Jan52010
Spice is the life for me!
Can you imagine eating a diet of bland white rice and tasteless pinto beans? I can’t, but a lot of preppers who are stocking up on those two staples, among others, seem to be setting themselves up for multiple meals of monotone flavor. Personally, I like to use a lot of spice when I cook and have been stocking up accordingly.
My Macho Mexican Rice is a good example of taking a staple ingredient, adding a few ingredients from your food storage and ending up with a dish that’s anything but boring. If you were relying on your food storage, this recipe would even make a great main dish with a handful of chicken or pork. The combination of spices is what makes the difference. I have a great recipe for fried rice that I really should write up one of these days soon.
image by Living in Monrovia
Basic spices that should be in your storage pantry, as well as in your kitchen for daily use, are basil, garlic powder, minced onion, chili powder, ground cinnamon, dill weed, ground ginger, oregano, paprika, rosemary, thyme, and vanilla extract. I don’t know about you, but these, along with cumin, are the spices I reach for time and again. If Mexican food is your thing, you’ll want to include cumin and cilantro, and Italian lovers will find they also need Italian Seasoning and perhaps fennel and crushed red pepper. If there are certain canning recipes you use regularly, be sure to include those spices in your stash as well. Check out Spice Advice for lots more information.
Spring is right around the corner, and the time will be right for planting herbs. All of the spices we use in our every day cooking begin life as beautiful herb plants and are then harvested and dried. There’s nothing in that process that you can’t do yourself. In fact, most herbs dry so quickly, you don’t even need an official dehydrator. Simply spread your herbs on a cookie sheet and place them in a 200 degree oven. When the individual herb leaves are crispy, they’re done. Store in an airtight container, and for long-term storage, add an oxygen absorber.
You can buy spices in bulk online, but if you’re going to be planting your own herb garden, check out Seed Savers for a great selection of heirloom seeds.
Considering that hundreds of years ago spices were nearly as valuable as gold, the time may come when a packet of basil may be something worth bartering for. The herb garden you plant today could become a source of income tomorrow!
© 2010, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.
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Elizabeth
Great reminder! I was telling someone the other day that much of the world lives on some variation of rice & beans and that the big difference is the spices. Our budget is tight but we eat a lot of “world cuisine” because we change out the spices and sauces.
The bulk section at the grocery store is a huge help, too, for trying out new spices without a big investment ~ I got enough ‘Chinese 5 Spice’ powder to fill an empty spice bottle the other day but paid 45 cents instead of $5 for the prefilled one in the next aisle.
)
TheSurvivalMom
Elizabeth, that's a very astute observation. Go to the head of the spice class! I had never thought of rice and beans that way before.
juju_mommy
The cheapest place to buy dried spices, IMHO, is SAM's! They have a brand there (start's with a T? Tony's I think? Can't remember) that I love. They don't have a big variety but the prices of their large containers is the same as what you'd pay at Walmart for a little tiny one! I get Taco Seasoning, Italian Seasoning Blend, Red Pepper, Dried Minced Garlic, etc. from them and they are only about $3 each! I also get the jugs of dried onions. Definitely check them out for your day-to-day spices and also some for stocking up.
TheSurvivalMom
Oops! I forgot taco seasoning! I make Mexican food at least once a week and can make do without the seasoning when I have to, but it's nice to have a big bottle of it on hand. I've purchased spices in bulk at COSTCO, and I think the prices are quite good.
katzien
Herbs and spices, along with peppers and hot sauces, are a great way to add lots of varied flavors without adding fat or excess calories. They can also store forever. Add to your list Chinese Five Spice, Herbs de Provence, different Curry powders, bay leaves, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, sage, red pepper flakes…the list goes on. Yum!
TheSurvivalMom
I forgot all about hot sauce, and I just saw a big bottle of Tabasco in my food pantry this morning. It's interesting how it's a staple in so many different types of cuisine.
Tess Pennington
In a disaster situation, where store bought items are no longer available, spices will add so much to a meal. In fact, spices are a great way to combat food fatigue. Additionally, some of our favorite herbs can also be used for medicinal purposes. Herbs such as sage, thyme, basil, ginger, cinnamon and garlic. So they are a very cheap, multipurpose item to add to any seed list. Thanks for the post Survivor Mom!
