11. CINNAMON
A spice that has been around for thousands of years, cinnamon is made from the inner bark of the Cinnamomum tree. The cinnamon bark is dried until it curls into rolls known as cinnamon sticks. Most cinnamon used in the United States is “Cassia” cinnamon, known as common cinnamon. Ground into an aromatic powder that is pungent, warm and sweet, cinnamon is used in a wide variety of popular sweet dishes such as cinnamon rolls, French toast, bread pudding, lattes, pumpkin treats and Snickerdoodle cookies.
12. NUTMEG
Nutmeg works well in many savory dishes such as creamy bechamel sauce or cheese fondue. When found in sweet dishes, nutmeg is often paired with cinnamon and the twosome makes a fine, aromatic duo. Hailing from warm, tropical islands, nutmeg is the seed of the evergreen tree. Ground nutmeg is very convenient, but once a nutmeg seed is freshly grated, the captivating aroma tells you there is no going back.