make your own spice mixes

[NMDemDist2]

Quick and Healthy Mixes by Leanne Ely, C.N.C.

Taco Seasoning:

1 cup dried minced onion
1/3 cup chili powder
2 tablespoons cumin (I actually add an extra tablespoon—we love cumin)
4 teaspoons crushed red pepper
1 tablespoon oregano
4 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons onion powder

Combine all ingredients and store in a cool, dry place.

When you’re using for Mexican dishes, use about 1 tablespoon or so per 1
pound ground beef, or chicken or beans. More if you like the extra flavor.

Noodle Mix
1 cup instant nonfat dry milk
2 tablespoons grated romano cheese
1/4 cup dried minced onion
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon white pepper

Combine ingredients and store in a sealable container or zipper topped
plastic bag. This will keep for 2 months in the pantry, however, I would
personally store in the fridge because of the cheese; plus it will last
longer. Mark the date on the zipper topped bag with your Sharpie pen. This
recipe doubles and triples well.

To Use: combine 1/4 cup mix with 2 tablespoons melted butter and 1/4 cup
milk. Toss with 8 ounces pasta (cooked).

Homemade Shake and Bake

1 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup flour
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
1 teaspoon paprika
salt and pepper to taste

Combine ingredients and store in a sealable container or zipper topped
plastic bag. This will keep up to 4 months in the pantry, depending on the
humidity (you may just want to keep it in the freezer). This recipe will
also double or triple well.

To Use:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place one cup mix in a plastic bag.

In a bowl, mix an egg and 1/2 cup of milk. Dip chicken pieces one at a
time in the milk mixture, then shake one at a time in the plastic bag.

Place on a baking pan and bake for appropriate time (depending on the
chicken you’re using—as a little as 20 minutes or up to an hour for
bigger, bone-in pieces).

Homemade Flavored Rice Mixes

4 cups uncooked rice (I always use brown rice)
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
1 teaspoon garlic powder

Combine all ingredients together and store in a zipper topped plastic bag
or sealable container. This will keep up to 4 months if stored in a cool,
dark and dry place. With brown rice, you may want to keep it in the
freezer.

To Use: Mix 1 cup mix with 2 cups water. Bring to a boil, lower heat,
place lid on rice and simmer till liquid is completely absorbed, about 20
minutes or more. Check if you need to. (I would add an extra half cup
liquid for the brown rice)

Variations: to make Vegetable Rice Mix, substitute an envelope of
vegetable soup mix.
To make Spanish Rice Mix, substitute 1/2 cup Taco Seasoning (see recipe
above) for envelope of onion soup.

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[Lugnut]

1. Thanks AZ.

I always make my own taco seasoning mix but I've never seen recipes for the other mixes. I'm printing this out. :)

[NMDemDist2]

2. is your recipe the same as I posted? I really need to start making

my own.......

[Lugnut]

3. Without having the recipe in front of me....

That looks right. I don't add the red pepper seeds since my innards can't do "hot". As a matter of fact we're having tacos tomorrow for lunch. :)

[Angry Girl]

4. Yummy! Here's another little tip on saving money on spices

Naturally, you should always try to buy in bulk (like at Sprouts), but if you're stuck at the stupormarket, you can go to the so-called International aisle. The Mexican area there has granulated and powdered garlic, thyme, cumin, oregano, cayenne, chili powder, and more for about a fifth the cost of the spices two aisles over.

They taste the same to me. Go figure....
(OK, you won't get the "fancy" $4 bottle but if you recycle some old ones, you're good to go!)

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

5. I love buying spices in bulk.

Nothing ticks me off more than a recipe I'm dying to try, but it calls for a teaspoon of a spice I don't have. So, I'd have to shell out 4 bucks to try a recipe & if I didn't like there the spice would sit until it lost it's flavor.

[hvn_nbr_2]

6. "Cheaper and Better: Homemade Alternatives to Storebought Goods"...

by Nancy Birnes is a book with many similar such things you can make yourself. It also has lots of "recipes" for cleaning and personal care. I like several of the salad dressing recipes a lot.

Apparently the book is out of print now, but there are some used copies around. (Amazon has a few available.)