Behind the Seasoning: Spice & Easy Recipe Mixes

Obviously, there’s a time and place for takeout, but there is fulfillment in whipping up a great meal in your own kitchen. It’s a chance to slow down, put the worries of the day aside and enjoy each other’s company. Doing that will obviously satisfy your hunger, but there’s something about the magic of cooking and the sense of pride when you put that finished dish on the table. 

For many people, meal planning and prep is probably a weekend task. You might first check your refrigerator and pantry, then go to your tried and true favorites, round it out by incorporating a new recipe from one of our favorite magazines like our local 5280 or from a recent cookbook purchase. But don't forget to check your calendar for those busy nights where you have a volunteer meeting, fitness class, or book club. On those nights (or in the middle of the week when your best laid plans go awry) add Spice & Easy dishes to your weekly meal planning rotation!

Weekly Meal Prep

For easy meal prep, the key ingredients you'll need for each recipe (aside from a few pantry staples like salt and olive oil) are featured on the front of the package. Full directions are on the back of the package as well as on our website (just click "More Information" to see the full recipe.)

Many of the finished dishes are great as leftovers or can be made ahead. Make any dips on the weekend and pack them in your lunch with some veggies all week long. Lentils and risotto can be reheated and thinned with a bit of water, if needed. Curry-inspired dishes like Butter Chicken actually taste even better after the flavors have a chance to meld and mellow.

We have made up these recipe mixes with the whole family in mind so many of them are low-heat. After all, you can always add a hot sauce or your favorite chiles.

Classic Recipes

The inspiration behind the Spice & Easy line was came from a few different ideas. First, we wanted to take some of our customers' favorite recipes and make them easier to purchase. A great example of this is our Classic Marinara Sauce. In the past, you’d need to purchase four separate spices to make the recipe. We've taken out the guesswork and packaged it in a convenient mix that can be mixed with tomatoes and olive oil for an easy pizza or pasta sauce.

Our customer-favorite Tikka Masala is another great example. Tikka Masala is one of our best-selling curries and we have a great recipe that people love. So we tweaked and tested and tweaked some more to find the ideal balance to create a new family-friendly Meal Starter Spice Mix that is delivered with an easy-to-make recipe. 

Now we’ve taken all of the spices you need for these dishes, mixed them together into a new Meal Starter Spice Mix, and packaged it in the exact amount you need to make the recipe. That equates to less packaging waste, less partially used spice bags, and a way better price! And on top of that, the packaging includes the recipe, a short shopping list, and a photo of the finished dish.

New Flavors

Secondly, we wanted to introduce you to new family-friendly recipes. We started with some of our most popular seasonings and married new flavors into them to create unique (and tasty!) options. Our Black Garlic Ramen is the perfect example of this. 

Black Garlic Salt is one of our best-selling seasoning salts and is an increasingly trendy flavor. So, inspired by a Japanese favorite, we tweaked and tested and tweaked some more to find the ideal balance of umami flavors to create a new family-friendly dish. This easy-to-make recipe can be customized with your favorite add-ins and toppings. Try adding mushrooms, tofu, or your favorite veggies. Then top with a soft-boiled egg and sliced scallions or sesame seeds.

Global Cuisine

Finally, we thought that Spice & Easy is a great way to introduce new favorites inspired by classics from a variety of cultures. We have adapted classic dishes from around the world to create Meal Starter Spice Mixes that make it easier than ever to enjoy these favorites at home.

Our Huli Huli Chicken is a great example. This is a popular recipe that comes from Hawaii. Meaning “turn turn” in Hawaiian, Huli Huli Chicken is grilled and glazed with each turn over the coals, building a caramelized coating. The teriyaki-inspired sauce is bursting with juicy pineapple, nutty sesame seeds, and citrusy ginger. Huli Huli Chicken is sure to be a hit with the whole family, simply serve with grilled pineapple and rice.

 Another great example is our Sun-Dried Tomato Minestrone. Inspired by Tuscan flavors, this dish is traditionally made with seasonal vegetables. It's a hearty, easy dish for any time of the year. Try broccoli and cabbage in the winter and zucchini and green beans in the summer. Use it as an opportunity to clean out your fridge or freezer. You can even add beans or sausage.

Keep an eye on our Spice & Easy recipe mixes. Some flavors are seasonal or only available for a limited time, so get them while you can! Homemade meals are an act of kindness (or self care) that can go a long way. And couldn't we all use a little more of that in our lives these days? Happy cooking!