Italian Seasoning

Italian Seasoning Blend

Making your own Italian seasoning is so easy, and it uses ingredients you already have in the pantry.  By making your own, you control the ingredients and the texture of them. If you want chunks of spices in your Italian blend or if you prefer a finer consistency. 

Ingredients

1/2 to 1 Tbs. bay leaf, broken into small pieces
1 Tbs marjoram
1 Tbs. rosemary 
1 Tbs. sage
1 Tbs. thyme
1 Tbs. savory
1 Tbs.oregano
1 Tbs. basil
1 Tbs. parsley
1 Tbs. chives
1/2 Tbs. garlic powder
1/2 Tbs onion powder
1/2 to 2 tsp. red chili flakes

Directions

Place the broken bay leaves, rosemary, and thyme in a mortar and pestle.  Hold the mortar in place with one hand, while your other hand uses the pestle to push down on the ingredients and roll it against the mortar while applying firm pressure.  You can also use a blender or a spice grinder to do this task as well.  Grind or process the herbs until you have the consistency you want for your spice blend. If you want your spice mix to be fine and powdery in texture, adding all the dry spices into your food processor or spice grinder.  Simply blend them until you have the consistency you desire.

Add the bay leaves, rosemary, and thyme into a small jar that has a tight-fitting lid.  Add in the sage, savory, oregano, basil, parsley, chives, red chili flakes, garlic powder and onion powder. 

Note

If any of the spices are already powder form, you do not need to use the mortar and pestle.  

The spice blend is yours. As an example, we really don't like to eat whole pieces of rosemary because they are like little pine tree needles. So we do use a spice grinder for some of our spices.

Spicy Southwest Seasoning

Homemade Spicy Southwest Seasoning  

Making your own Spicy Southwest Seasoning is so simple.  Chances are, you already have the ingredients sitting in your cupboard. 

By making your own seasoning, you can control the ingredients that go into your blends. You can omit the ingredients you don't like, or use more or less of each one. It is easy to make your own special blends. 

This seasoning is perfect to put on fish, beef, chicken, pork or vegetables.

Ingredients

2 Tbs. paprika or use 1 Tbs. smoked paprika and 1 Tbs. regular paprika
2 Tbs chili powder
1 Tbs. cumin
1 Tbs. parsley
1 Tbs. oregano
1 Tbs. garlic powder
1 Tbs. minced dried onion or 2 tsp. onion powder
1 Tbs. coriander
2 tsp. turmeric (optional)
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

Directions

In a container with a tight-fitting lid, combine paprika, chili powder, cumin, parsley, oregano, garlic powder, minced onion or onion powder, coriander, turmeric, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper and crushed red pepper flakes.

Put the lid on tightly and shake the jar to thoroughly combine all the spices.  Place in a dry, dark place.

Homemade BBQ Seasoning Blend

Making your own BBQ seasoning is simple and easy to do. This spice blend enhances the flavor of any kind of meat. You can use it on vegetables as well.

Ingredients

1/2 c. paprika or 1/4 c. smoked paprika and 1/4 c. regular paprika
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. salt
1/4 c. chili powder
1/4 c. cumin
1/4 c. granulated garlic
2 Tbs. onion powder
2 Tbs. to 4 Tbs.  mustard powder
2 Tbs. to 4 Tbs. pepper
2 Tbs or less cayenne pepper
1 to 2 Tbs. celery seed (Optional or can use less)

Directions

In a large mason jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine paprika, brown sugar, salt, chili powder, cumin, granulated garlic, onion powder, mustard powder, celery seed, pepper and cayenne pepper.  If you want a spicier or hotter spice blend, increase the mustard powder and pepper to 4 tablespoons.

Put the lid on the jar and shake the jar until the contents are thoroughly mixed. Store in a tightly covered container or a sealable bag. 

Sprinkle over beef, chicken, pork, fish, seafood, or vegetables. Or it can be used as a dry rub over meats. 

 Taco Seasoning Mix

Buying the individual packets of taco seasoning is convenient, but it is also costly. For just a fraction of the cost of one packet, you can make your own and have it already on hand, whenever you want. 

We usually add equal amounts of cumin and chili powder because we like the taste of the cumin. But most recipes use less cumin in their mix. The nice thing about making your own spice mix is that you control the spices you like best. You can leave out ingredients you don't like and put on another spice you do like when making tacos.

Ingredients

6 Tbs chili powder
5 Tbs. cumin
4 Tbs paprika or smoked paprika
2 Tbs. garlic powder
2 Tbs. black pepper
1 Tbs.salt
1 Tbs. onion powder
1 Tbs. oregano
1 Tbs. cornstarch (optional)
1 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or more if you want a spicier taco mix.)
1 tsp. ground coriander
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper (or more if you want a spicier taco mix.)

Directions

In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, mix the chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, salt, onion powder, oregano, cornstarch, red pepper flakes coriander, and cayenne pepper.  Put the lid on the jar and shake the contents until they are thoroughly mixed together.  

A package of Taco seasoning has 2 tablespoons of the seasoning.  Use 1 to 3 tablespoons of your seasoning mix to one pound of hamburger or ground beef, along with 2/3 cup water.  Bring to a boil and stir for 2 minutes. Then taste. You can always add more taco seasoning mixture if desired, but it is very hard to remove it once you have it blended in.

