HOME | GIFT SETS | SPICES & HERBS | TEAS | RECIPES | FIND OUR SPICES

 

Recipes and Serving Suggestions
Our spice blends are very versatile and can be added to many dishes. We’ve offered some suggestions below on how we use Spice of Life blends in our kitchen. Feel free to experiment and try them out in your recipes. Everyone’s taste preferences vary and the amount of food you’re adding spices to will be different. Our general rule is 1-2 Tbl. spice blend per lb of meat or 2-4 person servings. We’re excited about sharing our spice blends with you and look forward to new spice combinations and blends in the future.

Fiesta Salad
A refreshing, healthy salad that’s delicious served with tortilla chips, atop green salad or alone as a side dish. Our Taco Fiesta spice blend bursts with vibrant & rich flavor. Enjoy!

1 (15 oz.) can black beans (drained & rinsed)
1 (15 oz.) can black eyed peas (drained & rinsed)
1 (11 oz.) can whole kernel corn (drained & rinsed)
1/2 red onion, chopped
1/2 c. fresh cilantro, chopped
2 fresh tomatoes, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 or 2 avocado, cut into cubes Add chipotle or cayenne for added heat

Dressing:
1 1/2 Tb. red wine vinegar
2 Tb. Spice of Life TACO FIESTA spice blend
2 teas. fresh lime juice
2 Tb. olive oil

Directions:
Dressing ~ In medium bowl combine vinegar, Taco Fiesta spice, lime juice and olive oil and mix until blended. Add avocado and stir gently to coat.
In large bowl combine all other ingredients and stir gently to mix.
Add dressing to large bowl and gently stir.
Cover and put in refrigerator for approx. 30 min. or longer.
Serve with tortilla chips as a dip, on top of a cabbage or green salad or as a side dish to your meal.

 

 

Pumpkin Spice:
Sprinkle our delicious PUMPKIN SPICE in your coffee, on oatmeal, waffles & pancakes, ice cream, shakes, fresh fruit (we love it on apples and peaches), yogurt, squash, in dessert recipes (cookies, pies, cobblers, etc.). the possibilities are endless. It's not just for the holidays and it's the healthiest combination of spices you can find. Enjoy!

“Spice of Life” Double Yolk with Tomato Sauce and Manchego
I like to serve this as a starter for a hearty meal or an appetizer. You can make it ahead and keep in fridge until you are almost ready to pop it in the oven. Our “Spice of Life” spice blends bring out amazing, fresh and vibrant flavors. Enjoy!!!

Ingredients:

Sourdough baguette
Olive oil
“Spice of Life’ GREEK INFLUENCE spice blend
1 cup tomato sauce
4 large eggs
4 egg yolks
4 tsp. low or fat free milk
“Spice of Life” CAJUN SENSATION spice blend
1 cup grated Manchego Cheese (you can substitute Asiago cheese if desired)
½ c grated Parmesan cheese
“Spice of Life” ITALIAN TRADITIONS spice blend

Cut baguette into thin slices (diagonally), rub with olive oil and lay out on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with “Spice of Life” GREEK INFLUENCE. Bake (325 degrees) in preheated oven until dried and golden brown, approx. 30-35 minutes (alternative: place under broiler until golden brown, careful not to burn). Remove from oven and let cool.

Turn up oven temp. to 500 degrees. Butter the bottom and sides of 4 ramekins. Divide the tomato sauce among the ramekins and spoon into each. Crack an egg and egg yolk and place on top of tomato sauce. Add 1 tsp. milk in each ramekin and sprinkle ½ tsp each of “Spice of life” CAJUN SENSATION on top of egg. Cover top with Manchego and Parmesan cheese and finish by sprinkling with “Spice of Life” ITALIAN TRADITIONS.
Place ramekins on baking sheet and bake 8-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the egg whites are still jiggle a little. Remove from oven and let set.
To serve, place ramekin on the center of a plate and lay toasted baguette slices on the side for dipping.

 

Pumpkin Brownies
This delicious recipe is great around the holidays, for special events or any day of the week. The chocolate and pumpkin batters are swirled together to make a decorative marbled brownie. ENJOY!

Ingredients:

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 eggs
1/2 teas. baking powder
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teas. salt
1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 teas. vanilla extract
2 teas. SPICE OF LIFE ~ PUMPKIN PIE SPICE BLEND

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8x8” baking pan.
2. Stir flour, baking powder and salt together in a bowl.
3. In another bowl, stir together melted butter, sugar and vanilla extract. Beat in the eggs one at a time with a spoon. Gradually add the flour mixture, and stir the batter until it’s evenly moistened. Divide batter in half in two separate bowls.
4. Into one bowl of batter, blend the cocoa powder and chocolate chips. In second bowl of batter, stir in pumpkin puree, walnuts and SPICE OF LIFE PUMPKIN SPICE BLEND.
5. Spread 1/2 of the chocolate batter into the bottom of the prepared baking pan and follow with 1/2 of the pumpkin batter. Repeat the layers ending with a pumpkin layer. Drag a kitchen knife or small spatula gently through the layers in a swirling motion to create a marbled appearance.
6. Bake in preheated oven for 40-50 minutes or until the brownies begin to pull away from the sides of pan and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in pan, cut into squares and serve.

