November 28, 2011
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Why You’ll Love Cinnamon
Cinnamon is dried tree bark that’s ground into powder or rolled into sticks. It’s used to flavor everything from desserts and soups to drinks and candies. This wonderfully aromatic and versatile spice is also a great source of calcium, iron and manganese.
How to Select & Store Cinnamon
When possible, smell cinnamon before purchasing it. If it smells sweet, it’s fresh. Store it in a tightly sealed glass container in a cool, dark and dry spot. Ground cinnamon has a stronger flavor than sticks and will keep for up to six months; sticks stay fresh for up to a year. To extend the shelf life of both, store them in the refrigerator.
How to Grind Cinnamon Sticks
Grinding is a great way to extend cinnamon’s shelf life because sticks store twice as long as ground versions. Over a bowl, rub a stick back and forth on a grater until it’s too short to hold with your fingers. One stick produces about a 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
Tip: If you use freshly ground spices often, consider purchasing a coffee grinder, and dedicate it to spice grinding.
How to Pair Cinnamon
Sprinkle cinnamon sugar on toast, or mix ground cinnamon into coffee before brewing. It also adds warm flavor to apple pie, banana bread and roasted figs. But cinnamon’s not just for sweets – stir it into soups, sauces and chili, or try it in curried or pumpkin dishes.
How to Prep & Recipe Idea
Sprinkle it, grate it, add a whole stick to ice cream or stir it into hot drinks. For scrumptious flaky pies filled with delicious cinnamon-spiced fruit, try our Pear Hand Pies.
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