Better than “Jiffy” Cornbread Mix​

This cleaned-up copycat cornbread mix is so easy to whip up in advance and store in a jar in the refrigerator until needed. Toss some vegetables in it for a quick breading (my Texas-born husband is crazy about pan fried okra!) or combine the mix with an egg and buttermilk, and you’ve got yourself a fast and easy cornbread, corn muffins, corn casserole or cornmeal fritters. The sky’s the limit!

Spicy Dill *Everything* Rub

There is a hidden gem of a restaurant called The Settlement not far from our home in the neighboring town of Priest River, Idaho. I’ve been all over the world, and I can honestly say they have the best dry rub chicken wings I’ve ever tried.

Mr. Redheaded Herbalist and I love their recipe so much that I took a stab at recreating the spice blend at home.

Giant Garden Zucchini Personal Pizzas

It’s *that* time of year when my garden is going gangbusters producing zucchini and summer squash and we spend two months eating it like it’s going out of style.

In order to keep things interesting and avoid “squash burnout” (it’s a thing), I’ve accumulated a number of recipes over the years incorporating squash in unexpected ways so we don’t get sick of it.

Herbal Seafood Seasoning + Sourdough Crab Cakes w/Jalapeño Tartar Sauce

Who has two thumbs and loves crab cakes?? This recipe relies on another beloved Kitchen Helper that I always have on hand: Bay (Laurel) Seafood Seasoning. It’s one of those versatile spice blends that you’ll reach for again and again.

Make-Ahead Fresh Garlic-Infused Olive Oil (Minus the Botulism)

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! Fresh […]

Healthified “Shake-n-Bake”

I keep a large jar of this stuff in my refrigerator at ALL times. It’s ridiculously versatile, and I use it often to jazz up sautéed vegetables, garnish casseroles, bread chicken, pork chops or fish. If you have an air fryer, this stuff works well as a breading to make “fried” chicken your kids will love.

Herbal Onion Soup Mix (with a SECRET Ingredient)

Onion soup mix is one of those versatile multitaskers that’s good for so much more than just soup. It’s fast and easy to make and tastes so much better than the store-bought stuff. No contest. And this version gets an extra boost of nutrition with an herbal “secret” ingredient…