Enchilada Sauce

We love enchiladas, and it's the sauce that makes them so good. You can buy enchilada sauce at the store, but sometimes it is hard to find. However, you don't have to worry because it is so easy to make your own enchilada sauce at home. The ingredients are probably already in your pantry.  

Ingredients

3 Tbs. flour
1 Tbs. chili powder
1 to 3 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. oregano
pinch of cinnamon
3 Tbs. olive oil
2 c. beef broth
2 c. tomato sauce
2 Tbs. tomato paste
1 tsp. vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

In a bowl, combine flour, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and a pinch of cinnamon.  Set aside.

In a cast iron skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.  

Whisk constantly, pour in the flour mixture.  Cook and stir for 1 minute, or until the mixture has deepened in color. 

Slowly pour in the beef broth, tomato sauce and tomato paste, whisking constantly.  You don't want any lumps in your enchilada sauce. 

Raise the heat to medium high and bring the mixture to a bubble. Reduce heat to a simmer and simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring often. The sauce should be a bit thick. This sauce will thicken as it cools.

Stir in vinegar. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Poultry Seasoning Blend

It is easy to make your own poultry seasoning. With just a few simple ingredients that you probably already have in your cupboard, you can make your own spice blend. Why not save some money over the prepackaged mixes when you can easily make up a batch at home?

Not only can you can use Poultry Seasoning on chicken or turkey, but you can add it to soups, stews, and hamburger meat dishes.

Ingredients

3 Tbs. ground or rubbed sage
2 Tbs. thyme
2 Tbs. rosemary
1 Tbs. marjoram
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. pepper

In a mortar and pestal, or a spice/coffee grinder, combine sage, thyme, rosemary, marjoram, nutmeg and pepper.

Grind the ingredients until they are finely ground and thoroughly blended. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place to preserve freshness and flavor.  Mark the jar, so you know what spice blend is inside for easy identification.

BBQ Shake and Bake Chicken or Pork Chops Seasoning Mix

If you love the boxed BBQ seasoning mix that you buy in the store, you will love this recipe.  It is amazing how the cost of those two little packets can cost so much money when you can make your own seasoning for a fraction of the price. Best of all, most if not all the ingredients can be found in your kitchen or pantry.

Ingredients

3 c. dried bread crumbs, ground fine* See notes below
3 c. flour
3/4 c. brown sugar
3 Tbs. cornmeal
3 Tbs. corn starch
3 Tbs. smoked paprika
3 Tbs. chili powder
2 Tbs. cumin
2 Tbs. garlic powder
2 Tbs. granulated onion
1 1/2 Tbs. salt
4 1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1 Tbs. ginger
2 tsp. thyme
2 tsp. oregano
1 1/2 tsp. pepper
3/4 to 1 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)
1 Tbs. creole seasoning.  (Tony Chachere's is the one we like.)

Directions

In a mason jar or a bowl, add bread crumbs, cornmeal, corn starch, smoked paprika, granulated onion, salt, chili powder, ginger, cumin, thyme, oregano, granulated garlic, and pepper.  Mix thoroughly until very well blended. 

If using a mason jar, seal with a lid.  If using a bowl, transfer the ingredients to a container that has a tight-fitting lid.  Store in a cool place. 

Use about 1/2 cup of the shake and bake seasoning mixture to 2 1/2 pounds of chicken or 6 to 8 pork chops.

Cream Cheese Vegetable Spread 

Cream cheese has gotten expensive and if you buy the ones that are already flavored for you, it is even more costly. This is a quick and easy way to save some money. You can make this spread with as many vegetables or as few vegetables as you like.

 Ingredients

1 (8 oz.) cream cheese, room temperature
2 Tbs. carrot, diced fine
2 Tbs. onion, diced fine
2 Tbs. celery, diced fine
2 Tbs. bell pepper, diced fine

Directions

Place the cream cheese in a bowl and allow it to come to room temperature. This makes mixing the vegetables with the cream cheese easier.

Add the carrot, onion, celery, and bell pepper to the cream cheese.

Mix well to distribute the vegetables evenly throughout the cream cheese. 

Spread on bagels, or crackers, or use it as a dip for vegetables. 

