When baby #4 was born we received a set of spices from our local, awesome bike shop (how cool are they!! Also, we spend a lot of money there). The cajun seasoning was one of my faves because it was one I didn’t already have (which is amazing if you’ve ever seen my ridiculous spice cupboard), and my new favorite recipe Beach Street Lemon Chicken Linguine calls for it. I just finished my gifted cajun seasoning, and my other new favorite recipe (that I just made today!) Loaded Sweet Potato Soup needed some creole seasoning (which, as far as I can tell, is similar enough to be interchangeable). So I needed to whip something up. Because when kids are out of school for Thanksgiving break, you better believe I would make something before I would ever consider taking my small army of people out to the store. If you’ve ever shopped with three or more children (or one tired and cranky child), you understand. Waterboarding? Child’s play! Shopping with children that don’t all fit in the cart…torture! I took all 4 of my babes to Costco right after school was out for the summer. I swore that was THE LAST time I would EVER do that again. They weren’t really even being naughty…but trying to keep two in the cart who want to be with the two out of the cart who are all curious and want to stop and look at everything while you are trying to avoid all the other people who also have all of their kids with them, and trying not to hit all the small children running away from their mamas… Um. Never again. Anyway, this is good stuff.
2 1/2 Tbsp smoked paprika
1 1/2 Tbsp salt
2 Tbsp garlic powder
1 Tbsp black pepper
1 Tbsp onion powder
1 Tbsp cayenne pepper
1 Tbsp dried oregano
1 Tbsp dried thyme
Thoroughly combine all ingredients. Store in an airtight container.
*I used smoked paprika because it was what I had in the cupboard. I think regular paprika is more traditional.
*This doesn’t smell like my bike shop gift cajun seasoning, but it made my soup pretty darn delicious. And since it made a lot, I will be using it for a while. Next I will try something like this, just to see:
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp coriander
1 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cracked pepper
1/3 tsp oregano
or
1 tsp salt
2 tsp garlic powder
2 1/2 tsp paprika
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 1/4 tsp oregano
1 1/4 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, optional
