For 2022, the Berryville Library is hosting its own Books, Spice, and Everything Nice spice club. Stop by the library to get the spice of the month and then stop by the blog on the first Tuesday of the month for recipes and more information on the featured spice. We’ll also be adding monthly posts about cookbooks in our collection. For September, our spice is allspice!
Allspice is well noted for its role in Caribbean and especially Jamaican cooking, though it is also used in Latin American and Middle Eastern dishes, as well as baking. We’re especially highlighting Jamaican dishes with this spice, as well as American baking recipes.
Want a new pork dish? Try the Jamaican oven jerk pork shoulder.
Curious about cooking Jamaican jerk style but with more flexibility? Try the homemade Jamaican jerk seasoning.
In search of a new twist on burgers and coleslaw? Try the Jamaican jerk burgers and coleslaw.
More interested in fall baking? Try the pumpkin spice bread.
Need a new cake recipe? Try the Kentucky blackberry jam cake.
Looking for another meat dish that doesn’t use jerk seasoning? Try the Swedish meatballs.
Prefer to wing it? Just follow your heart–and the flavor profile suggestions–on recommended uses and pairings.
Not a cook? You might still learn something (and be amused) with the history and trivia about the spice.
Please be sure to update us about how you used allspice in September. You can tell us in the comments here on the blog, share them with us on Facebook or Instagram with the #bplspice hashtag, or stop by the library.
Still looking for some ways to use allspice in your kitchen? Even though I ultimately didn’t include them in the handout, I was also intrigued by Jamaican Beef Stew, Jerk Chicken, and Allspice Cream Cheese Frosting.
Recipes in handout lightly adapted from originals in Spruce Eats, Chili Pepper Madness, Simply Recipes, Recipe Girl, Spicy Southern Kitchen, and the Modern Proper.
What’s your favorite recipe that uses allspice? Which recipe are you most excited to try? What spices do you use the most in your cooking? Tell us in the comments!
Berryville Book Buzz 