Heavenly Chicken Tortilla Soup
A healthy and delicious twist on a classic soup. This "Heavenly Tortilla Soup" recipe from Skinny Kitchen is sure to be a hit with your family. Our Southwestern Mesquite blend brings out a wonderful smokey flavor.We met Nancy Fox from Skinny Kitchen at a wine event on the Central Coast in California and loved how she creates classic recipes and makes them healthy. Check out her site at www.SkinnyKitchen.com to see other delicious recipes.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
2 ½ cups chopped onion
2 tablespoons chopped garlic
2 (6-inch) corn tortillas, chopped
2 tablespoons tomato paste
4 teaspoons Spice of Life “Southwestern Mesquite” seasoning
6 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth, we like Swanson’s
1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 (14 oz) can yellow hominy, drained and rinsed
1 (14 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups cooked chopped chicken
Juice of one lime

Topping
1 ¼ cups reduced-fat tortilla chips, crushed

Instructions
1. In a large nonstick pot, add the olive oil, onions and garlic. Sauté for 1 minute.
2. Add the chopped tortillas, tomato paste, and Southwestern mesquite seasonings and sauté for 2 minutes.
3. Stir in the chicken broth and tomatoes. Bring up to a boil, turn down heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
4. Add the hominy, beans, chicken and fresh squeezed lime juice. Mix well. Cook 10 minutes more.
Makes 10 cups or 5 main-course servings

 

1) Seasoning meats and fish:
Use approx. 1-2 teas. per lb. of meat or fish. Sprinkle on both sides of meat with a touch of olive oil (optional). Bake, sautee’, broil or BBQ. Add to foods just before you cook or marinade on meat for 30 minutes or more. ****CAJUN SENSATION, SOUTHWESTERN MESQUITE, MISTY BAY, LEMON PEPPER CLASSIC, ITALIAN TRADITIONS AND GREEK INFLUENCE are all great blends to add to meat or fish.

2) Salad Dressing:
Combine ½ c. extra virgin olive oil, 2 Tb. vinegar, 1 tsp. Dijon mustard, 1-2 teas. Spice of Life spice blend in a small bowl. Whisk together. Serve over fresh salad.
** CAJUN SENSATION tastes great with apple cider vinegar , LEMON PEPPER CLASSIC is delicious with red wine, balsamic, rice or other flavored vinegars. You can also add fresh lemon juice, fresh herbs such as dill, basil or thyme, and fresh chopped garlic.

3) Seasoned Olives:
Drain, rinse and pat olives dry (Trader Joes canned black olives work best). Place olives in a large plastic bag, and toss with a small amount of extra virgin olive oil. Add either CAJUN SENSATION or ITALIAN TRADITIONS blend (approx. 1/4 - 1 tsp. depending on taste preference and the amount of olives) seal bag and toss. Put in fridge and allow flavors to blend for about half hour. Serve in decorative bowl with toothpicks.

4) Potato Cubes:
Cut potatoes into 1/2- 1” cubes. In a large bowl, toss the potatoes with extra virgin olive oil and your favorite spice blend until well coated. Either sauté in skillet or bake in oven until tender. ** SOUTHWESTERN MESQUITE, GREEK INFLUENCE, ITALIAN TRADITIONS OR CAJUN SENSATION are especially delicious on potatoes.

5) Seasoned Vegetables:
This works great with lots of different vegetables but our favorites are green beans or zucchini. Clean, prepare and cut vegetables. Toss with extra virgin olive oil and your favorite Spice of Life blend. Bake, sauté, or steam until tender. ** Our favorite blends to use are GREEK INFLUENCE, ITALIAN TRADITIONS OR LEMON PEPPER CLASSIC but feel free to experiment with any of our blends.

6) Shrimp:
In large bowl, toss medium or large cleaned, raw shrimp with a touch of extra virgin olive oil, fresh minced garlic and CAJUN SENSATION OR MISTY BAY. Sauté or BBQ on grill until done. DO NOT OVER COOK. Serve alone, over pasta, rice or in a salad.

7) Croutons:
Brush both sides of bread slices with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle both sides with your favorite Spice of Life spice blend. Cut into cubes and arrange on a baking sheet. Bake in oven at 425 degrees until golden brown, turning half way through. Remove, let cool and toss in salad.

8) Pasta:
In a saucepan, add extra virgin olive oil and chopped garlic. Sauté slightly until the aroma comes out (about a minute ). Add fresh or canned chopped tomatoes, diced onion, shredded carrots and any of your favorite veggies. Stir in 2-3 Tbls. of ITALIAN TRADITIONS, a pinch of salt (optional) and fresh ground pepper. Cook over medium heat until hot and bubbling. Serve over your favorite pasta.

