Make your own herb and spice mixes

by Lucinda Jenkins

I love inventing new herb and spice combination to increase the flavor of our meals. With the great variety of herbs and spices, our palates should never be bored!

There is such good health and cost benefit to making your own mixes. You won't have unnecessary salt added to your mixes, and you will save money too! Once you get a whiff of your own herb mixes, you'll never go back to those little tins on the grocery store shelf.

Herbed Rice Mix

1 lb long grain rice
1/3 cup dried minced onion
1/3 cup dried parsley flakes
1 tablespoon dried chives
1 tablespoon dried tarragon
1 tablespoon of ground celery seed
1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoons pepper

Mix the ingredients together and store in canning jars
Add a raffia bow and instruction card, and you now have a gift!

Put 1 1/3 cup of water in a pan and bring to a boil; add 1/2 cup of rice mix, and simmer for 20 minutesl; fluff with a fork.
You can also add a dried chili pepper to the mix if you like some heat!

Homemade Taco Seasoning mix

2 tablespoon of ground chili pepper(mild, hot, or wildfire hot)
1 1/2 Tsp. paprika
1 Tsp. onion powder
1/2 Tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. of ground cumin
3/4 Tsp. garlic powder
Mix together and add to taco meat, chili, or other dishes that call for a Mexican or Southwest flavor

Crab or Shrimp Boil

Place in a piece of cheesecloth:
3 bay leaves
1/2 tablespoon of dried ginger pieces
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
1 teaspoon of brown mustard seed
1 teaspoon of dill seed
1 teaspoon of coriander seed
1 teaspoon of whole cloves
1 teaspoon of whole allspice

Five Spice Powder

Mix together
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp ground fennel seed
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground pepper

African Curry Powder
All ingredients are ground. Mix together:
4 oz coriander seeds
4 oz turmeric
1/2 oz cayenne
1 oz ginger
1 oz mustard seeds
2 oz fenugreek seeds
2 oz cinnamon stick (cinnamon is fine)

About the Author
This article was written by Lucinda Jenkins of Glenbrook Farms Herbs and Such. She is a well known herbalist and gourmet cook. Visit her site www.glenbrookfarm.com for herbs, spices, fines teas, recipes

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