Everything But The Bagel-ish Seasoning

Mu first introduction to an everything bagel was back in about 1994.  I was served a toasted, buttered everything bagel with an order of pasta.  On that day, my foodie life changed forever.  Mostly

. 
Fast forward to a year ago.  I saw the Everything But The Bagel seasoning in Trader Joe's.  I am going to be honest, it is awesome, a little spendy, but I don't love chunks of salt, onion and garlic dried up on my bagel as much as I once did.  I decided recently after being at TJ's again that I needed to just make this at home, my way.

You will find many versions, but you will only find ONE of mine.  I make mine in a more "granulated" form.  I guess my coffee grinder that I use for spices ran away to join a traveling carnival of other "mis-used" coffee grinders, because it is gone.

I use this seasoning on garlic toast, chicken, steak, pork, and veggies.  I mean, I love this stuff!  Shop your local Asian markets or other places for less expensive spices, make double or triple the amount for what you pay for one bottle!

You will need:

2 TBSP Poppy Seeds
1 TBSP Dried Minced Onion
1 TBSP Onion Powder
2 TBSP Granulated Garlic
1-2 TBSP Pink Salt
1 TBSP Sesame Seeds (White)
1/4 tsp Black Pepper
1/2 tsp Dried Parsley

Combine all ingredients into a Ziploc bag.  Roll over mixture several times with a rolling pin.  I like the different textures it gives.  How long you roll over it will depend on the consistency you want!

Place into airtight jar or container and enjoy!  I promise it won't last long in your house!

I LOVE making my own versions of spice blends and any other spice blends!  I hope you enjoy this recipe and don't forget to FOLLOW my page here!

Homemade Taco Seasoning

Hey guys!  Thanks for making the "click" and reading!  We are in the middle of a 96+ degree everyday heat wave.  Feels like 105-110 most days.  Cooking oddly has NOT been the last thing on my mind in the heat.  This is good weather for cold sandwiches, salads, and slow cooker recipes.  No heating up of the kitchen and not a lot of work.

For me, this weather keeps me in the AC, and wanting to cook!  In this case the beginning of something spicy and hot!  Or potentially anyway!

I have been working on being more, oh.....what's the word, health conscience?  No.  Just, more aware, maybe that is a more fitting term.  I am working on reducing salt.  Slow but sure.  I keep noticing all of the salt in these store bought seasonings and I just had to work something else out.  I enjoy making my own spice blends so I took a shot in the dark and went with it.  I must say, this is better than anything out of a package.  Perhaps I am partial, but, my husband agreed.  I will share a recipe soon using this seasoning.

I would suggest 2 T. per pound of ground beef, go easier if you like less spice.  I mean, you can certainly leave out the ground red pepper, or reduce it with no problems.  I say keep it in, just use less if you are a little apprehensive.  Get spicy friends, get SPICAAHHHH!

I just tossed mine in a pint size ball jar.  Add the following ingredients in and shake!

2 T. Paprika
1/4 tsp. Ground Red Pepper
2 T. Chili Powder
1 tsp. Garlic Powder
1 T. Cumin
1 1/2 tsp. Salt
1/4 tsp. Black Pepper
2 T. Onion Powder
1 T. Dried Parsley

Notice I used garlic POWDER and onion POWDER not salt.  If you choose to use the salt versions, please omit the addition of regular salt.  Twist the lid on and shake, shake, shake it!  1-2 T. for each pound of ground meat!

Enjoy and let me know what you think!

Geo's Famous Spice Rub (All Purpose)

Brrrrrr!!  Yes, I am serious, it has been CHILLY here in the big O!  Mother nature has straightened herself out but I will take a 53 degree morning ANY July day!! 

As most of you know, my husband is not only supportive of my blogging habits,  he loves to take part whenever I ask him too.  Is it genuine?  I am not sure.  I think he loves to take part because in his mind, he thinks one of HIS recipes is going to change the world.  He reminds me often that my most popular recipe is actually HIS recipe.   Do you know what it is???  You can find it here.   HA!!  Really he does love to cook as much as I do,  and he is a real "rubber".  I mean, let me clarify.  While he does give the BEST nightly foot rubs (for 13 years now, EVERY night), I mean this in an entirely different way.  He has made this spice rub for as long as I can remember.  He started out basic and used Alton Brown's spice rub method/ratio but over the years he perfected it to his taste and to the taste of many who constantly mumble while eating, "OMG, what is ON this".    We have switched up, switched down, omitted totally and doubled ingredients until he got this perfect combination of sweet and spicy, but not TO spicy.   I think he finally perfected it about 10 years ago.  Perfected it in OUR opinion anyway!  He uses this for pork, beef, chicken and has even used it on fish and to flavor hamburger for any number of things.   This sandwich you see pictured above is probably my favorite way, which is why I chose it to be the vessel for the rub!  You can't beat it with a stick, fresh tomato, some butter lettuce, a grilled bun, I mean get outta here.  He even used the rub to flavor his mayo for slathering on the sandwich. 

