Spices Anyone

Once you get a spice in your home, you have it forever. Women never throw out spices. The Egyptians were buried with their spices. I know which one I’m taking with me when I go.

Erma Bombeck

It has come to my attention and I am most certain yours that prices are on the rise. This has motivated me to write a series of posts on just that subject and on how to make your dollars or pounds stretch at the market.

Concentrating in the kitchen, because my friends that is where the most money is wasted.  For instance, go into your kitchen and look at all your spices and herbs.

If you have basil, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, thyme, in your spice cabinet, and you have a bottle of Italian Seasoning or Italian Blend. then you and thousands of others have wasted your money. You see the first five ingredients compromise the Italian blend that you bought. So, you wasted your money.

So, what is the recipe for this blend? Simple, 2 tablespoons of each herb or if you live in Great Britain that would be 29.6 ml of each herb it is that simple.  Now that you have it, the gist of this post allows Tilly and I to introduce to you other tips and secrets.

Tilly: Believe it or not, Olive, Brits still use tablespoons and still use them for measuring ingredients

The only investment you will need is a coffee grinder, one that you will label for SPICES ONLY. Now I know you are saying, “What the hell is she doing, we are supposed to being saving money, not spend it.”

Well now, hold on, I have a reason. You can take that blend you just made and grind them to a fine powder and use the blend to season your favorite rice dish. Yes, the recipe will be forthcoming but in a later blog.

Tilly: Need more of an incentive to splurge on another grinder, Olive. One dish doth not a bargain make …

Back to the spice blends to save you money.  Does your family like chili or do you use chili powder as part of a spice rub for your meats?  Take another gander at your spice cabinet. If you have paprika, cumin, cayenne pepper, oregano and garlic powders then you have just blended your own Chili Powder. Here is the recipe-1 teaspoon of paprika, cayenne pepper and oregano, 2 teaspoons of cumin and of garlic powder.  In Great Britain that would be: 4.929 ml of each of paprika, cayenne pepper and oregano, and 9,858 ml of cumin and garlic powder.

Tilly: For heaven’s sake, Olive, quit with the ridiculous measurements! What’s wrong with 5ml of each of the first four ingredients and 10ml of the fifth and sixth? Or sticking with the teaspoons? We do have them – need them to stir tea.

If all this confuses y’all, spice and herb blends have more than one use. For instance, a popular blend for soups 10 spice mix for soup

1/2 cup / 113 grams smoked paprika

1/4 cup / 56.7 grams garlic powder

1/4 cup / 56.7 grams dried oregano

1/4 cup / 56.7 grams onion powder

1/4 cup / 56.7 grams dried basil

1/8 cup / 28 grams dried thyme

1/8 cup / 28 grams ground black pepper

1/8 cup / 28 grams white pepper (optional)

1/8 cup / 28 grams salt

1/8 cup / 28 grams cayenne pepper

To use: 1 to 2 Tbsp of the spice mix for the soup

Take a second look at that recipe. What if I suggested you try it as a meat rub, or use  as a  gravy mix? Or just a flour blend for frying. Always take a second look at that product and let your imagination take hold. You will love it.

One last thing and one of my all-time favorite uses for blends such as these and others is in rice. Just add a pinch or two, depending on how much rice you are cooking, throw in some chicken bouillon the right amount of water. Your family will love it.

Tilly: Or use chicken stock instead of cube and water. Even better.

What are other reasons for blending your own spices and herbs? Besides saving you money, what about health reasons for blending your own mixtures? For instance, do you know anyone on a salt free diet? Blend your favorite person in your life his or her own spice mixtures. A basic recipe is 2 to 1, for every 2 tablespoons of salt to 1 tablespoon of either garlic powder or onion powder.  For my British friends: 29.6 ml of salt to 14.8 ml.

Tilly: Who the heck will waste time and temper measuring 29.6ml? Or 14.8ml …

A word of note here, if you use Kosher Salt or designer salts, you know the ones, the salt all those chefs use on your favorite cooking show, grind the salt and continue with the blend.

Tilly: Or buy finely ground sea salt, kosher salt, pink Himalaya salt …

So look around your kitchen and enjoy the imagination of mixing your own.

Please feel free to leave your comments or questions.

Olive and Tilly