Stress-Free Steps to Stocking Your Spice Cabinet for the Holidays

This one goes out to all the people who hate hearing about freshly-grated nutmeg! Look, some things are fantastic to have on hand during the holidays, and some things are useless. Spices can be hard to figure out, and I don't blame you for getting overwhelmed. Usually, when people grocery shop for the holidays, they just buy stuff as they need it. I disagree with this. Thinking about this stuff before the holiday season makes the whole experience a lot easier, and makes your wallet a lot happier. What would it be like to go to the store a few days before Thanksgiving and leave without 35 tiny jars in your cart? Let's talk about spice prep, and how you can hack it without spending all your cash.

The first step in tackling spice prep is to take stock of what you already have. If you already have cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, and clove, then you don't need to buy pumpkin pie spice. If you already have ground nutmeg and cinnamon, then you don't need to buy whole cinnamon sticks or fresh nutmeg unless you want to. Never let a recipe bully you into buying something you already have or will never use again. Cooking is all about your preference, and if you think you have what you need, then stick with what you got.

The next step is making a list of what you want. This may seem pretty self-explanatory, but you'd be surprised at how many people do not want to do this. I am fully aware that writing stuff down takes time, but PLEASE DO IT. This will save you so much money and time. Just write down what you need all at once instead of doing it as you need it. If you do this at the beginning of the holiday season (September or October), you'll shave money off your holiday food budget. Add a few spices to your list each time you grocery shop. Spending $3 here and there is a lot easier than running to the store days before you have to cook a big meal only to find that you're spending $20 on spices.

This step isn't totally necessary, but if you like to get creative, then do it! EMBRACE THE SUBSTITUTES! I don't want to spend all my money stocking a cabinet full of spices I'll use once, so I tend to swap things out. A friend of mine recently made me a maple and pumpkin loaf using Chinese five spice instead of pumpkin pie spice. I can't even describe how delicious it was. If you need a warm, fragrant spice but already have one just like it, try substituting it. You could end up with a fantastic new method of seasoning your favorite food.

Lastly, please remember that this is nobody else's spice cabinet but yours. Budget it the way you want, and pick your spices according to what YOU like. There is no reason to have something in your home that you hate. Stand in front of your spice cabinet, and think about what you want to experience. The smell of dried herbs? The vibrant colors of Indian spices? When it comes to the holidays, don't compromise on the tastes you already love. Buy what you want, season the way you like, and make your holiday a little less stressful.