Spice it Up!

Try making one or more of my spice blends to use this summer for a flavor boost in a variety of dishes!

Spice it Up!

One of the easiest ways to make food tasty is using a spice blend.  Today I'm going to give you recipes for some basic but popular spice blends along with some ideas for using them all summer long.

All you need are some basic spices and an empty jar.  Mix these together and they will last for several months in the pantry.

Enjoy!

Italian Seasoning

Combine 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper; 1 Tbsp dried thyme, crushed; 1 Tbsp dried rosemary, crushed; 1 Tbsp dried oregano, crushed; and 1 Tbsp dried basil, crushed.  Makes 1/4 cup.

Use In:

• Use in a Bread Dipping Oil
• Make Herb-Roasted Chickpeas
• Use in a Slow Cooker Marinara Sauce
• Italian Turkey Sausage Subs
• Italian Roasted Fries
• Lemon Garlic Chicken Bites
• Zucchini and Sausage Flatbread Pizzas
• Grilled Italian Steaks

Greek Seasoning

Combine 1/2 tsp dried minced garlic; 1 tsp dried minced onion; 1 tsp dried marjoram, crushed; 1 tsp dried basil, crushed; 2 tsp dried thyme, crushed; and 1 Tbsp dried oregano, crushed.  Makes about 3 Tbsp.

Use In:

• Grilled Chicken Souvlaki or Chicken Gyros
• Greek Grilled Pork Chops
• Greek Salad Dressing
• Greek Oven Roasted Potatoes
• Add to sour cream or yogurt with some lemon for a great dip
• Make Greek chicken, turkey, or beef burgers

Taco Seasoning

Combine 1 Tbsp salt; 1-2 tsp onion powder; 1-2 tsp black pepper; 3-4 tsp garlic powder; 1 tsp dried oregano, crushed; 2 Tbsp. ground cumin, 1/2 - 1 tsp crushed red pepper; and 3-4 Tbsp chili powder.  Makes about 2/3 cup.

Use In:

• Beef, Chicken or Turkey Tacos
• Chicken Enchiladas Verde Casserole
• Lighter Burrito Bowl
• Simple Homemade Mexi-Melts
• Make Taco Pizzas
• 7 Layer Dip

Herbes de Provence

Combine 1 tsp fennel seeds, crushed; 1 tsp dried lavender, crushed; 1 tsp dried sage, crushed, 1 dried rosemary, crushed; 1 Tbsp dried marjoram, crushed; 1 tsp dried thyme, crushed; and 1 tsp dried basil, crushed.  Makes about 3 Tbsp.

Use In:

• Sprinkle in rice
• Grilled Chicken sprinkled with Herbes de Provence
• Summer Ratatouille
• Roasted Fish
• Roasted Vegetables sprinkled with Herbes de Provence

Suggested Items

24Pcs,Glass Spices Container Set with White Printed Labels $27.97

General Storage Tips

Pour these spice blends into a small glass or plastic jars with tight-fitting lids.  Store in a cool, dark place for 6 months.  

Amazon Prime Sales: 10 Kitchen Essentials

 

Amazon Prime Day is July 11th -12th this year, but there are some great Limited Time Deals with Prime on Kitchen Essentials that you can score right now!

I wanted to bring you some items that are great kitchen basics at really great prices.  So check out the items below and get ready to stock up on essentials for the summer and beyond.  I've linked all the items for you as well as listing the sale price.  They are really great deals, so I hope you enjoy this.

Pyrex 3 Piece Glass Measuring Cup Set, Includes 1-Cup, 2-Cup, and 4-Cup Tempered Glass Liquid Measuring Cups  $22.09 - These are a must have in my kitchen!

Round Ice Cube Tray with Lid & Bin Ice Ball Maker  $17.99  Who doesn't love making those cute round ball ice cubes for all your summer drinks and cocktails.

Homemade Popsicle Molds Shapes, Silicone Frozen Ice Popsicle Maker-BPA Free, with 50 Sticks, 50 Bags, 10 Reusable Sticks, Funnel and Ice Pop Recipes  $20.39  We enjoy homemade popsicles all summer long.

Juicer Machine, 600W Juicer with 3.5” Big Mouth for Whole Fruits and Veg  $48.44  We love taking advantage of all the summer fruits and juice them daily.

Elite Gourmet ECT-3100 Long Slot 4 Slice Toaster, Reheat, 6 Toast Settings, Defrost, Cancel Functions, Built-in Warming Rack, Extra Wide Slots for Bagels & Waffles, Stainless Steel & Black  $29.99  Can't beat a 4 slot toaster and this one is top notch and stylish.

