Spicing Things Up

I think that there is much wisdom in the way that household chores were divided by the pioneer women long ago. 

Wash on Monday,

Iron on Tuesday,

Mend on Wednesday,

Churn on Thursday,

Clean on Friday,

Bake on Saturday,

Rest on Sunday."

While my weekly chores look nothing like the chores of those amazing women I can apply this principle of efficiency.  I have been attempting to have a day that is set aside for cooking and kitchen prep.  Cooking/Kitchen day is after grocery/errand day so I can chop fruits and veggies and theoretically have all the ingredients for snacks or freezer meals. 

This week I was restocking my pantry with a few of the seasonings that I mix up myself. The benefits to making them myself are…

1.      Cost-I don’t need to pay someone with a hairnet down at Tone’s to mix up my Italian Seasoning.  I can do that myself.

2.      Personal Taste-I can adjust recipes to our family’s taste. 

3.    Health-My ranch mix does not contain maltodextrin, moosodium glutamate, lactic acid, citric acid, or artificial flavors.

 

Last Thursday I mixed up a few great ones and put them into recycled jars to keep handy in the cupboard.

Italian Seasoning I didn’t have the celery leaf, but it still tastes great!

Ranch Dressing Mix- We go through a lot of this when you consider that only 50% of the people in my house eat it.  Those of us who do get to dip our veggies love it.  I use about 1 tablespoon to 1 cup of sour cream and it is great for carrots, broccoli cucumbers and baked potatoes!

5 teaspoons onion powder

7 teaspoons parsley flakes

4 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon garlic powder

Taco Seasoning (Cumin is the key to taco seasoning.  I used to think that as long as I put something spicy with garlic and onion I would be okay.  Other spices can be altered (we omit the cayenne and red pepper) but don’t skip the cumin!)

Baking Powder-It is really simple to make aluminum free baking powder.  (I just keep it in an old baking powder container!)  Use 2 parts cream of tartar, 1 part baking soda and 1 part corn starch.  Easy Peasy!

This post is linked up at Tammy's Recipes, Food Renegade, The Nourishing Gourmet, Miz Helen's Country Cottage, Quick Easy Cheap Healthy, Frugally Sustainable and Elsa Cooks