Ethnic Seasoning Blends

Greetings from Downtown Reno!

Becky is one of those fortunate few souls blessed with the opportunity of learning about air quality permitting and compliance for the mines this week.  I’m her responsible adult supervision.  I also get to sit in our hotel room all day and (hopefully!) finish writing the herbal medicine book to be published by the end of the month. 

The drive from Elko was relatively uneventful.  Only one cop and only one semi-driver who was OTW (Other Than White).  Having more than my fair share of NDEs with OTW truckers, I do pay attention to complexion.

Downtown Reno is now something else.  I never really liked it in decades past; casinos, alcohol, and all that go with them aren’t my thing.  I would have chosen to lodge in a different part of the city, but for safety’s sake it seemed wiser to get a room in the hotel hosting the conference and avoid the extra driving.  Having arrived here, I’m so grateful for that decision. 

For those who assiduously avoid the cities and wonder:  yes, as a matter of fact, those homeless camps are springing up everywhere.  The Truckee River used to be a nice place to walk.  No more.  Situated across the street from our property (a Marriott brand) is an old hotel with windows ajar, screens non-existent, and curtains or drapes flapping in the breeze, looking like something out of the San Francisco Tenderloin.  Becky told herself that the stain on the cement just before we reached our hotel entrance came from a dog.  Our hotel window overlooks the Truckee (yes, we call it a river; in most of the rest of the country it barely qualifies as a crick) and what appears to be the seeds of yet another homeless encampment at the entrance of some vacant property. 

Anyway, because I’ve got quite the load of work I wish to complete, today’s article is a shameless copy of recipes for ethnic seasoning blends I found somewhere on the net a couple of years ago and saved for a situation such as this.  Ingredient lists can’t be copyrighted in this country, so no worries there. 

Being able to make our own seasoning blends will save us time in the kitchen while also letting us avoid preservatives, enhancers, or whatever extra ingredients manufacturers are adding and that we wish to avoid.

Taco Seasoning

2 teaspoons hot chili powder

1 ½ teaspoons paprika

1 teaspoon onion powder

½ teaspoon cumin

½ teaspoon garlic powder

½ teaspoon oregano

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

1 pinch cayenne pepper, optional

1 pinch red pepper flakes, optional

 

Combine all ingredients in an airtight container.

 

Chili Seasoning

2 tablespoons dehydrated onion

1 tablespoon flour

1 tablespoon paprika

1 ½ teaspoons chili powder

1 teaspoon cayenne

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon seasoning salt

½ teaspoon cumin

½ teaspoon dehydrated garlic

½ teaspoon oregano

½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, crushed

½ teaspoon sugar

½ teaspoon thyme

1-2 teaspoons chocolate powder, optional

 

Combine all ingredients in an airtight container.

 

Sazon Seasoning

2 tablespoons coriander

2 tablespoons cumin

2 tablespoons garlic powder

2 tablespoons ground annatto (achiote)

1 tablespoon onion powder

1 tablespoon oregano

1 tablespoon salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

¼ teaspoon white pepper

¼ teaspoon turmeric

 

Combine all ingredients in an airtight container.

 

Poultry Seasoning

2 teaspoons sage

1 ½ teaspoons thyme

1 teaspoon marjoram

¾ teaspoon rosemary

½ teaspoon nutmeg

¼ teaspoon black pepper

¼ teaspoon white pepper

 

Combine all ingredients in an airtight container.

 

Italian Seasoning

2 tablespoons basil

2 tablespoons marjoram

2 tablespoons oregano

2 tablespoons rosemary

2 tablespoons savory

2 tablespoons thyme

2 tablespoons red pepper flakes, optional

 

Combine all ingredients in an airtight container.

 

Jamaican Jerk Seasoning

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon onion powder

4 teaspoons cinnamon

2-3 teaspoons cayenne pepper

2 teaspoons chives

2 teaspoons parsley

2 teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons sugar

2 teaspoons thyme

1 teaspoon allspice

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

½ teaspoon black pepper

½ teaspoon cloves

½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

½ teaspoon nutmeg

½ teaspoon white pepper

¼ teaspoon cumin

Combine all ingredients in an airtight container.  Use 1-1 ½ tablespoons of seasoning for each pound of meat.

Have a nice weekend, folks!