I refuse to touch them...

They poop on you!  I found six of them on two of my tomatoe plants.  I thought I was done with them for the year... no such luck!

Saturday we took a trip north to Planters Seed Company.  The store is like stepping back into time.  All hard wood floors, that have to be over 100 years old.   The bulk garden seed is in wood drawers that cover one entire wall.  The majority (if not all) of the seed is heirloom.  AND they sell it year round, something that is not easy to find unless you order from a catalog. 

I wanted to get a fall planting of green beans planted and couldn't find any seed left in any of the nearby stores. 

I purchased three different heirloom varieties of green beans and some mammoth dill.  They have the coolest garden stick ruler on the counter free with a purchase.  It has a reference chart on how deep and spacing on planting your seeds.  The beans were $1.50 for a quarter pound.  That makes it $6 a pound, not cheap, but they are quality seeds.

They also carry spices.  I bought several, but pictured here are their meatloaf and poulty seasoning that I've heard a lot about.  I also picked up basil, ginger, and Bourbon Street Steak Rub.  Their spices are reasonably priced.  They carry anything you can imagine.

With all the seed and spices I spent $22.

The store carries bird feeders of all kinds, bird seed, teas, any type of flower pot you could ever want from teeny tiny to absolutely huge.  If you are ever in the Kansas City Area be sure to visit them. 

Make Your Own Salt Substitute

Use this salt substitute on vegetables, salads, eggs or anything you normally add salt to.

1 tablespoon dry mustard
1 tablespoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons dried parsley
2 teaspoons dried dill weed
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons dried savory
2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons ground white pepper
1 teaspoon dried finely chopped lemon peel

Blending your own Pumpkin and Apple Pie Spices, PLUS other substitutions

I love baking in the fall and into winter!

I've been taking an inventory of my spices; checking what needs to be replenished and what needs to be replaced.

But it always seems I find a new recipe to try and there is something I don't have on hand. Some things I use substitutions. But rarely do I buy blended spices. I like to blend my own. Why should I pay someone to blend basic spices I already have on hand?

Here is my favorite substitutions and blended spices.

Allspice (1tsp): 1/2 tsp cinnamon and 1/2 tsp ground cloves

Apple Pie Spice (1tsp): 1/2 tsp cinnamon and 1/4 tsp nutmeg

Baking Powder (1tsp): 1/4 tsp baking soda & 1/2 tsp cream of tartar

Buttermilk (1cup): 1 Tbl lemon juice or vinegar and 1 cup MINUS 1 Tbl milk
or 1 cup milk and 1 3/4 tsp cream of tartar
or 1 cup sour cream or yogurt

Brown Sugar Light (1 cup): 1 cup white sugar and 1 Tbl molasses

Brown Sugar Dark (1 cup): 1 cup white sugar and 2 Tbl molasses

Half and Half cream (1 cup): 7/8 cup milk and 3 Tbl butter

Milk evaporated (1 cup): 1 cup light cream

Milk, sweetened condensed (1 can): Heat 1/3 cup and 2 Tbl evaporated milk, 1 cup sugar and 3 Tbl margarine

Nutmeg ground (1 tsp): 1 tsp ground allspice or ground cloves or ground mace

Pumpkin Pie Spice (1tsp): 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ginger, 1/8 tsp allspice and 1/8 tsp nutmeg

What's your favorite substitution? Do you have a favorite spice blend to share with us?

FREE Printable Kitchen Ingredient Substitution Chart

You won't find another Kitchen Ingredient Substitution Chart like this anywhere! With over 100 ingredients listed and suitable substitutions. It prints out on regular size paper and can be slipped into a sheet protector to either hang on the inside of your pantry door or place in your household management planner.

Thanks Tipnut.com for sharing this wonderful chart.

Ingredient Substitution Chart

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Recipes & Menus ingredient substitut

Make your own Homemade Taco Sauce & Seasoning

When making enough burritos and tacos for a family of four or larger it gets expensive to buy everything needed. The meat and cheese alone is expensive.

