Have you ever wondered what the ingredients are in your spices? Seriously, garlic powder isn’t just garlic! There are all sorts of chemicals added to spices that are not healthy for you. It is so easy to make your own spices and you can make a lot and store in recycled jars instead of what you need for one recipe. I like to list on each jar what the ingredients and amounts are to make each spice. Or you can print out every spice you make and tape the list to the inside of your spice cabinet. Yep, I have an entire cabinet and part of the lazy susan dedicated to spices!
Homemade Apple Pie Spice
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tbsp allspice
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp ginger
Directions
In a small bowl, mix together all ingredients. Pour into an airtight container and it will last for months.
Curry powder
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp ground coriander
- 2 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 1/2 tbsp ground turmeric
- 2 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp dry mustard
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper or ground chilies
Directions
Add all spices to a small jar and shake. Perfect for use in soups, stews, and curries. Stays fresh up to 3 months.
Sweet Curry Powder
Ingredients:
- 3 tsp turmeric
- 2 tsp coriander
- 1 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp ginger
- 3/4 tsp yellow mustard
- 1/2 tsp white pepper (hard to find. Omit if necessary.)
- 1/2 tsp fenugreek
- 1/2 tsp cardamom
- 1/2 tsp cloves
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Directions
Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly. Store in an airtight container.
Cream-Of Soup Mix
Ingredients:
- 2 cups dry milk powder (non-instant is preferred)
- ¾ cup organic cornstarch (to avoid GMOs)
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp dried basil
- ½ tsp dried parsley
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Directions
Mix all ingredients together with a whisk.
Store in an airtight container.
To make into soup:
Combine 1/3 cup dry mix with 1 ¼ cups water in a small saucepan. Whisk until smooth.
On medium heat, bring to a boil.
Cook and stir for 2 minutes, until thick. Cool.
This amount = 1 can condensed cream-of soup.
For Cream-of Chicken Soup: use 1 ¼ cups chicken broth instead of water.
For Cream-of Mushroom Soup: use water; add ¼ cup diced, cooked mushrooms to the soup after it thickens
For Cream-of Celery Soup: use water, add ¼ cup diced, cooked celery to the soup after it thickens or add a dash of celery seed to the mixture while it’s cooking.
Homemade “Emeril’s Essence” Seasoning Blend
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 tbsp sea salt
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper (if you like it spicy, use more )
Directions
In a small bowl, add all of the above ingredients and mix well to combine. Transfer to a 4-ounce mason jar or clean recycled spice jar.
Use this seasoning mix on meat, poultry and seafood but also on vegetables.
Garlic Salt
Ingredients:
- 1 head of garlic coarsely chopped
- 1 cup coarse sea salt
Directions
With the food processor running, add the chopped garlic. Process until finely minced, 15 to 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
Add salt to garlic in processor; process until thoroughly combined, 10 to 15 seconds.
Pour garlic salt over a rimmed baking sheet and spread into a thin, even layer. Allow garlic salt to dry overnight.
Once dry, use a stainless steel or plastic spatula to loosen salt from the baking sheet. Press the salt with the back of the spatula to break any large chunks of salt apart.
If you prefer a finer salt, process garlic salt again to your desired consistency.
Store in an airtight container in a cool dry place.
If you already have your own homemade garlic powder, I have a super easy recipe for garlic salt! I prefer this recipe as I dehydrate my own garlic in the fall for garlic powder.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup sea salt
- 2 tbsp garlic powder
Directions
Mix together and you now have garlic salt. Store in an airtight container.
Italian Dressing Mix
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 2 tsp oregano
- 1 tbsp dried parsley
- 2 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1/4 tsp thyme
- 1/2 tsp dried celery flakes
Directions
Shake ingredients together and store in a jar.
To make Italian salad dressing: Mix 2 tbsps dry mix with 1/4 cup vinegar, 2 tsp water, and 1/2 cup olive oil.
Homemade Lemon Pepper Seasoning
Ingredients:
- 5+ large lemons
- 1/3 cup crushed peppercorns
- 1/4 cup kosher salt
Directions
Zest all the lemons and mix with crushed peppercorns.
Spread out on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake on the lowest setting until the zest is completely dried.
Add the lemon-pepper to a spice grinder and grind until the desired texture.
Mix with the kosher salt if desired and store in an airtight container for up to a few months.
Poultry Seasoning
Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 tsp ground dried sage
- 1 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried marjoram
- 3/4 tsp dried rosemary
- 3/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp coarse ground black pepper or peppercorns
Directions
Mix all ingredients together. Reduce to a powder in a blender or coffee grinder. Store in an airtight container.
Pumpkin Pie Spice
Ingredients:
- 3 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tsp ground ginger
- 2 tsp nutmeg
- 1-1/2 tsp ground allspice
- 1-1/2 tsp ground cloves
Directions
In a small bowl, whisk together cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice and cloves until well combined. Store in a small jar or container.
Homemade Sausage Seasoning
Ingredients:
- 2 tsp dried parsley
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning (see recipe above)
- 1 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp fennel seed
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp minced onions
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and store in an airtight container.
It is exciting making your own spice mixes because you know what is in them and to me, that is a great feeling. The best part of all is you probably have all these spices in your cabinet to make these mixes.
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