There’s that very popular saying, “Don’t go to the grocery store hungry.” I personally LOVE going to the grocery store hungry. I act like a hunter in the wild. I’m focused, assertive and efficient. I want my food, I want it now, and then I wanna go home so I can cook it and eat it. Super simple. Life is easy. Now let’s watch some more Felicity.
But if I venture into the grocery store when I’m not hungry and have no where to be, OMG am I a mess. I mosey. Yes, I mosey. I inspect new-to-me products, check out the ingredients, read the stories of how they got their start, and many times get all emotionally involved, like, Aww they got their start making granola out of their barn in the back and look at them now! Cute!
I take food pics of fun produce I find. And sometimes I compare my nail polish color to seasonal produce and Instagram about it. This stuff just happens.
A few nights ago I went to the grocery store with no focus. At the end of hour one, I was there with an empty basket just staring blankly at the spice section. I spotted “apple pie spice” and “pumpkin pie spice.” And they were selling them for $6?! Yes, $6.
I don’t typically use pumpkin pie spice, though I do know a lot of recipes call for it. And if you’re making a pumpkin pie, throw it in the puree, it’s bound to be delicious!
Pumpkin pie spice is just a of Fall-like spices thrown into a jar. There’s cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, cloves and a pinch of cardamom.
Add a teaspoon or two to some pancakes. Add a teaspoon to some biscuits. Throw a few pinches into your morning oatmeal. It’ll be delicious.
P.S. I really want to go back to the grocery store to find out the difference between apple pie spice and pumpkin pie spice. Like, maybe no cardamom or ginger?! Or maybe! there’s no difference at all and it’s the biggest scam since Bernie Madoff. Who knows.
Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
3 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon cardamom
1. Mix together the spices. Put it in an airtight jar. That’s all!
Yields 3 tablespoons
{ 34 comments… read them below or add one }
This is super useful for your readers living abroad where it’s not easy to find pumpkin spice as it is in the US!
YAY! GOOD!
I second that!
Lol that’s so funny! I’m one of those foreigners who know nothing about pumpkin pie spice so now I’ve been educated
I also manage to stave off hunger and mosey even when I need to eat. The best way to focus me in a grocery store is make sure I only turn up 30 minutes before closing time. If I have a couple of hours, I’ll start off with the homewares sections first, browse some random clothes…yep, I don’t know if your local grocery store has these distractions, but my local supermarket is 50% distraction!
Ah, the difference between two such harvest-y flavors!
My apple pie spice from The Spice House in Illionis has two different kinds of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and mace. Their pumpkin pie spice has cinnamon, cassia buds, allspice, nutmeg, ginger, mace, and cloves. Both lovely and delicious, as far as I’m concerned!
The Spice House is awesome. I have a friend who’s from Chicago and she brought me a few things from them. Love the addition of cassia buds and the mace!
I SO miss the Spice House in Evanston!! We just left Illinois unfortunately. I loved that place! Luckily, they ship!
Please update us on if there’s a difference between apple pie spice and pumpkin pie spice! I’m dying to know now!
So excited for pie season!
ME TOO!
I was JUST about to buy pumpkin pie spice when the thought occured to me as well that, duh.you can make it!
That’s so funny, I just made a taco seasoning spice blend. We must be following similar wavelengths. Pumpkin pie spice in anything makes the house smell so good!
I never thought to put Pumpkin Pie Spice in pancakes! How simple and a lovely twist on pancakes in fall. I love this simple recipe for homemade pumpkin pie spice, always good to have on hand.
It’s so easy to make – might as well! Thanks for the recipe
Found a recipe for Apple Pie Spice Mix on Allrecipes.com. How does it measure up?
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/apple-pie-spice-mix/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=apple%20pie%20spice&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page
Oh! No allspice and no ginger.
I looked it up because I was curious so here’s what I found:
Here’s the McCormick apple pie spice page: http://www.mccormick.com/Products/Herbs-and-Spices/Spices-A-to-Z/Apple-Pie-Spice.aspx and here’s a few apple pie recipes: http://www.bhg.com/advice/food/recipes/i-cant-find-apple-pie-spice-can-i-make-my-own/ — http://allrecipes.com/recipe/apple-pie-spice-mix/ — http://www.5dollardinners.com/homemade-apple-pie-spice/ — http://bakingbites.com/2007/10/make-your-own-apple-and-pumpkin-pie-spice-mixes/
I’m not a huuuge fan of pumpkin like everyone else is…So when I’ve been setting out to make pumpkin recipes that I know I’ll like, the ratio of spices is everything! I like the way yours sounds!
I adore doing spice mixes from scratch! My only problem is having a bunch of unlabeled spice mixes in my cupboard in huge random jars. Good thing I have a Penzey’s nearby and can start stocking up on ‘real’ spice containers.
Thanks for the recipe!
I’m voting scam. I have pumpkin pie spice in my spice rack, but I’m sure I bought it for something specific… and now I just use it for oatmeal (which is awesome and delicious by the way). I never have “Italian seasoning” when a recipe calls for it… love making stuff like this from scratch! I’m a grocery store wanderer, too. My family gets really annoyed with me.
Hooray for homemade spice mixes! The spice section is really crazily expensive, isn’t it? This is why I always end up at the bulk bins buying ten little bags of bulk this and that. So much cheaper!
That’s the move!
I was telling my co-worker today that I was skipping pumpkin pie spice in a recipe I’m making because I didn’t want to buy a spice I wouldn’t use again (or very often). Being the amazing baker that she is, rattled off these ingredients. So funny that you posted this today!
Coincidence. YES!
I am quite the opposite. If I am not hungry, then I am focused and stick to the shopping list. Some things are really expensive compared to what the ingredients cost to make it yourself. But sometimes, ingredients are so expensive that it’s worth buying the ready made version.
What a great idea!! I’m going to have to make this and oatmeal this morning!! xx
This is great– homemade versions are always so much tastier (and cheaper)! And also … where did you get that awesome container??
I got it at Heath Ceramics. It’s a Weck Jar. Here’s a link to some of the ones they sell. If you go into the store they sell all of them separately! http://www.heathceramics.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=weck
Ohhhh, nice. Thanks!
Nice! I’m all about keeping the integrity of flavor for less the price!
Yummy Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice. Can’t wait for the pie season.
LOVE pumpkin pie spice. I normally make mine as well, unless I run out of a certain spice and need a quick fix.
We don’t get pumpkin pie spice at all in Australia so this is great! I even happen to have all those spices already so will definitely be making my own.
I was going to say that apple pie spice doesn’t have ginger cause I used it in a recipe that called for pumpkin pie spice and thought when I realized, “oh no, what about the ginger?!” I couldn’t tell in the finished product. I am glad you posted this though cause I have all of these spices already!