Guy's Gift idea- Tuscan Style Pork Rib Spice Mix in a Jar

I'm sorry that I have been so inconsistent with posting lately.  It truly is amazing how life can quickly get in the way.  These last few weeks have been full of crazy ups and downs.  A week and a half ago I came down with the flu and ended up in the ER with extreme dehydration.  I won't gross you out with the details of what sent me there or while I was at the ER but after 7 hours in the ER I finally started to feel human again.  Unfortunately for my poor husband, we got home at 2:30 in the morning to find our daughter was sick and starting to head down the same awful path as me.  So he packed her up and took her to the ER before she ended up in extreme dehydration state.  The poor guy got home at 7:30 AM after being awake for over 24 hours and spending half of that in the ER.

We've also had a surprise trip to Arizona to pick up a car from my in-laws, our turn to host our preschool coop, an unexpected death in the family, and a couple Thirty-one parties.  Whew!  I wish that February was looking a little less packed but there's no such luck.

Anyways, on to the post.  I was freaking out trying to figure out what to give the men in my life for Christmas.  Guys can be so hard to give gifts to especially something homemade.  All the men in my life love food and after a quick poll from friends on Facebook the consensus was something food related.  So I came up with the mason jar spice mix for one of our favorite recipes Tuscan Style Pork Ribs.  Hopefully this idea might be something you could use for Valentine's Day or Father's Day.  Here's the recipe with some free printables.  I got the adorable mason jar printable template from Today's Mama and used the Claire Hand font.  That font is my current favorite.  Super cute!

You could totally do this for any of your favorite spice mixes.  You could also do fajita mix, taco mix, or Israeli spice rub (all these recipes are for single batches so either triple or quadruple for the jars).


Tuscan Style Pork Rib Spice Mix

1 Tbsp rosemary
4.5 Tbsp kosher salt
2 Tbsp pepper
1 Tbsp sage
1 1/2 tsp thyme
2 Tbsp paprika
1 Tbsp coriander
1 1/2 tsp allspice

Mix altogether in a mason jar.  This is enough for 3 uses.

Homemade Taco & Fajita Mixes (gf)

So I am assuming most of your spice cupboards look a little like this...

Maybe one shelf full of spices.

And maybe some of you have a second shelf...

Yeah, mine is more than two shelves full, about 3 to 4 jars deep.

Now, I usually do not have this many spices, but moving twice in 4 months and having things MIB (missing in boxes) we have many duplicates of spices.  Too many spices in my cupboard means less room for other things, plus I have to spend tons of time shifting through all of the mess trying to find the one stinking spice I want.  Which therefore led to the following.

We don't go out to eat very often (ie too expensive, dining with a 2 year old in public, no thank you, etc) plus we haven't exactly connected with many local restaurants around here.  I've come to realize two California kids living in the South is a little bit of a disaster.  I order something expecting one thing and have been sorely disappointed when it is something entirely different.  Sorry, ranting.  Any who... so I started doing make-your- own- take- out night.  It's actually a lot of fun and worth the extra effort it may take.  I get to have a date night without worrying about whether my little one is disturbing others with her antics.  

Chips and Blender Salsa

Horchata (a rice-milk drink, love it!)

Our Mexican make-your-own-take-out spread.  You'll notice some guacamole on the table.  That's just for the hubby, none for me and my one food allergy.  Lame huh?

So I planned to make fajitas for this dinner and, low and behold, when I went to make it, no faijta mixes.  Dinner crises!  I was totally craving fajitas so I was a little on edge.  Thank goodness for Google.  I found a mix I was willing to try.  Tried it, liked it, made more of it to have on hand.  Plus it helps me make it through this vast array of spices.  Perfect!  And later when I finished off my taco seasoning I decided to do the same thing.  Super awesome!

Taco seasoning (top) and fajita seasoning (bottom)

Fajita seasoning mix (gf)

Note: Makes approx. 13 Tbsp or about 4 store bought packages

4 Tbsp cornstarch

3 Tbsp chili powder

2 tsp salt

4 tsp paprika

4 tsp sugar

1 Tbsp chicken bouillon or 3 crushed chicken bouillon cubes

2 tsp onion powder

2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp cumin

Put all ingredients into a mason jar and shake to mix.  Two and a half to three tablespoons of the mix is about equal to a store bought package.  I usually use 3 heaping Tbsp per 1lb of meat.  

Taco seasoning mix (gf)

Note: Makes approx. 13 Tbsp or about 4 store bought packages

4 Tbsp chili powder

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

1/4 - 1/2 tsp ground red pepper (depending on how much heat you want)

1 tsp dried oregano

2 tsp paprika

6 tsp cumin

4 tsp sea salt

4 tsp black pepper

Put all ingredients into a mason jar and shake to mix.  Approximately 3 Tbsp of mix equals one store bought package.  I usually use 3 heaping Tbsp per 1lb of meat.  

Check out the new blog at jonesinfortaste.com

Crock pot Mole Chicken Enchiladas

Israeli Spice Pita & Sun Dried Tomato Hummus

Homemade Bisquik Mix

Loco Pollo

Homemade Whole Wheat Bisquik Mix

I love making things from scratch, even the convenience things.  I enjoy making things a little healthier and cheaper.  I found a recipe here that I liked and that I've tweaked as I've used it.  It was easy and worked great so why not keep making it.

I like using Bisquick because it is great for so many things.  Pancakes on Saturday mornings, of course.  Tasty cheesy-garlic biscuits with dinner.  Sweet.  A favorite baked egg recipe from my childhood, awesome!  Using my homemade Bisquick in all three.  Seriously cool!

So over the next few posts I will post recipes for all of the above.  Super sweet!  Let's start.

Homemade Bisquick Mix

3 cups whole wheat flour
3 cups white flour
3 Tbsp baking powder
1 Tbsp salt
1 cup shortening

Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into a bowl.  Using a pastry blender, cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Store in an airtight container.


So now you have the basic mix.  Pretty easy, right?  And a heck of a lot cheaper than the real stuff.  So here's the bonus recipe for the day.

Super Fast Blueberry Pancakes


2 cups Bisquick mix
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1 cup fresh blueberries

Stir ingredients until blended.  Add blueberries and gently fold in.

Pour slightly less than 1/4 cupfuls onto hot greased griddle.

Cook and enjoy!

Check out the new blog at jonesinfortaste.com

Israeli Spice Chicken w/ Homemade Hummus (gf)

In Rachel Ray's cookbook Thirty Minute Meals 2, I found a recipe for an Israeli Spice Rub. It sounded so good but I didn't find the way she used it to be particularly appealing. She did say that the spice rub went on everything she cooked and I can understand why. It's got a great kick to it and I love the meld of flavors. I decided to use the spice on some chicken and put it in a pita with some grilled veggies and homemade sun dried tomato- pine nut hummus. We loved it and gobbled them down so fast. I was really proud of the concoction and hopefully you'll like it too.

Israeli Spice Rub (gf)
1 1/2 tablespoons, sweet paprika
1 1/2 tablspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 to 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse Kosher salt

Combine spices in bowl. Store in airtight container. Sprinkle spices onto whatever meat you desire.

Recipe from 30- Minute Meals by Rachael Ray

Sun-Dried Tomato and Pine Nut Hummus (gf)

1/2 cup chopped pine nuts
1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes, chopped
1- 15 ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup Tahini paste
4 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon coriander
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Olive oil

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and begin grinding ingredients down. Start streaming in olive oil until you get a smooth paste. It should look creamy like peanut butter, but not runny. Spoon into dish and stir a few times more to ensure it's all mixed together.