So to make it more frugal, when I dont have these items stockpiled (from purchases using coupons to get them really cheap or free) I make my own. Making these two things from scratch shaves $4-$5 off the price of this dinner by itself.

Taco Sauce
1 small can tomato sauce
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon ground Cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon sugar

Mix all together and let sit for at least 30 minutes so spices wed.



Taco Seasoning
6 teaspoons chili powder
5 teaspoons paprika
4 1/2 teaspoons cumin
3 teaspoons onion powder
2 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Use 2 heaping tablespoons to equal one commercial packet.

When my oldest son and any of his friends are here for dinner, I will stretch the hamburger by adding 1 cup of cooked minute rice.

Let me know if you have a tip for making burritos and tacos more frugal. Or if you have a taco seasoning or sauce recipe that you would like to share, visit Sandy's place and share it with all of us. Every Sunday she has Share My Recipe Sunday.

Spice Chart

Beans (dried) cumin, cayenne, chili, parsley, pepper, sage, savory, thyme

Beef basil, bay, chili, cilantro, curry, cumin, garlic, marjoram, mustard, oregano, parsley, pepper, rosemary, sage, savory, tarragon, thyme

Breads anise, basil, caraway, cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, dill, garlic, lemon peel, orange peel, oregano, poppy seeds, rosemary, saffron, sage, thyme

Cheese basil, caraway, celery seed, chervil, chili, chives, coriander, cumin, dill, garlic, horseradish, lemon peel, marjoram, mint, mustard, nutmeg, paprika, parsley, pepper, sage, tarragon, thyme

Chicken allspice, basil, bay, cinnamon, curry, dill, fennel, garlic, ginger lemongrass, mustard, paprika, rosemary, saffron, sage, savory, tarragon, thyme

Corn chili, curry, dill, marjoram, parsley, savory, thyme

Eggs basil, chervil, chili, chives, curry, dill, fennel, ginger, lemon peel, marjoram, oregano, paprika, parsley, pepper, sage, tarragon, thyme

Fish anise, basil, bay, cayenne, celery seed, chives, curry, dill fennel, garlic, ginger, lemon peel, mustard, oregano, parsley, rosemary, thyme, saffron, sage, savory, tarragon, marjoram

Fruits allspice, anise, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, ginger, mint

Lamb basil, bay, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, curry, dill, garlic, marjoram, mint, mustard, oregano, parsley, rosemary, savory, tarragon, thyme

Potatoes basil, caraway, celery seed, chervil, chives, coriander, dill, marjoram, oregano, paprika, parsley, poppy seed, rosemary, tarragon, thyme

Salad Dressings basil, celery seed, chives, dill, fennel, garlic, horseradish, marjoram, mustard, oregano, paprika, parsley, pepper, rosemary, saffron, tarragon, thyme

Salads basil, caraway, chives, dill, garlic, lemon peel, lovage, marjoram, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, tarragon, thyme

Soups basil, bay, chervil, chili, chives, cumin, dill, fennel, garlic, marjoram, parsley, pepper, rosemary, sage, savory, thyme

Sweets allspice, angelica, anise, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, fennel, ginger, lemon peel, mace, nutmeg, mint, orange peel, rosemary

Tomatoes basil, bay , celery seed, cinnamon, chili, curry, dill, fennel, garlic, ginger, gumbo file, lemongrass, marjoram, oregano, parsley, rosemary, savory, tarragon, thyme

Mustard 101

Prepared mustard is generally made from powdered mustard, seasonings, and a liquid such as water, vinegar, wine, or beer.

American-style mustard is milder and made from white seed, flavored with sugar, vinegar, and tumeric.

European and Chinese mustards are made from brown seeds are are zestier and more flavorful. Dijon mustard is made with brown or black seeds. Chinese mustards are usually the hottest and most pungent