Homemade Spice Mixes

Way down in the land of Pinterest, I found a place that shared a variety of spice mixes you can make yourself.  My spice cabinet is always filled to overflowing since I always fall for a new flavors, so I had all of the basic ingredients to throw together something fresh and new!  Here is the link for these recipes found at Keeper of the Home.

My favorite mix was one called Turmeric Newari Spice Mix.  It peeked my interest because of the turmeric in it.  This spice is wonderful for you, but I was at a loss of how to use it daily.  Some of these benefits include valuable anti-arthritic, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, & anti-oxidant properties, in addition to being a widely-used digestive aid. As an anti-inflammatory, turmeric helps inhibit blood clotting by blocking prostaglandin production, thus making it an effective agent in increasing circulation.

 

Here is the recipe for Turmeric Newary

4 Teaspoons Ground Garlic
2 Teaspoons Ground Ginger
2 Teaspoons Ground Cumin
1 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Turmeric
1/2 Teaspoon Ground Chili
1/4 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
2 1/2 Teaspoons Sea Salt or Real Salt

I just mix it all together in a small container and use it on almost anything!  It goes will as a seasoning for chicken, fish, pork and beef, in vegetables and adds delicious flavor to rice.  I love the taste and especially the health benefits from the combination of spices.

 

Veggie Burrito Bake

1 large clove garlic, minced
1 medium onion, minced
3/4 cup uncooked rice (white or brown)
3/4 tsp. turmeric
1 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
16 cups loosely packed fresh spinach, torn
1 1/2 tsp. garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups cooked black beans
1 tbsp. chili powder (optional)
1 cup Monterrey Jack cheese, shredded
flour tortillas

Saute the 1 minced garlic clove, onion, uncooked rice and turmeric in a saucepan until the onion is tender. Stir often. Add the broth and mix well. Simmer covered, until liquid is absorbed, about 15 minutes for white rice, 40 minutes for brown rice. Remove from heat, fluff with fork and set aside. While the rice is cooking, heat 1 tbsp. oil in a fry pan on high heat. Add remaining garlic and the spinach, one handful at a time as it wilts, adding a little water as needed to prevent sticking. Spinach should be moist, with loose leaves, not all clumped together. In a bowl, combine black beans and chili powder.

Layer the ingredients as follows in a 2-quart baking dish: half of the spinach, all of the rice, all of the beans, remaining spinach. Sprinkle the shredded cheese on top. Cover and bake until sizzling 45 minutes

Blueberry Crumb Bars

1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup cold unsalted butter (2 sticks or 8 ounces)
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon salt
Zest and juice of one lemon
4 cups fresh blueberries
1/2 cup white sugar
4 teaspoons cornstarch

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9×13 inch pan.

2. In a medium bowl, stir together 1 cup sugar, 3 cups flour, and baking powder. Mix in salt and lemon zest. Use a fork or pastry cutter to blend in the butter and egg. Dough will be crumbly. Pat half of dough into the prepared pan.

3. In another bowl, stir together the sugar, cornstarch and lemon juice. Gently mix in the blueberries. Sprinkle the blueberry mixture evenly over the crust. Crumble remaining dough over the berry layer.

4. Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until top is slightly brown. (This took an extra 10 to 15 minutes in my oven.) Cool completely before cutting into squares.

Pumpkin Coffeecake

Here is a DELICIOUS and easy recipe that is a favorite in Amish homes this time of year: pumpkin coffeecake. It is really good, just makes sure you have a box of yellow cake mix on hand and some pumpkin. Try it!

 

1 package yellow cake mix, divided

1 C. canned pumpkin
1 C. sour cream
4 eggs
1/4 C. granulated sugar
1/4 C. water
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice, divided
2 T. brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour 10-inch tube pan.

Reserve 2 tablespoons cake mix. Combine remaining cake mix, pumpkin, sour cream, eggs, sugar, water and 1-1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice in large bowl. Beat at low speed with electric mixer until moistened. Beat at medium speed 2 minutes. Pour into pan. In small bowl, combine reserved cake mix, brown sugar and remaining 1/2 teaspoon pie spice. Sprinkle on top of batter.

Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 25 minutes. Invert onto cooling rack. Turn right side up. Cool completely.

Makes 12 to 16 servings.

 

Found at The Amish Cook

Old Fashioned Pear Cake

1 1/2 cups vegetable oil

2 cups sugar
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup pecans, finely chopped
2 cups pears, (recommend canned in heavy syrup, approx 1 ½ cans) chopped and drained (reserve juice)

1 teaspoon salt
3 eggs

Preheat oven to 325

In a large mixing bowl, combine oil, sugar, and eggs. Beat until creamy.
In a medium sized mixing bowl, sift together flour, salt, cinnamon, and baking soda.
Stir dry ingredients into creamed mixture until smooth.
Add vanilla. Fold in pears and pecans.
Pour mixture into a well-greased bundt or tube pan.
Bake 1 hour and 15 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean.

Country Potato Bake

20-oz. pkg. frozen shredded hashbrowns
10-3/4 oz. can cream of chicken soup
1 c. sour cream
1/4 c. margarine, melted
1 c. shredded Cheddar cheese
6 slices bacon, crisply cooked and chopped
2.8-oz. can French fried onions

Spread hashbrowns evenly in the bottom of a greased 13"x9" baking pan. Mix soup, sour cream and margarine together; spread over hashbrowns. Sprinkle with cheese, bacon and onions. Bake, covered, at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Makes 10 servings.

Found at Gooseberry Patch

Snickerdoodle Recipe

Six Sisters Stuff Recipe

1 stick (1/2 cup) margarine
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
3 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Chill dough for about 30 minutes.

 Roll into balls the size of small walnuts.

 In a separate bowl, mix 2 Tbsp sugar with 2 tsp cinnamon (more or less depending on how you like it). Roll dough balls in cinnamon mixture.

Place about 2" apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 7-9 minutes until lightly browned, but still soft.

Makes about 5 dozen.

Found at Six Sisters Stuff.