Spice it Up!
Oh seasonings, you really spice up my life!
Haha, sorry for the super bad pun, but it’s true, a good mix of herbs and spices can make a dish really sing. A very easy way to start eating healthy is to make basic meals of protein, vegetables and a whole grain for dinner, but that doesn't mean it has to be bland. You can cook the same protein every night and give it a totally different and exciting spin just by changing up the herbs and spices you use to flavor it. I'm not saying you need to cook the same thing every night, but it really can be impressive the effect that a great spice blend can have on a dish.
There are tons of premixed blends available for purchase now to make this easier, but many of the store-bought blends contain unnecessary sugar or too much salt, and some of them even have chemicals or artificial ingredients that simply don’t need to be there. I have found that when I mix my own I can tweak the flavor to exactly what my family likes, and since many of them use the same basic herbs in different ratios it saves me money to blend my own.
Here are some basic recipes for some of my most frequently used spice blends. Feel free to modify them to your tastes, for example add extra chili powder if you like things with a little heat. This is a super fun way to play in the kitchen and also a great way to get your kids involved and have them help mix the different combos together. you never know, you may come up with a new and amazing blend thats completely unique!
All you have to do is mix the ingredients and then store them in an airtight container.
I do recommend mixing or shaking them up before using just to redistribute the herbs and break up any clumps that may have formed.
*Note that I use kosher salt almost exclusively in my kitchen but you can replace that in any of these recipes with sea salt if you prefer.
Ranch Seasoning Blend
2 1/2 tablespoons parsley
2 teaspoons dried dill
2 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons dried minced onion
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
*** try mixing this into plain Greek yogurt for a protein rich, healthy version for dip and dilute slightly with non-fat milk to get a nice dressing consistency if that's what you prefer.
Taco & Fajita Seasoning Blend
2 tablespoons chili powder
4 teaspoons cumin
2 teaspoons coriander
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Italian Seasoning Blend
4 teaspoons basil
4 teaspoons oregano
4 teaspoons rosemary
4 teaspoons marjoram
4 teaspoons thyme
4 teaspoons sage
2 teaspoons garlic powder
Salt Free All Purpose Seasoning Blend
2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons onion powder
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon parsley
1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
Cajun Seasoning Blend
2 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt
1 tablespoon oregano
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Mediterranean Seasoning Blend
3 tablespoons rosemary
2 tablespoons cumin
2 tablespoons coriander
1 tablespoon oregano
1 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Chili Seasoning Blend
2 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon paprika or smoked paprika
1 tablespoon onion powder
1/2 tablespoon oregano
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
Jerk Seasoning Blend
3 tablespoons dried minced onion
1 tablespoon thyme
1 tablespoon allspice
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Pumpkin Pie Spice Blend
4 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
1 tablespoon ginger
1 tablespoon nutmeg
1 tablespoon allspice
2 teaspoons ground cloves
Once you have mixed up your spices place them in containers of choice, I love these little mini jars that stack nicely in my cupboard! But there are tons of differnt kinds out there to choose from. I just use a sharpie or white board pen to label them and when they are gone it just washes right off the glass but you can buy labels to use instead if you prefer, and some of the newer sets of jars come with their own labels which is extra nice. Labeling these right away is important, because I promise you that it can be hard to tell the difference and you don't want to start seasoning your marinara sauce with jerk spices by accident!
