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Eating Healthy on a Budget – Make Your Own Seasonings

April 20, 2010 By Simply Frugal Leave a Comment

Last week I started the series with a post on Eating Seasonally. This week it’s all about making your own seasonings!

This is an easy way to eat more healthfully and cut down costs. Chances are, you have many of the spices or other items needed to make many of your own seasonings, on hand already! And since most of the recipes I’ve found make a large batch, it’ll only cost cents each time you use it! I bet many seasonings won’t even cost $1 to make a big batch. What I also love about making your own seasnonings is that you can omit the msg and salt that is found in most store bought seasonings!

Here are some of my favourite homemade seasonings:

Ranch Dressing Mix:

1/2 cup dry buttermilk
1 tablespoon dried parsley, crushed
1 teaspoon dried dill weed
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon dried onion flakes
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper

If you want to use this to make salad dressing, combine 1 tablespoon mix with 1 cup mayonnaise and 1 cup milk. Otherwise use 1 tablespoon in any recipe calling for an envelope of ranch dressing mix.

Taco Seasoning Mix:

1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup chili powder
1 Tbsp garlic powder
2 1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp ground cumin
1 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp ground coriander

Store in an airtight container in a cool dry place for up to one year.

Lemon Pepper Seasoning mix:

1 cup ground black pepper
1/3 cup dried lemon peel
3 tbsp. coriander seeds
1/4 cup dried minced onion
1/4 cup dried thyme leaves

I love this on chicken! Would also go well with fish.

Poultry Seasoning Mix:

1 teaspoon celery seed
1 teaspoon marjoram
1 teaspoon sage
1 teaspoon savory
1 teaspoon thyme

Do you make your own seasonings? I’d love to know what your favourite seasoning recipes are! Let me know in the comments!

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