Homemade Seasoning Blends – For You or for Gifts
Homemade seasoning blends are tasty, affordable and totally customizable. I enjoy blending my own spices, especially being able to control how much salt, sugar and preservatives to include. And as a bonus, personalized homemade seasonings make excellent Gifts from the Kitchen?!
Why make your own Seasoning Blends?
Control over Ingredients
Compare these ingredient labels for Lemon Herb Seasoning – store bought vs homemade.
My homemade Lemon Herb Seasoning just has lemon and herbs – no salt, sugar, cornstarch, glucose solids (isn’t that sugar?!), yeast extract, “natural flavour” (isn’t that what the lemon and herbs are for?!) or any preservatives. Even without the preservatives, my spice blend lasts 6 months to a year.
Fun to Play with Herbs and Spices
It’s fun to mix and match your own flavour combinations. Personally, I’m not a big fan of cloves – so I want to control how many cloves go in those spice combos. I also know that some of my family members like things really spicy and often complain that store bought seasoning packs aren’t spicy enough – wait til they get some of my spicy blends created just for them!
Smelling and Appreciating Fresh Herbs and Spices
Smelling, mixing and working with different herbs and spices is super easy and helps you appreciate the subtleties of each ingredient.
Use Your Own Dehydrated Herbs
Fourth, and this may only apply to fellow gardeners, I had an awesome herb crop this summer and have a stash of extra dried herbs I’ve been waiting to share.
DIY Gifts are the Best
Fifth, I would rather be in the grocery store or specialty food store buying herbs and spices than weaving my way through the crowds at the mall looking for that elusive perfect gift. By the way, when mixing your own seasoning blends, I highly recommend getting the freshest herbs and spices you can. If you’re going to make a few different blends, consider a trip to a bulk food store or a specialty store where you know they take great pride in what they sell.
Those are some of the reasons why I prefer to make homemade seasoning blends.
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Recipes for Homemade Seasoning Blends
Click through for some of these or look below for three sample recipes.
- Lemon Herb Seasoning
- Italian Herb Seasoning
- Cajun Seasoning
- Taco Seasoning
- Apple Pie Spice
- Pumpkin Pie Spice
- Popcorn Seasoning
- Chili Cheese Seasoning
- BBQ Seasoning
- Chili Lime Seasoning
Homemade Steak Seasoning
Steak Seasoning
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp coriander seed
- 4 Tbsp coarse sea salt
- 1 Tbsp black pepper
- 2 Tbsp paprika
- 1/2 Tbsp dried onion flakes
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 tsp mustard powder
Instructions
- Place coriander seeds in spice grinder and pulse several times until cracked.
- Add remainder ingredients to grinder and pulse until mixed but not powdery.
- Pour into small jar and seal tightly.
Notes
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Homemade Italian Herb Seasoning
Italian Herb Seasoning
Ingredients
- 4 ½ Tbsp dried basil
- 3 Tbsp dried marjoram
- 3 Tbsp dried parsley
- 3 Tbsp dried oregano
- 1 1/2 Tbsp garlic powder
- 1 1/2 Tbsp onion flakes
- 1 ½ tsp dried thyme
- 1 ½ tsp rubbed sage
- 1 tsp fresh cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
Notes
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Homemade Lemon Herb Seasoning
Lemon Herb Seasoning
Ingredients
- 4 Tbsp Dried Basil
- 3 Tbsp Dried Oregano
- 3 Tbsp Dried Parsley
- 1 Tbsp Finely Ground Black Pepper
- 1 Tbsp Dried Onion Flakes
- 1 Tbsp Whole Celery Seed
- ½ Tbsp Thyme
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 2 Tbsp Grated Lemon Rind dried
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
Notes
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Interested in other Gifts from the Kitchen?
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- Cookies in a Jar
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Which seasoning blend will you be making? Let me know, share a photo and tag me @getgettys on Instagram or post a comment here.
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