Spice Up Your Life

Hello Friends!

Happy Foodie Friday! Today is all about spicing up your life!

Sometimes, salt and pepper will do. Most of the time they’ll do just fine, but why not explore a little? Why not support small businesses and see what flavors they have to offer?

I’m embarrassed, yet proud that I own over 87 bottles of seasonings. Wow, right? I know. This doesn’t even include the spice rack I own that contains 20 bottles. So I have over 100 different spices and seasonings in a household of two people.

So why do I need so many spices and seasonings? I don’t. It’s that I want to have so many different spices and seasonings. I like having options when it comes to cooking. Each one pairs uniquely with certain dishes. I like recreating dishes in different variations (especially stir-fry’s and ways to cook chicken). It’s how I keep my cooking inspiration alive and thriving. Every day and every dish should be made with love and in its own uniqueness.

Clockwise from the top left: Primal Palate Steak Seasoning, Trader Joe’s Lemon Pepper Grinder, Kirkland Red Pepper Flakes, The Spice Hunter Garlic Pepper, Trader Joe’s Smoked Paprika.

Most of these seasonings are not fancy. The geniuses behind them are just great spiceologists (no, I really don’t know if that’s what you would call them, but that’s what I’m naming these amazing people). The combinations just wow me.

Now let’s talk about the 10% of the spices that I use regularly. My kitchen staples for when I’m not trying out new flavors.

Not pictured is the giant bottle of Kirkland Brand of Granulated California Garlic.

Here are some examples of where I would use these seasonings:

For chicken: Jacobsen Salt Co. Black Garlic Salt, Kirkland Granulated California Garlic

For seafood: Jacobsen Salt Co Lemon Zest Salt, Trader Joe’s Smoked Paprika, Spice Hunter’s Garlic Pepper, Trader Joe’s Lemon Pepper, Tony Chachere’s Salt Free Seasoning, Kirkland Granulated California Garlic

For ground turkey: Johnny’s Seasoned Sea Salt, Trader Joe’s Lemon Pepper

For beef: Primal Palate Steak Seasoning, Spice Hunter Garlic Pepper, Trader Joe’s Lemon Pepper, Kirkland Granulated California Garlic, sometimes Kirkland Red Pepper Flakes

For vegetables: Spice Hunter Garlic Pepper, Kirkland Red Pepper Flakes

I am a big fan of Jacobsen Salt Co. Their salts are amazing. My favorite is their Black Garlic Salt—because if you know me, you know I love garlic. Even that is an understatement. I have not tasted anything like this—the Black Garlic Salt. I also enjoy their Hand-Harvested Pure Flake Sea Salt to top off things like avocado toast or eggs. If I can only live off of one brand of seasonings/salts for the rest of my life, I honestly think it would be Jacobsen Salt Co. That’s a bold statement coming from someone who owns 100+ bottles of seasonings.

A close second choice would be Primal Palate. They have very unique spice blends that are very different from Jacobsen Salt Co. who primarily focuses on infused salt blends. Their Steak Seasoning is one of my favorites. It’s great on steaks, burgers, and beef stir fry. Their Seafood Seasoning is also delicious!

I encourage you to try out a different seasoning the next time you cook. It doesn’t have to be something I’ve named on this post, but just try something. I think you’d be surprised with what you’d find! Especially at local shops! I love doing that when I travel. I do usually come home with a new spice or salt of some sort.

Happy Cooking!

XOXO,
Karmen

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