Tip of the Week: Make Your Own Seasoning Packets

Even though this looks like a big old drawer of Seasoning packs, there are only a few that I consistently rely on: Taco Seasoning (for seasoning ground beef used in many Mexican dishes), Italian Dressing (for recipes such as Italian Chicken featured this week), Gravy Mixes (all flavors--used to extend homemade gravy), Au Jus (for French Dip Sandwiches or Prime Rib), and Hollandaise (for serving over broccoli and asparagus or making Eggs Benedict).

I spent some time on-line looking for a Italian Seasoning Packet substitute for Sister Sneddon to make her Italian Chicken, and I found lots of recipes for other seasoning mixes as well. I have included some of the recipes I found below, but remember that I have only tested the Italian Dressing Mix.

It's nice to eliminate the preservatives and ingredients such as MSG and Gluten. It's also great to not have to be reliant on these mixes when you run out. That being said, I appreciate the convenience of these seasoning packets, especially when they can be purchased at 3/$1.00 as featured at Maceys during the case lot sale the last couple of weeks.

I think the biggest benefit to making your own (besides the savings) is that once you are sure you like the spice combination, you can mix up a large quantity at once, being sure to indicate on your container how much to use for the equivalent of a seasoning packet.

Italian Salad Dressing Mix 

-1 Tablespoon Salt
-2 Tablespoons Oregano
-1 Tablespoon Onion Powder
-1 Tablespoon Garlic Salt
-1 Tablespoon White Sugar
-1 Tablespoon Dried Parsley Leaves
-½ teaspoon Black Pepper
-1 teaspoon Basil
-¼ teaspoon Thyme
-½ teaspoon Celery Salt
-½ teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes (optional)

*Use 2 Tablespoons of this mix in place of a packet of Good Seasons Dry Italian Salad Dressing Mix.  This recipe makes approximately the equivalent of 3 packets of mix.

Taco Seasoning Mix

-1 tbsp chili powder
-1/4 tsp garlic powder
-1/4 tsp onion powder
-1/4 crushed red pepper flakes
-1/4 tsp oregano
-1/2 tsp paprika
-1 1/2 tsp cumin
-1 tsp salt
-1 tsp black pepper

French Onion Soup Mix 

-1/2 cup Onion Flakes or dehydrated onion slices
-2 tablespoons Onion Powder
-1 tablespoon Garlic Powder
-1 teaspoon Celery Salt
-1/2 teaspoon Ground Pepper
-1 tablespoon sea salt

Seasoned Salt Mix 

-1/4 cup Onion Powder
-1/4 cup Garlic Powder
-1/4 cup Black Pepper
-2 tablespoons Chili Powder
-3 tablespoons Paprika
-2 tablespoons dried Parsley Leaf (optional)
-1 tablespoon ground Red Pepper Flakes (optional)

Homemade Ranch Mix

-½ cup dry buttermilk powder
-1 tablespoon dried parsley for blending, 1 teaspoon reserved
-½ teaspoon dried dill weed for blending, ½ teaspoon reserved
-1 teaspoon onion powder
-1 teaspoon dried onion flakes (or dried chopped onion)
-1 teaspoon salt
-1 teaspoon garlic powder
-1 teaspoon garlic salt
-¼ teaspoon ground pepper
-½ teaspoon sugar

Instructions for Ranch Mix:

Add all the dry ingredients except the reserved teaspoon of dried parsley and the ½ teaspoon of dried dill to your blender. Blend until a nice powder.
Hand mix in the reserved parsley and dill - you want to see some herbs in your mix. 

Store dry mix in an air-tight container or jar in your pantry for 2-3 months or in the freezer for 6 months or longer.

Note: Use 2 tablespoons of dry mix in any recipe asking for dry ranch mix.

See you next week!