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Homemade Herb and Spice Blends


Pike Place Market - Seattle
The other day, I went to the Pike Place Market with my son to look around and see what was going on. How I love that market! The smell of flowers, coffee, and fish...ahhh, nothing quite like it. I saw some pepper ornament things hanging from the ceiling of a shop and asked one of the employees if they were real peppers. He abruptly say, "yes". It was closing time, and he clearly did not want to stand around and chit-chat with me. Anyway, I took the above photograph at Seattle's Pike Place Market. These are drying peppers and garlic. From closer inspection, they look like Thai Red Peppers. I thought that they were so pretty hanging there that I needed to take a picture. I started growing Thai peppers in my garden, and have yet to use them in any dish. The image inspired me to publish a quick blog about Seasoning Blends. (Note: these are not my recipes, I got most of them from allrecipes.com)

Seasoning Blends tend to be very expensive in the supermarket. When we look at the ingredients, it is plain to see there is no reason we should not be able to make these at home.

Alas - here are some of my top picks: 

Thai Seasoning Blend:

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ground white pepper
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon fresh, dried, ground Thai chili pepper (featured above)
  • 2 tablespoons dried, ground lemongrass
  • 2 tablespoons dried lime zest
  • 2 tablespoons garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons ground ginger
  • 2 tablespoons dried mint
  • 2 tablespoons toasted, unsweetened, coconut
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar

Taco Seasoning Recipe:

  • 1/4 cup Chili Powder
  • 1/4 cup Cumin Powder
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon Oregano leaf (or oregano leaf powder)
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 cup himalayan salt or sea salt (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon ground pepper

Homemade Curry Powder Recipe:

  • 1/2 cup Paprika
  • 1/4 cup cumin
  • 1 tablespoon Fennel Powder
  • 2 Tablespoons Fenugreek powder (optional)- gives sweetness
  • 2 tablespoons Ground Mustard Powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground Red Pepper Flakes (optional)- adds spiciness
  • 3 tablespoons ground coriander (optional)
  • 1/4 cup ground Turmeric root
  • 1 tablespoon ground cardamon (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cloves powder (optional) – Adds complex flavor

Homemade Italian Seasoning:

  • 1/2 cup Basil leaf
  • 1/2 cup Marjoram Leaf
  • 1/2 cup Oregano leaf
  • 1/4 cup cut and sifted Rosemary Leaf
  • 1/4 cup Thyme leaf
  • 2 tablespoons Garlic Powder (optional, especially if you cook with fresh garlic)

Homemade Rajin’ Cajun Seasoning:

  • 1/2 cup paprika
  • 1/3 cup Himalayan Salt or sea salt
  • 1/4 cup Garlic Powder
  • 2 Tablespoons Black Pepper
  • 2 Tablespoons Onion Powder
  • 1 Tablespoon Cayenne Pepper (optional- won’t be spicy without this)
  • 2 Tablespoons Oregano leaf
  • 1 Tablespoon Thyme leaf

Healthy Ranch Dressing Mix Recipe:

  • 1/4 cup dried Parsley leaf
  • 1 Tablespoon Dill leaf
  • 1 tablespoon Garlic Powder
  • 1 tablespoon Onion Powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Basil leaf (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Homemade Lemon Pepper Seasoning:

  • The zest from 4-6 organic lemons (or 1/2 cup pre-dried lemon zest)
  • 6 Tablespoons ground black pepper (or whole peppercorns if you are using fresh lemon)
  • 5 Tablespoons Himalayan Salt or Sea Salt

Fajita Seasoning:

  • 1/4 cup chili powder
  • 2 tablespoons Sea Salt
  • 2 tablespoons Paprika
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne powder (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon cumin powder

Chili Seasoning Mix:

  • 1/2 cup chili powder
  • 1/4 cup garlic powder
  • 3 tablespoons onion powder
  • 1/4 cup oregano
  • 2 tablespoons paprika
  • 1/4 cup cumin
  • 1 tablespoon thyme

Herbs de Provence:

  • 1/2 cup thyme leaf
  • 1/4 cup marjoram leaf
  • 2 tablespoons of cut and sifted rosemary leaf
  • 2 tablespoons savory
  • 1 teaspoon of lavender flowers (lightly ground-optional)
  • 2 teaspoons dried orange zest (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon ground fennel

Caribbean Jerk Seasoning:

  • 1/4 cup onion powder
  • 2 tablespoons sea salt
  • 2 tablespoons thyme
  • 2 teaspoons ground allspice
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne powder (optional)

Asian 5-Spice Seasoning:

  • 2 tablespoons anise powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground pepper
  • 1 tablespoon ground fennel
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon ground cloves
  • 1 tablespoon himalayan or sea salt

Pumpkin Pie Spice:

  • 1/4 cup cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 2 teaspoons nutmeg
  • 2 teaspoons allspice powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cloves powder (optional)

Apple Pie Spice:

  • 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tablespoon allspice
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon ginger
  • 1/2 dried lemon peel

Cajun Spice Blend:

  • 2 teaspoons of salt
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons papirika 
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoons dried red pepper

Chicken Seasoning Blend:

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon crushed dried rosemary
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon celery seed 
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1/8 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon chicken bouillon. 

Greek Spice Blend:

  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons dried basil
  • 2 teaspoons dried Greek oregano
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon dried dill weed
  • 1 teaspoon dried marjoram 
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried nutmeg

Basic Indian Spice Blend:

  • 2 tablespoons whole toasted cumin seeds
  • 2 tablespoons whole toasted cardamon seeds
  • 2 teaspoons whole toasted coriander seeds
  • 1/4 cup ground turmeric powder
  • 1 tablespoon dry mustard
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne

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