  

6 Tbsp. Lyle’s Golden Syrup

110 g. brown or Demerara sugar 

375 g. Irish porridge oats (I use Flahavan’s)

24 g. ground almonds 

generous pinch of kosher salt

1/2 tsp. almond extract (if using vanilla, use 1 tsp.)

5 Tbsp. raspberry jam at room temperature

Sliced or chopped slivered almonds to cover the flapjacks

Procedure:

• Heat the oven to 350º F.

• Grease and line an 8 x 8 baking tin with parchment.  I spray my baking tin with ghee spray before lining it. N.B.: These bars are soft and chewy. So, if you prefer a crispier product, opt for a 9 x 11 pan. Bake time will be shorter, and your flapjacks won't be soft. It's personal .. like chocolate chip cookies.

• In a medium bowl, measure porridge oats. Whisk in salt and either ground almonds or coconut. Set aside. 

• Place the butter, golden syrup and soft brown or Demerara sugar in a large heavy-based pan. (A non-stick wok or large saucier will work well.) mlbh truc: if you're pouring from a jar rather than scooping from a tin (I do) your Lyle's syrup, coat the measuring spoon with some butter (I use ghee spray.) Less to lick, but it literally slides off the spoon with no waste or mess!

• Heat gently, stirring occassionally, until the butter and sugar have just melted. This should take a few minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and dump in the porridge oats mixture. Add extract and stir until well combined.

• Spread half the mixture into the prepared baking tin, (a silicone spatula or large silicone spoon works beautifully!) to smooth and level the surface. Be sure the bottom is covered completely and make sure you leave enough mixture to completely cover the jam.

• After you've dolloped the raspberry jam, with a light touch, spread evenly over the surface. A small spatula or even the back of a spoon will work.

• Next, gently spread the remaining oat mixture over the layer of jam, smoothing the surface, taking care to cover the jam surface completely. 

• Sprinkle the sliced or chopped slivered almonds or coconut on top.

Bake in center of preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes, until golden. Remove from oven and place pan on rack, leaving flapjacks in the pan until cooled. (If you remove from the tin before cooled, you’ll be left with a hot mess.)

• When completely cooled, lift flapjacks from pan, and place on surface where you can carefully remove from parchment. A flat spatula or large icing spatula works well. Using a sharp knife, cut into squares. The flapjacks will be soft and chewy.

• Cool completely before wrapping. Store at room temperature, wrapped well in an airtight container for a couple of days. You can keep them in the fridge and bring them to room temperature before serving. Flapjacks may be frozen. 

Yield 16 - 2" squares. Fewer, if you prefer larger bars.

Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread or Muffins

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Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread

Adapted from glutenfreepalate.com by My Little Blue Heron

This one’s a winner. It’s crazy easy to put together, and thanks to the addition of rolled oats, it has a soft and fine crumb . It's beautifully moist.

Bake loaves or muffins. Today, I made jumbo muffins. 

I use canned, organic pumpkin (don’t use pumpkin pie filling!) If you opt to use your own cooked pumpkin, be sure to go by weight, rather than volume. If it’s steamed, puree and drain.

The original recipe calls for avocado oil (which I just used in my coleslaw recipe and it ruined the coleslaw. Avocado oil is wonderful, but it’s a dominating and heavy oil, great for high heat, but not for coleslaw. Here, opt for Canola, Sunflower or Safflower oil.

Weighing your ingredients is best practice. Results will be consistent no matter what brand you use. GF flour brand? I love King Arthur Measure for Measure. Some people love Bob’s Red Mill. Use whatever brand you like best. But weigh it. This recipe should have a flour blend that has binder (xanthan or guar gum). All “measure for measure” blends do.

Any milk’ll do. You can put this together with a wire whisk, a hand mixer, or a stand mixer. I use a hand mixer.

You can use a ready-made “pumpkin pie spice”, but I prefer to blend my own. Here’s my “Sweet Spice Blend”… it’s a tweak on an Ayurvedic blend, so if you don’t like the cardamom, omit it. Whisk the spices together and put in a glass jar. Sprinkle on your oatmeal, yogurt and use as a spice for any recipe calling for a 'warm' spice blend .. like oatmeal cookies!

2 Tbsp. Ground ginger, 2 Tbsp. Ground cinnamon, 1/2 Tbsp. Ground cardamom, 1/2 tsp. Ground cloves, Nutmeg: freshly ground, to taste.

Pumpkin is great in the fall and winter, and some love it all year!

Wishes for a world overflowing with peace, love, justice and democracy in 2024,

Jane

Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread

Equipment: Loaf pan, lightly greased with oil or release spray or muffin tins, lightly greased or lined with baking cups. (Silicone’s okay). I like the “If you care” brand of paper liners. A large and medium mixing bowl, measuring cups, measuring spoons, spatula.

Ingredients:

• 1 c./240g pumpkin purée
• 2 eggs, size large, room temperature
• 1/3 cup flavorless oil (see above)
• 1/3 cup almond milk (or any milk)
• 1 1/4 c./150g cup for cup (measure 4 measure) GF flour blend (King Arthur is great!)
• 1/2 c./50g GF rolled oats (you can sprinkle more on top for a cute finish .. see photo!)
• 3/4 c./150g granulated white sugar
• 1/2 tsp./3 g baking soda
• 1/2 tsp./2 g baking powder (make sure it’s fresh!)
• 1/2 tsp./2g salt 
• 1/2 tsp. Ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. “Sweet Spice Blend” (see above) OR pumpkin pie spice

Procedure:

• Preheat oven to 350º F (180º C) 
• Prepare baking pans (see above “equipment”)
• Large mixing bowl (or if using a stand mixer, its bowl, fill with all wet ingredients (first four on the list)
• Medium mixing bowl: measure all following dry ingredients (including sugar and spices) and whisk together to combine well. Set aside.
• Blend wet ingredients until well combined, smooth and creamy.
• Dump in the combined dry ingredients and mix well until incorporated.
• Fill loaf pan or muffin tins and bake on rack in middle of preheated oven, length of time is dependent on vessel, for 25 - 45 minutes. A toothpick inserted in center should come out clean, with perhaps a few crumbs clinging. No wet stuff!
• Remove from oven and when loaf is cool enough to release, remove gently and let cool completely before serving. Wrapped well, this will keep for a few days in the fridge. Loaf always freezes beautifully.