This keeps in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. 

Notes:

You can add more or less vegetables for your own personal taste. This recipe can also be cut in half if you won't be using it up within a couple of days.

Use red, green or yellow bell peppers for a colorful vegetable spread.

Tex Mex Seasoning

You can save a lot of money by making your own Tex Mex Seasoning. It is so easy to make. This seasoning blend is perfect to add to chicken, fish, beef, pork or vegetables. In fact, this seasoning is good on so many different foods. 

Make your cooking easier. Instead of bringing out 10 different spices when you want a Tex Mex flavor, you will only need to bring out one.

Ingredients

3 Tbs. chili powder
3 Tbs. cumin
1 Tbs. black pepper
1 Tbs. salt
1 Tbs. garlic powder
1 Tbs. onion powder
2 to 1 Tbs. red pepper flakes *see notes below
1 Tbs. oregano
1 Tbs. paprika (we liked smoked paprika)
1 tsp to 1 Tbs. cayenne pepper *see notes below

Directions

In a jar that has a tight-fitting lid or an airtight container, combine chili powder, cumin, black pepper, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, oregano, paprika and cayenne pepper.  Mix well. You can either mix the contents with a spoon, or put the lid on the container or jar and shake until the spices are thoroughly blended together.

Store in a cool, dark place.

Notes

With the red pepper flakes and cayenne pepper, use as much or as little as you want. It just depends on how spicy you like your food to be.  You can start out with the smallest amount and if it still lacks the heat or spiciness you prefer, add more. 

Also, some chili powders are hotter than others.  We bought Aara Red Chili Powder that is extra hot.  When we make our own Tex Mex blend using that particular chili powder, we omit the cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes. We also cut down on the amount of Aara Red Chili Powder that we add to this seasoning mix.

Creamy Italian Salad Dressing

Rising food prices and food choices are low.  In fact, some store shelves are completely empty of certain items. Maybe it is time to get back to basics. Start making some of the usual store bought processed food, at home, where you control the seasonings and everything that goes in.

Italian Salad dressing is one of those items you can make up at home. Chances are, once you start making your own salad dressing, you won't want to go back to the store bought bottled dressing.

Directions

1/2 c. olive oil
1/3 c. sour cream
3 Tbs. mayonnaise
3 Tbs.  Parmesan, freshly grated is best
2 Tbs. red wine vinegar
2 Tbs. white wine vinegar
1 tsp. prepared mustard
1 tsp. honey or sugar
3/4 tsp. garlic salt
3/4 tsp. dried parsley
3/4 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. onion powder
1/8 tsp. dried oregano
Pinch of red pepper flakes
Black pepper, to taste

Directions

In a blender, add the olive oil, sour cream, mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, red wine vinegar, whiter wine vinegar, prepared mustard, honey, garlic salt, parsley, basil, onion powder, oregano, red pepper flakes and black pepper to taste. Blend thoroughly. Taste and adjust the seasonings if necessary.

Pour into a large jar with a tight-fitting lid and place in the refrigerator. 

Shake well before using.

Creamy Garlic Salad Dressing

Creamy Garlic Salad Dressing

This salad dressing is so quick and easy to put together. It has a great garlic taste and is perfect to pour over salads or to use as a vegetable dip. 

Ingredients 

1 c. sour cream
1/2 c. mayonnaise
1/3 c. whole milk
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. vinegar
1 tsp. ground mustard powder
1/2 to 1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 green onions, chopped fine
4 cloves garlic, minced

Directions

In a bowl, combine sour cream, mayonnaise, milk, lemon juice, vinegar, ground mustard, sugar, salt, and pepper. Whisk thoroughly to blend the ingredients together.

Stir in the onions, and garlic.

Pour into a mason jar, or a used, clean salad dressing container. Cover with a tight-fitting lid.

Refrigerate for 1 hour or longer for the flavors to have a chance to blend together.

Shake the jar to mix the contents before pouring over salads, or using as a dip for vegetables. 

Notes

If the dressing seems too thick, pour in a little more milk, like a couple of teaspoons at a time.

If your dressing needs more sugar, garlic, lemon juice or other seasonings, only add about a 1/4 teaspoon at a time. You can always add more, but it is next to impossible to remove some after you have it mixed in.