9) Bruschetta:
Slice baguette loaf into diagonal slices and place on cookie sheet. Brush one side with extra virgin olive oil. Place under broiler and cook until golden brown, turning half way through to cook both sides (3-4 minutes total / WATCH CAREFULLY). When cool, rub one or both sides with the cut side of garlic clove. TOPPING: In bowl, mix chopped fresh tomatoes, chopped green onions, diced green or black olives, minced garlic, artichoke hearts, ground pepper, shrimp (optional) and 1-2 teas. of ITALIAN TRADTIONS, GREEK INFLUENCE or MISTY BAY. Drizzle extra virgin olive oil in mixture. Stir, cover and set in fridge for at least 30 min. to allow flavors to blend. Top bread slices with tomato mixture and grated parmesean cheese.

10) Beer Shrimp:
Pour 2 cans of beer in a medium sauce pan, and bring to a slight boil over medium heat. Add 2-3 teas. CAJUN SENSATION OR MISTY BAY and medium or large raw shrimp to beer and cook for a few minutes – just until opaque. Do no over cook. They will stay moister if you leave the shell on when cooking. Drain. Place on dish and drizzle with melted butter seasoned with LEMON PEPPER CLASSIC. Makes a great appetizer for family and friends.

11) Red Sauce:
Add 1-2 Tbls. of ITALIAN TRADITIONS to your red sauce for a great, fresh flavor. You can add it to store bought or your homemade sauce.

12) Fresh Salad:
Cut cherry tomatoes in half and put in bowl. Add sliced cucumbers, olives, cut fresh green beans and buffalo mozzarella cubes. Drizzle extra virgin olive oil over vegetables and sprinkle with GREEK INFLUENCE, LEMON PEPPER CLASSIC OR CAJUN SENSATION. Toss. Keep cold until ready to serve.

13) Cinnamon:
Sprinkle Spice of Life premium CINNAMON in your coffee grounds before brewing to get a great flavor. You’ll be getting rich antioxidants in every sip. It’s also great sprinkled on apples, fruits, cereals, and oatmeal.

14) Tuna or Salmon Salad:
Drain canned tuna/salmon and place in a small bowl. Generously sprinkle with MISTY BAY OR CAJUN SENSATION, add mayonnaise, diced green onion, and squeeze of fresh lemon juice. (Options: diced bell pepper, chopped celery, shredded carrots, diced red onion) Mix together and serve on crackers, bread or lettuce.

15) Chicken or Shrimp Salad:
Cut cooked chicken/shrimp into small pieces and place in bowl. Generously sprinkle with MISTY BAY, CAJUN SENSATION, LEMON PEPPER CLASSIC, ITALIAN TRADITIONS, OR GREEK INFLUENCE. Add mayonnaise and any or all of the following: diced celery, bell peppers, green onion, nuts, cranberries, tomatoes, Dijon mustard. Serve on croissant, gourmet roll, bread, lettuce, or serve with crackers.

16) Italian Traditions Dip:
1 Tb. ITALIAN TRADITIONS, ¾ c. sour cream, ¼ c. mayonnaise, 1 teas fresh lemon juice. Mix all ingredients in a small bowl until completely blended. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours. Serve with crackers or bread sticks. Mini saltines are our favorite crackers with this dip.

17) Add Spice of Life blends to quiche, bread crumbs, chicken, fish, salads, rice, vegetables, sauces, meatloaf, hamburger meat, taco meat, eggs, popcorn, stir fry, soups and lots more. Be Creative and ENJOY!

Holiday Pumpkin Pie
The holidays are just not the same without traditional pumpkin pie. Our delicious, fresh pumpkin pie spice blend and special recipe will bring smiles to you and your guests. Enjoy!

Ingredients: 2 eggs
2 teas. SPICE OF LIFE PUMPKIN PIE SPICE BLEND
3/4 cup sugar
1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin
1 can (12 oz.) evaporated milk
1 unbaked 9" pie shell
Directions: Beat eggs in a large bowl. Stir in pumpkin, sugar and SPICE OF LIFE PUMPKIN PIE SPICE BLEND. gradually stir in evaporated milk.

Place unbaked pie shell in pie dish and crimp edges.
Pour pumpkin mixture into pie shell.
Bake in preheated 425 degree oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350 degrees and bake 40-50 minutes or until knife or toothpick is inserted near center and comes out clean.
Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. Serve immediately or refrigerate.
Just before serving, top with whipped cream and sprinkle SPICE OF LIFE PUMPKIN PIE SPICE BLEND on top. Happy Holiday!!!

We are always interested in finding new recipes using our spice blends. Please send us an e-mail or post on our facebook page recipes or uses that you would like to share. We may even include your recipe in our upcoming cookbook (with your approval and recognition of course). Thank You!