How to Make Your Own Spice Blends

It's really easy to make your own spice blends; all you need is some bulk spices and seasonings, a spice grinder and some creativity. When you create your own spice blends, you can control the ingredients, such as salt, which is often one of the main ingredients in store-bought spice mixes. Look for fresh spices that you can buy in bulk, and use a coffee grinder to grind whole spices for your mixes. That way your spices will be even fresher and more flavorful.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Spice or coffee grinder
• Assorted spices, such as paprika, curry powder, ginger and chili powder.
• Salt
• Fresh ground pepper To Make Cajun Spice You'll Need:
• 2-1/2 tbs. paprika
• 1 tsp. Kosher salt (more or less to taste)
• 2 tbs. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
• 1 tbs. onion powder
• 1 tsp. ground cayenne pepper
• 1 tbs. dried oregano
• 1 tbs. dried thyme

1. Combine all the spices in a bowl and mix thoroughly. Use an apothecary dish to combine each spice to taste. You can also use a coffee grinder and achieve the same ends.

2. Store in a jar in a cool place. Be sure to label each jar because spice mixes all tend to take on the same look. You will want to remember what each jar contains.

3. Experiment with other spices and flavors. Soon, you'll be creating your own custom spice blends that you can add to or change whenever the mood strikes.

Tips & Warnings

• If you find you use a lot of your favorite spice blend, double the recipe so it will last longer.
• In an airtight container, most spice blends will keep up to 3 months.
• Don't interchange grinding spices and coffee in the same grinder! You'll never get the entire coffee flavor out of the grinder, and it will tinge your spices, and you'll never get the entire spice flavor out of the grinder, so it will tinge your coffee. Use a separate grinder for coffee and spices.

[thedogshrink]

on 6/27/2009 Good idea! Very detailed steps. I gave you 5 stars but for some reason you rating dropped from 5 to 3 after I clicked the 5 -- I thought that problem was fixed.