The Quick Cook Saves You Time and Money with Seasoning Blends

Alli and Gina, personal chefs in my culinary mystery, Mission Impastable, don’t have space to cart around a lot of little spice jars to create their culinary magic at a client’s home. They make their own combos because it is quicker to measure out two tablespoons of Italian Seasoning than to measure out teaspoons of basil, oregano, parsley, rosemary, thyme, and garlic powder. You can see that, I’m sure.

Last week I gave some recipes so you could use up some of those spices lurking in the dark of your pantry by combining them into spice blends. That not only saves space by getting rid of some of those little jars, but it saves money since you don’t buy spice blends when the ingredients are already in your cupboard. And, as mentioned above, it’s quicker to use the blends than to measure individual spices.

I have a couple of more recipes to share, and then to ways to the ones from last week and this week. Again, I urge you to make your own blends and not pay those exorbitant prices in the store. Yours will be fresher and better because the blends have been sitting on those store shelves for a while.

Seasoned Salt (makes about 13 tablespoons)

When you see how easy this recipe is, you’ll wonder why you ever bought the Lawry’s Seasoned Salt for a bazillion dollars.

8 tablespoons salt

8 teaspoons sugar

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon turmeric

2 teaspoons paprika

1 teaspoon cornstarch

Mix thoroughly and store in an airtight jar.

Italian Seasoning (makes about 12 tablespoons)

I like basil more than oregano. Many of the blends have equal amounts of those two herbs, but my blend is heavier on basil. Switch it out for your preference.

5 tablespoons basil

1 tablespoons oregano

3 tablespoons parsley

2 tablespoons rosemary

2 teaspoons thyme

1 teaspoon garlic powder

Mix thoroughly and store in an airtight jar.

QC Tip #3

Use seasoning blends in new ways.

You may now have six blends, if you made last week’s and this week’s recipes: Poultry, Taco, Chinese Five-Spice, and Pumpkin Pie along with today’s Seasoned Salt and Italian.

Don’t be afraid to play with them. Smell the aroma of each. Imagine the foods it could pair with. Mix a small amount of yogurt with a bit of the spice. Taste it. Hold that flavor in your memory. Imagine it spread on or cooked in something else.

Here are some ideas to get you started using the seasoning mixes you made. Think of new ways! I could go on forever!

Poultry	Any poultry-based soup Bean soup As a rub spread on chicken or pork before grilling Steamed or grilled veggies/potato wedges
Taco	Meatloaf/meatballs Slow cooker beef roast Spaghetti sauce Soups/Chili Mix with yogurt for baked potato topping Add to Mac and Cheese Beef, poultry, pork before grilling or roasting
Chinese Five-Spice	Stir fry dishes Toss rice or noodles with spice and olive oil Mix with vanilla Greek yogurt for a veggie dip Beef, poultry, pork, fish before grilling or roasting Mixed with yogurt for baked potato topping Broth-based soups Steamed or grilled veggies/potato wedges
Pumpkin Pie	Homemade ice cream ingredient Mix with honey Greek yogurt to make a dip for fruits Flavor fried apple slices or applesauce Soups/Chili Meatloaf/meatballs Steamed or grilled veggies/potato wedges Beef, poultry, pork before grilling or roasting
Seasoned Salt	Steamed or grilled veggies/potato wedges Beef, poultry, pork before grilling or roasting Mac and cheese Meatloaf/meatballs Mixed with yogurt for baked potato topping Soups/Chili
Italian	Mixed with yogurt for baked potato topping Mix with yogurt for a veggies dip Steamed or grilled veggies/potato wedges Meatloaf/meatballs Beef, poultry, pork before grilling or roasting Mac and cheese Soups

By the way, have you read Mission Impastable yet? If so, I would really appreciate you posting an honest review at Amazon. If not, think about picking up a copy at Amazon. Lots of recipes AND a mystery!