The ancient Egyptians used cinnamon to embalm the dead, while wealthy Romans used it in love potions and perfumes. Today, cinnamon is a popular spice that can jazz up both sweet and savory dishes.

Cinnamon Basics
Cinnamon is the inner bark of the tropical evergreen tree. The bark is peeled from the tree during the rainy season and once dried, it curls into long sticks which are either cut and sold as cinnamon sticks or ground into powder.

The two main varieties of cinnamon are Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) and cassia (Cinnamomum cassia). Ceylon is considered “true cinnamon” and is pale in color with a mild, sweet flavor. Cassia cinnamon is also known as Chinese cassia or Indonesian cinnamon, and has a dark red-brown color. It has a more pungent flavor than Ceylon and is somewhat bittersweet.

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Even with loads of fresh produce coming into season now, you still need to keep your pantry stocked with some go-to staples. In addition to standards like brown rice and whole-wheat pasta, here are some other pantry must-haves that are affordable, healthy and easy to find.

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Photo by BestTeenChef

This simple idea might make you think “duh!” but pop these cinnamon-dusted apples in your mouth and that will quickly change to “mmm…” I’ve got a slew of extra apples in my fruit bowl (even after making low-cal stewed apples), and this is a perfect alternative to eating them plain. Plunk some slices in a plastic container — and maybe add a dash of lemon juice to keep them fresh — for an office-friendly snack.

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Cozy up next to the fire with a warming mug of Ellie Krieger’s Mulled Apple Cider. The cinnamon sticks lend this drink a holiday scent, and the fresh orange slices add vitamin C and potassium.

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