 Greek Seasoning Blend

This spice blend is the perfect seasoning to sprinkle on fish, chicken, or vegetables.  It is so simple to make and will save you a lot of money over buying pre-made spice blends.

Ingredients

1 Tbs. salt (optional)
1 Tbs. garlic powder or granulated garlic
1 Tbs. onion powder or granulated onion
1 Tbs. basil
1 Tbs. oregano
1 1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 1/2 tsp. parsley
1 1/2 tsp. rosemary, minced
1 1/2 tsp. dill
1 1/2 tsp. marjoram
3/4 tsp. thyme
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg

Directions

In a jar with a lid, combine salt, garlic, onion, basil, oregano, black pepper, parsley, rosemary, dill, marjoram, thyme, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  Put the lid on the jar and shake the jar to mix thoroughly. 

You can place the spices in a spice grinder or a food processor, if you want a finer texture.  

Spicy Hot No Salt Seasoning Blend

This spice blend is hot and spicy. The combination of chili powder, chili flakes black pepper and cayenne pepper, gives this seasoning some heat. 

Use this seasoning in tacos, enchiladas, chili soup, home-made salsa. .  . Almost any dish, where you want to perk up the flavor, will work well to use this seasoning blend in.

Ingredients

2 Tbs. garlic powder
2 Tbs. chili powder
2 Tbs. chili flakes
2 Tbs. black pepper
2 Tbs. paprika
2 Tbs. ground coriander
2 Tbs. ginger
2 Tbs. onion powder
1 tsp. or more cayenne pepper (optional)

Directions

In a bowl, mason jar or bag, combine garlic powder, chili powder, chili flakes, black pepper, paprika, ground coriander, ginger, onion powder and cayenne pepper. Mix well. 

Transfer to a spice jar, unless you are using a mason jar.  Put the lid on.  Shake well before each use.

Notes

The mixture is hot without the cayenne pepper. But if you want just a bit more spice, add some cayenne pepper.  I would use the least amount first. You can always add more if it is not hot enough.  However, it is not easy to remove the extra cayenne pepper is you have added too much.

Marinara Sauce

Marinara sauce is perfect to serve with your favorite pasta,  meatballs or as a dip for garlic bread.  This is an easy recipe to make your own marinara sauce, and it doesn't take you all day to make either.  Cooking the sauce over low heat, brings out the flavors and gives you the consistency you want.

Ingredients

2 Tbs. olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 sweet bell pepper, chopped
5 to 6 cloves garlic, minced
1 (29 oz.) can tomato puree or crushed tomatoes
2 (6 oz.) can tomato paste
1 c. chicken stock or wine
2 Tbs. oregano 
1 Tbs. basil
2 Tbs. parsley
1 to 2 Tbs. brown sugar
1/4 to 1 tsp. red pepper flakes (depending on how hot you want the marinara sauce to be)
1/2 tsp. dried marjoram
1/2 tsp. rosemary
1/2 tsp. thyme
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper to taste
1 c. mozzarella cheese shredded (optional)
1/2 c. Parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions

In a heavy saucepan, heat the oil. Add the onion, bell pepper and garlic. Sauté until the vegetables are tender.

Pour in the tomato purée, tomato paste, chicken stock, oregano, basil, parsley, brown sugar, red pepper flakes, marjoram, rosemary, thyme, and bay leaf.  Season with salt and pepper to taste. 

Bring the contents to a bubble. Turn the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.   You can simmer the sauce longer. Simmering for a longer period of time brings out the flavors and allows them to mix and mingle.

Taste the sauce.  Add more salt and pepper if needed.

Stir in the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.  Cook and stir until the cheese melts. 

Remove bay leaf before serving. 

Serve with meatballs, spaghetti, or use as a sauce to dip your garlic bread into.  

Tips

When using dried herbs, crush them in your hand before adding them to the sauce. This releases the oils and freshens up the herbs, so they add more flavor.

If you have left over marinara sauce, pour some into a sealable bag and place in the freezer.

Southwest Seasoning Blend

This homemade Southwestern Seasoning blend is the perfect way to spice up your food dishes like chicken or beef. You can make this blend as spicy as you like.

