Cheating in the Kitchen: DIY Spice Blends

I had a chance to visit with my good friend Tami today, and the talk turned, as it often does, to food, and cooking, and what kids will and won’t eat. I was spoiled growing up. My Middle Eastern supermom made pita bread and baklava from scratch and a well-rounded home-cooked meal every night. I remember begging for the occasional boxed junk advertised on TV: Betty Crocker Scalloped Potatoes, for example, or Rice a Roni (remember that?). My mom would give in for a single meal, but the next night it would be back to real food. My midwestern husband grew up without homemade baklava and pita, but he did introduce me to a few of his own favorites. Some, like the Hamburger Helper he relied on frequently as a bachelor, never made their way into my kitchen (I do have some standards), but the favorite chicken recipe from his childhood, which got its creaminess and seasonings from a couple of cans of creamy soup and Lipton Golden Onion Soup mix, has made it into our regular rotation. The canned soup I’ve found harder to replicate (I’ve switched to an organic version), but the powdered soup mix is a cinch. As is taco seasoning blend. And ranch dressing mix. All of these DIY spice blends are as close as your spice rack, and so much healthier than the highly processed store-bought versions. They are lower in sodium, with no yucky chemicals or hydrogenated oils (yes, some spice mixes have trans fats!). 

Taco Seasoning

A simple mix of everyday spices, including garlic and onion powders and chili powder, this couldn’t be easier to make. Mix up more than you need and store it in your spice rack for future use. My favorite versions are from WholeNewMom and Food Renegade, which features the following easy ingredient list:

• 1 Tbsp. Chili Powder
• 1/4 tsp. Garlic Powder
• 1/4 tsp. Onion Powder
• 1/4 tsp. Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
• 1/4 tsp. Dried Oregano
• 1/2 tsp. Paprika
• 1 1/2 tsp. Ground Cumin
• 1 tsp. Sea Salt
• 1 tsp. Black Pepper (optional)

Homemade Ranch Seasoning