TheSurvivalMom
Hi there, Tess! Believe it or not, my husband, the Paranoid Dad, would have no problem with food fatigue. I am not kidding. When he was single and on a tight budget in college, he would eat white rice and frozen breaded chicken patties every single meal. He told me that whenever he thought some fiber might be good, he went and bought a head of lettuce. I AM NOT KIDDING!!! LOL I guess I shouldn't have been surprised when he gained forty pounds after we got married. Do you know of a good handbook on the use of medicinal herbs?
Andrea
We buy our spices from a local Mennonite store. It's amazing how inexpensive they are purchased in bulk PLUS they come in great reusable containers. Win-win. But my favorite flavorings are the ones we grow ourselves….sage, chives, parsley and basil, plus goodies like home-canned roasted red peppers and dried onions. On the agenda for this summer…making our own chipotle peppers and adobo sauce. That'll spice up some beans and rice!
TheSurvivalMom
I can buy huge amounts of chiles from a produce co-op here in town, and I want to learn how to roast them on our grill. They are so versatile. I've dehydrated jalapenos before but want to do more with all the different varieties of chiles out there. Thanks for posting!
rightwingmom
Love my herb garden! I hang my herbs from my kitchen window (away from sunlight) until they dry. Then I crush the leaves and store them in Mason jars in my pantry. They last approx. 6 months, depending on how much I use them or give them to friends and family.
TheSurvivalMom
I can't count the times I had to throw away bundles of fresh herbs that had gone bad in my refrigerator, but that was before I began dehydrating. Now, I use whatever amount I need and immediately put everything else in the dehydrator. I love cilantro, in particular, and having a dried version in the pantry has been a lifesaver. Well, not literally, since running out of cilantro isn't a matter of life and death! However, it saves me a trip to the grocery store!
juju_mommy
I just receive yesterday via snail mail some cayenne pepper seeds I ordered from Seeds Savers Exchange (they are great! check them out). I live in Louisiana where cayenne is a staple ingredient (LOL, Sidenote: I much prefer Louisiana Hot Sauce to Tabasco. Not sure if it's available elsewhere ). I look forward to growing, drying and crushing my own red pepper flakes. My grandfather used to do it and from what he says, it's super easy. So, we'll see!
PS. I WISH I had a resource like the Mennonite store in my area Andrea! I hear lots of great things about the items you can get in places like that. There are bulk herb sources around here but super pricey.
TheSurvivalMom
Julie, I'm getting ready to place an order for herb seeds from Seed Savers. In the past we've ordered from Seeds of Change and were happy with their products and service, but I'm willing to give another company a try. BTW, my grocery store does carry Louisiana Hot Sauce. I'll buy a bottle and give it a try. My personal favorite is Frank's Hot Sauce. I love that stuff on chicken wings!
Courtney
You should also try Tapatio Hot Sauce on any mexican or spanish meal (burritos, tacos, nachos, salsa, guacomole etc).. the flavor is by far my favorite although it's not as hot as some other sauces… I was introduced by some mexican friends of mine- and instantly got hooked!
rightwingmom
No self respecting Southerner would get caught withOUT a bottle of Trappey's AND / OR Tabasco in the ICEBOX!
juju_mommy
I used to order from Seeds of Change too! I forgot how I stumbled on Seed Savers Exchange but this was my second time ordering from them and am every pleased. Great price, came fast, and the seeds I've used so far (lettuce and spinach) did great! I still order from Seeds of Change too, though, because they do have different things. Both, from my experience, are great companies. But I hope to start saving my own seeds this spring (yet another thing on my ever-growing to-do list) so my seed orders will be less. LOL.
Never had Frank's… but I love Louisiana Hot Sauce. I find that it is milder than Tabasco but more flavorful… if that makes sense. I get the huge bottles and always have reserves! And, actually, I don't keep my hot sauce in the icebox (next to the stove) BUT I do keep my Tony's Cajun Seasoning and Cayenne Pepper in the ICEBOX (my "Yankee" husband laughs when I use that term). LOL.