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The Best Time to Buy Everything at its Lowest Price

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I used to think that saving money by seasonal shopping was grocery shopping at farmer’s markets in the summer, buying pumpkins in the fall, and not something I could not do the six months out of the year where nothing grows locally during the winter.   It wasn’t until I wrote a monthly What Goes On Sale and What to Buy on Clearance series that I realized I couldn’t have been more wrong.   I learned that almost everything from food to household goods to cars has a time of the year where it goes on sale because: There is a seasonal abundance (like fresh produce) The store has some of  last season's stock left in storage and wants to make room for the current season There is on end of season clearance to make room for next season’s goods on the store shelves There is a sale due to a celebrating an industry month (such as National Craft Month, National Camping Month, national holidays,etc.) There is a mega
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7 Creative Ways to Use Mulling Spices (Besides Wine)

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As the temperatures move downward, I like to fire up a hot beverage in the evening. A fuzzy blanket on my lap, a warm mug in my hands, and Lacey snuggled at my side is bliss on a chilly evening.

Hot chocolate used to be my winter warmer drink of choice, but finding a dairy free hot chocolate mix that actually tastes good can be hit or miss. Mostly miss. (if you have a favorite dairy free hot chocolate, help a girl out and let me know in the comments below!)

That’s when I rediscovered the mulling spices sitting in pantry waiting for a rare chance to make mulled spiced wine. I did a little experimenting and found at seven ways to use and enjoy mulling spices that is not mulling wine or alcohol. 

 

how to use mulling spices
Save this list of mulling spice ideas to your Pinterest boards for later! Share it with your friends!


1. As a pumpkin spice replacement – Use a spice grinder like this one to grind your mulling spices into a powder and use them instead of pumpkin spice in your favorite recipe. So good! (Disclosure: I am including affiliate links for your convenience.)


2. To make tea - Put a teaspoon of mulling spices into a tea ball (I like this one because it fits inside a travel coffee tumbler) and brew it with a black tea bag to add a flavor kick to your favorite cut of tea.


3. To make flavored coffee – Put a teaspoon of mulling spices in with the coffee in a coffee maker when you make coffee for a spicy treat. While the mulling spice blends that have dried orange peels taste fantastic in tea, they are not so great in coffee so try to use a mulling spices that do not have orange peels for this one.


4. To make your home smell nice – Simmer one tablespoon of mulling spices in 8 cups of water on the stove for a few hours (never leave a working burner on a stove unattended) to make your house smell live you’ve been baking all day long.


5. To make mulled cider or juice – Pour one bottle of apple cider or your favorite juice (I mulled apple, cranberry, cherry, and orange juices with good and yummy success) into a pot on the stove. You can also use the warming function on an Instant Pot or slow cooker for parties. Add one tablespoon to a big mulling spice ball like this kind,  Warm the juice on low heat and enjoy! This is my favorite and the way I use my mulling spice most often.


6. Make mulling spice infused honey – In a tea ball warm two teaspoons of mulling spices in one and a half cups of honey in a pot on the stove for approximate 5 minutes. You can pour the infused honey into a bottle for later or use in it in your favorite recipe, tea, or however you use regular honey.


5. Make mulling spice infused pancake syrup – My husband insists on using warm syrup on pancakes and waffles and as a good, supportive spouse (who enjoys easy recipes that taste decadent) I totally agree with him once he took my down that path for the first time! You can infuse maple syrup or any kind of breakfast syrup for that matter in the same way you make infused honey. In a tea ball warm two teaspoons of mulling spices in one and a half cups of honey in a pot on the stove for approximate 5 minutes. Pour on pancakes, waffles or on whatever you eat with syrup, eat. Enjoy. Repeat!

Looking for mulling spice blends and more ways to use them? Check out the following ideas – and more! - below!

 

 

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