Amazon Basics Enameled Cast Iron Covered Round Dutch Oven, 6-Quart  $30.41  Every kitchen needs this workhorse for soups, roasts, braising...I have several of these.

PRAKI Airtight Food Storage Containers Set with Lids - 24 PCS  $33.99  Love these containers for pantry storage.  The look is clean and organized.

Ninja DZ201 Foodi 8 Quart 6-in-1 DualZone 2-Basket Air Fryer with 2 Independent Frying Baskets  $159.95  Where would we be without the air fryer?  I love the 2 basket version to cook a large volume or multiple items.

Organic Bamboo Cutting Board Set of 3 with Lifetime Replacements $21.66  I can't live without my cutting boards.  These are nice and sturdy.

MOSFiATA 8" Super Sharp Professional Chef's Knife with Finger Guard and Knife Sharpener  $29.99  A must have knife in your collection.  

Disclaimer: I am a participant in the Amazon Associates program. Should you purchase and items from some of the links above I may receive a small commission at no cost to you.

Summer Fresh Recipe Series: Mojo Pork Fajitas

These Mojo Pork Fajitas are exploding with flavors and spices and are sure to be liven up your taste buds!

Mojo Pork Fajitas

I've got a great dinner option to present to you today.  How about some fajitas?  We all love the classic steak or chicken fajitas but I found the most fabulous recipe using pork tenderloin.  I love a good tenderloin because it's a lean, cooks easily, and feeds a lot of people.  So pork fajitas it is!  This recipe calls for the pork tenderloin to be marinated in a citrus Cuban Mojo mixture.  This is the best flavored pork I've had in a long time and I'm sure you will agree.  To make this summer friendly,  everything is made on the grill.  Perfect to beat the summer heat.

Don't forget your summer fresh produce.  Bell peppers are in season from July through September so be sure to grab some of those along with a red onion to grill as well.   Add in some flour tortillas and maybe a side dish or two and you are good to go.  Side dishes could include Spanish rice, beans, or an Avocado citrus salad.      

This whole dish is easy to pull together, is packed with flavor bombs, and is perfect for any backyard gathering.  Even the upcoming 4th of July celebrations.

Enjoy!

What Ingredients do I need?

• olive oil
• onion powder
• limes for juicing
• orange juice
• ground cumin
• dried oregano
• garlic cloves
• 1-1 1/2 lbs pork tenderloin
• red sweet peppers
• red onion
• 8 inch flour tortillas
• Fresh cilantro (optional)

Substitutions and Variations

• swap the red bell pepper for green, yellow, or orange

• use white or yellow onion instead of red

• try adding grilled scallions

Kitchen Tips and Notes

Serve with:

•    Spanish rice 
•     refried or seasoned pinto beans
•     avocado citrus salad
•     quacamole and sour cream
•     avocado crema

    

• Can be adapted for an indoor grill or baked in the oven.

• Wrap the tortillas in foil and place them on the grill (indirect heat) for 10 minutes to heat through.   

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Mojo Pork Fajitas

1/3 cup olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
1/3 cup lime juice
1/3 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 1 pound pork tenderloin
2 large red sweet peppers, halved lengthwise and seeded (2 large)
2 medium onions, cut into thick slices (2 medium)
8 8 inch flour tortillas, warmed
Fresh cilantro (optional)
Lime wedges (optional)

For marinade, in a small bowl combine olive oil, onion powder, lime juice, orange juice, cumin, oregano, and garlic. Trim fat from meat and remove the silver skin by placing your knife under the edge and running it under while pulling the skin away from the meat. Place meat in a plastic bag or a large container. Remove about 1/3 cup of marinade for the vegetables and pour the rest of the marinade over the meat. Marinate in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours. Place meat on the counter the last 30 minutes to bring to room temperature. 

Preheat your grill to medium high heat.

Brush bell pepper halves and onion slices with the reserved marinade; discard the remaining marinade. Drain meat.

Place meat on the grill rack. Place pepper halves and onion slices on the grill as well. Cover and grill for 8 to 10 minutes for peppers or until you get char marks and they are crisp-tender, turning occasionally. Grill meatfor about 8-9 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches 155°F.

Place tortillas wrapped in foil on the grill for 10 minutes using indirect heat Remove meat from grill. Cover with foil and let stand for 10 minutes. Cut peppers into thin strips and chop onions. Slice meat. Serve meat and vegetables on warm tortillas. If desired, sprinkle with cilantro and serve with lime wedges.

source:  https://www.bhg.com/recipe/mojo-pork-fajitas-with-orange-avocado-salsa/