Ingredients

2 Tbs. dried parsley
2 Tbs. chili powder
2 Tbs. cumin
1 1/2 Tbs. paprika
1 Tbs. garlic powder
1 Tbs. onion powder
1 Tbs. oregano
1 tsp. to 1 Tbs. salt
2 tsp. cilantro (optional)
2 tsp. coriander
2 tsp. turmeric
1 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. crushed red pepper
1 tsp. cayenne pepper

Directions

In a bowl or a jar that has an airtight lid, combine parsley, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, cumin, salt, cilantro, turmeric, black pepper, crushed red pepper, and cayenne pepper.  Mix well.  

Store in an airtight container. Place in a dry and dark location.

Everything Bagel Seasoning

This seasoning is so good, and you can use it on so many foods. Sprinkle some on muffins, toast, sliced tomatoes, potatoes, salads, chicken and of course, bagels. 

Ingredients

3 Tbs. poppy seeds
3 Tbs. sesame seeds
3 Tbs. black sesame seeds
3 Tbs. garlic flakes
3 Tbs. onion flakes
2 Tbs. salt

Directions

In a bowl or a jar that has a tight-fitting lid, combine poppy seeds, sesame seeds, black sesame seeds, garlic flakes, onion flakes and salt. Mix thoroughly.

Keep tightly closed and stored in a cool, dry location.

Dry Rub For Pork

This is a multi-purpose seasoning rub.  Not only does it enhance the flavor of pork, it makes other cuts of meat like beef or chicken taste better as well.  It is the perfect blend of spices and takes no time at all to mix up a bottle to have ready for when you are about to prepare meat for supper.

Ingredients

1/2 c. brown sugar
2 Tbs. chili powder
2 Tbs. smoked paprika
2 tsp. cumin
2 tsp. thyme
2 tsp. dry mustard
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. pepper

Directions

In a bowl, or a jar that has a tight-fitting lid, combine brown sugar, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, thyme, dry mustard, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and pepper.  Mix thoroughly. If using a jar, which is better and keeps down the dust, put the lid on the jar and shake the jar until the contents are thoroughly combined.

To use, sprinkle some seasoning over the pork a bit liberally.  Rub it in well with your hands. Make sure that the seasoning is covering the entire surface. Place the pork in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before cooking.

Homemade Seasoned Salt Blend

Seasoned salt is a mixture of spices, and this is our favorite seasoned salt. It brings out the flavor and can be added to so many dishes. Instead of buying seasoned salt at the store, it is easy to make your own.  Chances are, you already have these seasonings already on hand and in your spice cupboard.

Ingredients

8 Tbs. salt
3 Tbs. pepper
1 Tbs. garlic powder
1 Tbs. onion powder
1 Tbs. paprika
2 tsp. celery seed
1 tsp. red pepper (more or less)

Directions

Mix the salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, celery seed and red pepper in an empty spice jar, or mason jar that have airtight lids.  Place the lid on the jars and shake to combine.

 Store in a dark, dry location.

Salt Free Herb Blend Seasoning

This is a multipurpose herbal seasoning blend that brings out the flavor and adds some spiciness to the dish as well.  It tastes great on just about any meal like, meats, poultry, vegetables, fried potatoes, and breads. 

Ingredients

4 tsp. seasame seeds
2 tsp. celery seed
2 tsp. dried marjoram
2 tsp. poppy seeds
2 tsp. black pepper
1 1/2 tsp. parsley flakes
1 tsp. red pepper flakes (more or less)
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. thyme
1/2 tsp. paprika

Directions

In a bowl, combine sesame seeds, celery seed, marjoram, poppy seeds, black pepper, parsley flakes, red pepper flakes, onion powder, garlic powder, thyme, and paprika.  The seeds can be ground up in a mortar and pestle or in a spice grinder, as we don't really like whole seeds in our food.  Mix until thoroughly combined.  You can also mix the seasonings in a mason jar.  Just add the spices, put the lid on the jar, and then shake the jar until all the spices are mixed thoroughly.  This helps to keep the small particles of spice that tend to drift up in the air when mixing.

