If you've been in the grocery store this week, you've noticed that baking season is upon us. Now, I'm not a baker. But that doesn't mean I can't take advantage of the sales in the supermarkets this time of year. This is the perfect season for stocking up on spices, herbs and seasonings. But which ones and what for? Great time for another installment of . . .
The Secret's in The Sauce
The previous Secret's in The Sauce included my secret for Chicken Noodle Soup: poultry seasoning! The kids have even started adding it to canned chicken noodle soup when they fix it for a snack.
Here are a few more creative uses for those seasonings. And this time, they're not all cooking!
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vacuuming - cloves
salt substitute - onion powder
pest repellent - bay leaf mulled cider - cinnamon sticks potpourri - out-dated seasoning |
Deodorize with cloves: Place whole cloves inside your vacuum bag or sprinkle ground cloves on your carpet a half-hour before vacuuming.
Repel bugs and pantry pests: Place a bay leaf in your flour, rice of cereal. (Okay, I haven't tried this one. Not sure if the bay leaf change the flavor of the container contents. I found this idea here.)
Freshen up your kitchen with last minute home-made potpourri: Add rough-chopped fruit (apples, oranges, lemons) and spices to a pot of simmering water. Just open jars, take a whiff, and give a few shakes of whatever smells good! My favorites are rosemary, thyme, basil and cinnamon. This is a great way to use fruit past its prime and recycle old seasonings. And if you have a hood that vents inside instead of out, make sure you turn it on!
What are your favorite seasonings? Are you going to be baking during the holidays?
