As our days get busier, we are far more likely to reach for pre-packaged mixes and other convenience foods to lighten our load and make dinner prep a bit easier. These are some of my favorite homemade kitchen helpers you can make in advance and keep handy for those extra-hectic evenings… or even the non-hectic ones. Work smarter, not harder!
Anyone who’s been following Redheaded Herbalist for a minute, knows I’m a big fan of creating my own spice blends and dry mixes. It’s fun to play with flavors and I enjoy having full control over the quality of the ingredients I use. All too often, commercial mixes come with a hefty price tag for what you get (not to mention a list of unpronounceable ingredients and additives).
Buying our ingredients in bulk saves money in the long run. I get 90% of my spices from Mountain Rose Herbs in 1-lb bags and use them to refill my existing jars and spice bottles, cutting down on waste. They have a truly impressive selection of quality organic spices and herbs. There’s not much that I could ever want that Mountain Rose Herbs does not carry.
This Italian dressing mix is another kitchen staple that I’ve been making for a long time. It’s a lovely blend of traditional Italian herbs with just a touch of heat and a twist of dried lemon peel.
The mix is excellent (obviously) for making a quick vinaigrette for leafy or pasta salads, but it also has tons of uses outside the salad bowl.
- combine it with oil and vinegar to use as a marinade for chicken, beef or veggies
- use it as a dry rub before grilling or roasting
- make a quick breading for chicken or pork chops using the seasoning mix + breadcrumbs and parmesan
- add a few teaspoons to your usual pizza sauce recipe for extra Italian flair (and/or add it directly to the dough!)
- toss roast potatoes or root vegetables in a little oil and the seasoning mix before roasting
- blend with olive oil and few more red pepper flakes for dipping breads
- sprinkle the mix into omelets, frittatas or scrambled eggs
- coat fish fillets with a bit of oil and the herb mix before baking
- combine with some chopped tomatoes for bruschetta
- sprinkle on deviled eggs or egg salad for an Italian twist
Or package the mix in a cute jar and give it as a homemade gift to friends and family who appreciate good food!
Feel free to use any combination of dried herbs and spices you enjoy in Italian dressing. The wonderful thing about homemade spice blends is you can always adjust the amounts of each ingredient to suit your family’s tastes.
And, most importantly, you can feel good knowing exactly what’s in it.
Buon appetito ♥
P.S. It bears repeating that common culinary herbs ARE medicinal! Here are a few related monographs for a deeper dive:
Bella Limone Italian Dressing Mix
Ingredients
1/4 c high-quality salt
1/4 c dried oregano
2 T onion powder
2 T organic white sugar
2 T dried parsley
1 T garlic powder
2 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp celery salt
1 tsp crushed red pepper
1/2 tsp cayenne powder
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together and store in an air tight container.
- Secure the lid and give the jar a good shake to blend the ingredients.
Notes
Makes just over 1 cup of dry mix.
To make salad dressing combine:
2 T dry seasoning mix + 1/3 c white wine vinegar + 1/2 c olive oil
