Autumn pantry essentials

October 25, 2022 by
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Although autumn has been playing coy in many locations (it was in the upper 70s here two days ago, 20 degrees Fahrenheit above normal), cooler temperatures will be here soon for many of our Members. With the change in the season, thoughts turn to warming spices and holiday traditions. BBC’s Good food is here to help us make sure our larders and pantries are well-stocked with essentials for this weather, with a list of the top 10 items we should all have on hand.

Holiday kuri squash and apple soup from Everyday Dorie at The Washington Post by Dorie Greenspan

Heading up the list is cinnamon, arguably the most popular autumn spice. Check your spice jar to make sure your cinnamon is fresh and vibrant and replace it if it’s gone stale or lost its punch. Whether to stock slightly more assertive Vietnamese cinnamon or traditional Ceylon cinnamon is a matter of preference (I find it difficult to choose so I use a blend). Ginger and nutmeg are the other spices on the list, although I would consider replenishing clove, allspice, and cardamom too.

Some of the items on the Good Food list do not seem to be as seasonal – canned tomatoes, potatoes, and onions are year-round items for me. Instead I would substitute winter squash (Hubbard, butternut, and acorn are all good choices), apples, and leeks. What are your go-to autumn pantry essentials?

Category: Antipasto

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5 Comments

  • lean1  on  October 25, 2022

    Butternut squash, apples cloves, allspice and mace.

  • KatieK1  on  October 25, 2022

    Ceylon cinnamon is true cinnamon, but the cheaper cassia is often substituted for it. Cassia is toxic.

    • Darcie  on  October 26, 2022

      Vietnamese (aka Saigon) cinnamon is not exactly the same as the more ubiquitous cassia cinnamon, although it is related. While cassia cinnamon does contain higher levels of coumarin than Ceylon cinnamon, unless you are eating it by the spoonful it is considered safe to eat.

  • ellabee  on  October 29, 2022

    Some day I’m going to get the cinnamons straight in my mind. For me, a gardener, botanical names would help. Both cassia and true cinnamon (genus Cinnamona) are the dried bark of the tree/shrub in question, yes?

  • ellabee  on  October 29, 2022

    This blog started me thinking about the differences in seasonality between temperate climates and tropical ones, where both day length and ingredient availability are much more constant throughout the year, and seasons more often distinguished as wet and dry than by temperature. Are there still some seasonally associated ingredients? Would love to read about seasonality in tropical climates by people with much deeper knowledge of cooking in Thailand, parts of Mexico & Central America, the tropical states of India, etc.

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