You can rub your meat and let it sit for hours, or days.  Yes, I said days.  We rubbed this chicken and let it sit about 5 hours, but the longer it sets, it changes the texture of the chicken to a tender beautiful thing.  We have let things marinate in this for days.  Ribs, steaks, etc, we prep a few days ahead and there ya go.  It is up to you how much flavor you want your food to have but I promise even just an hour will change your life!  We use cheapo dried herbs and spices, so hit up someplace cheap! 

While I would like to let him take the keyboard and blow himself up into the king of the rub, I am writing this while he is at work so he can't.  But the truth is, he IS the king of the rub my friends!  Here is how he makes it!

4 cups brown sugar
1/4-1/2 cup salt
1/2 cup chili powder
1/4 cup of the following:
cumin
garlic powder
paprika
onion powder
seasoned meat tenderizer
Italian seasoning
1/4 cup crushed red pepper flakes (this is optional and the measurement is up to you, more or less if you wish but we find this perfect)

Combine all ingredients in a Ziploc bag and smoosh to combine.  Break up any bits of brown sugar and make sure all ingredients are well mixed!!  Store in an air tight container or Ziploc bag in your cupboard for up to 4-5 months!!  (we usually make a double batch)

Now to get this sandwich!

3 chicken breasts (cut in half so 2 fillets out of one breast, or buy thin cutlets or pound these thin)
1 sliced tomato
1 head of butter lettuce
6 large rolls, butter or oiled and grilled on both sides.

In a large Ziploc bag pour 1 cup of of your dry rub.  Add in 3 (cut into 6) chicken breasts.  Close up your bag and smoosh until the chicken is completely covered. 

Put in the fridge to marinate however long you want it to go!  Before grilling, just butter or oil your buns and grill or toast on both sides.  Set aside.  Grill your chicken breasts for approx. 3 minutes per side.  I used my George Foreman and cooked them 4 minutes total.  They were perfect!

Stack on your bun with any veggies you like, (or cheese).  Enjoy a beautiful sandwich!!

Your "wants a foot rub while I eat my dry rubbed chicken" Chefwannabe

Dry Ranch Dressing Mix

That is the question for you ranch dressing lovers!  My husband and I love ranch dressing.  We dip in it, use it for salad sometimes, and I have even marinated in it.  You can use the dry packets of seasoning to mix in with breading, spice up chicken or roast or use to just make great dressing, now you can stop buying those packets and make your own!

Again, on my "make it myself" spree.  I decided to find a great dry mix recipe for ranch dressing.  Well I found one.  I usually like to write my own recipes.   I found one and decided to just try it, but to me it needed more of some things and less of some things.  I went to my local Dollar Tree and got a medium sized jar with a pop on lid to store it in.  You could use a regular jar but, what fun is that?!?!  Again, utilize your dollar store for SO many of these ingredients.  It may seem pricey but I am still working on the original batch I made 3 months ago.  Its not even half gone and for the first week after I made it my husband made ranch dip or dressing every single night!
I use this to sprinkle on chicken, I sprinkle it in breadcrumbs if I am breading something.  I have used it in turkey meatloaf, and dip for sour cream and onion chips!

Ranch Dressing Dry Mix Recipe

15 saltine crackers (squares)

2 1/2 cups dried parsley flakes

1/2 cup dried minced onions

3 tbsp dill weed

1/4 cup onion salt

1/4 cup garlic salt

1/4 cup onion powder

1/4 cup garlic powder

2 tbsp black pepper

Put crackers in your food processor or blender and process until they are dust!  Add the rest of the ingredients in and give just a quick process or blend (about 5 seconds worth) and place mixture into an airtight container.

For salad dressing, combine, 1 cup buttermilk, 1 cup sour cream and 1-2 tbsp of the mixture. 

For dip, combine, 1 1/2 tbsp of mix in 1 cup sour cream.

FOR LOWER SODIUM: replace "salts" with "powders"! 

Remember, it is up to you how much you put in. Start with some and add more if you like! Make it how YOU like it!

You can't see in the photo but I have the directions written right on the jar with a sharpie marker.  

Your "dip it, drizzle it,dipping queen" Chefwannabe

Chris