BBQ Dry Spice Rub Recipe

This spice rub is so simple, using a few basic ingredients that you already have in your spice cupboard.  We use this seasoning on chicken, beef, pork and many other dishes. 

By making your own spice rubs, you control the ingredients that go in to each one. By experimenting, you can come up with the seasoning blend that you and your family love!

Ingredients

3/4 c. brown sugar
1/3 c. smoked paprika or regular paprika
2 Tbs. salt
3 Tbs. chili powder
2 Tbs. black pepper
2 Tbs. garlic powder
2 Tbs. onion powder
1 1/2 Tbs. cumin
1 Tbs. dry mustard
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp. celery salt
1 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)

Directions

Combine brown sugar, paprika, salt, black pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, dry mustard, cinnamon, celery salt and cayenne pepper.

Pour the mixture into an air-tight container.

Spicy Rub Seasoning for Meats And Vegetables

It is so easy to put together your own spice blends.  If you want to save some money, use the ingredients of your choice, then putting together your own spice blend is a great way to achieve just that.

Ingredients

1 Tbs. onion powder
1 Tbs. cayenne pepper
1 Tbs. thyme
1 Tbs. salt
1 Tbs. pepper
2 Tbs. garlic powder
2 1/2 Tbs. paprika

Directions

In a small jar that has a tight-fitting lid, combine onion powder, cayenne pepper, thyme, salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika.  

Put on the lid and shake the jar to combine the spices. 

To use, run some spice rub onto both sides of the piece of meat. This spice rub is great on chicken, fish, beef or pork.  You can also sprinkle it over vegetables to give them some flavor. 

Preheat the grill or, if cooking on the stove top, heat up the skillet. Add a tablespoon of oil in the skillet or lightly oil the grill grate on the grill. 

Cook the meat, turning, so both sides cook evenly, until the chicken juices run clear, or the other cuts of meat and fish are done.

Dry Onion Soup Mix

A Simple Homemade Substitute for Store-Bought Onion Soup Mix

We’ve all seen those little packets of dry onion soup mix at the grocery store. They’re convenient, but they’re often expensive for the small amount you get, and salt is usually one of the main ingredients.

Instead of buying those packets the next time you go shopping, you can easily make your own at home using simple pantry ingredients. This homemade dry onion soup mix comes from my mother’s recipe collection and was something she liked to keep on hand in the kitchen.

It’s a great way to add quick flavor to many different recipes. Mix it with sour cream for a simple vegetable dip, or stir it into meatloaf, meatballs, casseroles, or soups for extra savory flavor.

Once you make your own onion soup mix, you may find yourself reaching for it often. It stores well in the pantry and is always ready when you need it.

Ingredients:

2/3 c. dried, minced onion
3 tsp. parsley flakes
2 tsp. onion powder
2 tsp. turmeric
1 tsp. celery salt
4 cubes of beef bouillon, crumbled fine or 4 tsp. beef bouillon powder
1 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. pepper

Directions

Find a clean jar with a tight-fitting lid.

Add the dried minced onion, parsley flakes, onion powder, turmeric, celery salt, crumbled beef bouillon, sugar, and ground black pepper to the jar.

Secure the lid and shake well until all the ingredients are evenly combined.

Before each use, shake the jar again to redistribute the ingredients.

To replace one packet of store-bought dry onion soup mix, use 4 tablespoons of the homemade mixture.

Store the jar in a cool, dry place.

Tips for Best Success:

• Make sure the bouillon cubes are crushed very finely so the mixture blends well.
• A small food processor or spice grinder can help combine the ingredients evenly.
• Store the mix in an airtight jar to keep the onions from absorbing moisture.
• Label the jar with the date so you know when you made it. 

Variations and Substitutions:

Lower sodium version:
Use low-sodium beef bouillon to reduce the salt content.

Vegetarian option:
Replace the beef bouillon with vegetable bouillon granules.

Garlic flavor:
Add 1 teaspoon garlic powder for extra savory flavor.

Herb blend variation:
Add a pinch of thyme or dried basil for a different flavor profile.

Serving Suggestions:

This homemade dry onion soup mix can be used in many recipes, including:

• Vegetable dip with sour cream
• Meatloaf
• Meatballs
• Beef roast seasoning
• Slow cooker recipes
• Casseroles
• Potato dishes

To make a quick dip, mix 4 tablespoons of onion soup mix with 1 cup sour cream and refrigerate for about 30 minutes before serving. 

How to Store:

Store the onion soup mix in a tightly sealed jar in a cool, dry pantry.

It will keep well for up to 6 months when stored properly.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How much homemade mix equals one packet of onion soup mix?
Use 4 tablespoons of the homemade mixture to replace one store-bought packet.

Can I grind the mixture finer?
Yes. You can pulse the ingredients in a food processor or spice grinder for a finer texture.

Is this mix very salty?
Using bouillon does add salt, but you can control the sodium level by choosing low-sodium bouillon.

Can I double the recipe?
Yes. This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled so you always have some in the pantry.