Store in an airtight container.  We store our seasonings in a mason jar that has a lid, or you can use an old empty spice bottle to store the seasoning in.

Christmas Gingerbread Spice Blend

Christmas (or Anytime) Gingerbread Spice Blend

This spice blend is good any time of the year, not just Christmas, and it can be used in so many food dishes.  It can be used to make gingerbread dishes or gingerbread cookies.  Using ground cinnamon, cloves, and allspice plus other spices, makes this a very versatile blend. 

Ingredients

8 Tbs. cinnamon
2 Tbs + 2 tsp. allspice
2 Tbs + 2 tsp. cloves
2 Tbs + 2 tsp. ground star anise
4 tsp. ground anise seeds
4 tsp. ground coriander seeds
4 tsp. cardamon
2 tsp. ground fennel seeds
2 tsp. nutmeg
2 tsp. ginger

Directions

In a jar that has a tight-fitting lid, combine cinnamon, allspice, cloves, star anise, anise seeds, coriander seeds, cardamon, fennel seeds, nutmeg, and ginger.  Place the lid on the jar.  Shake the jar until the contents are thoroughly combined.  

Use this spice blend in hot chocolate, oatmeal, or granola.    Sprinkle some in the pancake or waffle batter, cookie dough or in sweet breads. 

Notes:

You can grind up the spices using a pestle and mortar, or a spice grinder.

Vegan Bacon Seasoning Salt

If you love the taste of bacon, but don't want to use actual bacon, then this seasoning mix would work perfect. You can add this seasoning blend to so many dishes like rice, French fries, vegetable dishes, or any dish that you want a bit of bacon flavor.

Ingredients

1/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. hickory smoke salt
1/4 c.  smoked paprika
1/4 c. garlic powder
3 tsp.  onion powder
3 tsp. finely ground black pepper

Directions 

Combine sugar, hickory smoke salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and black pepper in a container that has a tight fitting lid.  Shake the jar to thoroughly mix the ingredients. You can use a glass jar or an empty seasoning container.

Spicy Chicken Rub

 This spicy chicken rub is a great way to spice up your chicken.  Rub this on a whole chicken, chicken pieces or chicken strips.  If you want less heat, use less cayenne pepper. You can use this seasoning on fish, meats or vegetables as well.

Ingredients

1/4 c. + 1 Tbs. paprika
1/4 c. garlic powder
2 Tbs. salt
2Tbs. onion powder
2 Tbs. thyme
2 Tbs. cayenne pepper (More of less depending on the amount of heat you want)
2 Tbs. black pepper

Directions

In a bowl, mix paprika, garlic powder, salt, onion powder, thyme, cayenne pepper and black pepper together.  

Pour into a container that has a tight-fitting lid.  

Rub this mixture over all sides of the chicken. Fry, bake or grill the chicken as usual.

Pumpkin Pie Spice

It is so  easy to put together your own pumpkin pie spice and a lot cheaper as well. This spice isn't just for making pumpkin pies. It is great to use all year long. You can add it to cookies, muffins, coffee, cakes . . .Anytime you want that remarkable blended taste of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves ginger and allspice.

Ingredients

5 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp. cardamon

Directions

In a jar, combine cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, allspice, and cardamon.

Put the lid tightly on the jar.  Shake the jar to thoroughly mix the ingredients.  

Store in a cool, dry place. Use as needed when a recipe calls for Pumpkin Pie Spice.

Notes

You can also combine the contents in a bowl. Mix thoroughly, then pour into a container that has a closable lid.

Cajun Seasoning 

This blend of spices makes a great Cajun seasoning.  It adds flavor and spice to your dish.  You can use as little or as much heat as you want or desire. 

Ingredients

6 Tbsp. paprika
3 Tbs. salt
3 Tbs. onion powder
6 Tbs. garlic powder
2 Tbs. cayenne pepper
2 Tbs. white pepper
2 Tbs. black pepper
1 Tbs. thyme leaves, dried
5 Tbs. oregano, dried
1 to 2 Tbs. cayenne

Directions

Combine ingredients in a bowl or a jar with a tight-fitting lid.  Mix the ingredients thoroughly. Store in an airtight container.