Penzey's Help

[justplainbill]

We also use Minors and use less or no salt to the food prepared with Minors.

 

[PrincessFiona60]

'I see you like the ginger. What do you use the mustard seeds for? What is the heat level on the Med Hot Chili Powder? Last question, Half-Sharp Paprika, what is that like?'

We use the ginger for baking and marinades. I like to make a mixture of Kikomann, ginger, and garlic powder as a dip for my potato pierogis.

I grind mustard seeds to make mustard sauce.

Medium hot chili powder is medium hot. I sometimes jazz it up by adding some hot chili powder and or cayenne.

Half sharp paprika has a little bite. I usually use 1/3 or 1/4 half sharp to 2/3 or 3/4 sweet paprika, mostly for chicken paprikash and in sour cream sauce for pot roast and venison stew. We use paprika for a thickening agent as well as for flavor.

We use Spanish smoked paprika much more sparingly, mostly for gambas al ajillo.

Your pierogi dip is close to my go to marinade for chicken and pork, I add in sesame oil!

The chili powder isn't blasting hot then, the description is accurate. I've fallen for medium labels before and had to tone them down or liven them up.

I love using Hungarian paprika, I would like to try the half-sharp. I found Smoked paprika at Costco last year and fell in love with it...would like to try a "good" brand.

Thanks, again!

 

[PrincessFiona60]

the soup base containers say they contain less salt than boullion cubes. I only use this stuff a teaspoon at a time, and it is hard for me to detect any sodium level. The first ingredient is cooked chicken or cooked beef.

Thank you, Beth! I have been using the "Better Than Bullion" bases and love them. If I can find one with less salt, I will gladly switch. I use them mostly because I like a cup of bullion to relax with, sometimes and the salt can be too much.

 

[PrincessFiona60]

Their base is the only item I have tried there that I have found better elsewhere. I use Minors bases. They are loaded with salt though.

We also use Minors and use less or no salt to the food prepared with Minors.

I will check into Minors, too.

Thanks, GB and Bill!


I appreciate the assist, Everyone! Even Frank's suggestion to just buy one of everything.

Reminds me of the joke about the Zen Hot Dog---make me One with Everything!

 

[Andy M.]

One caution.

It's really easy to go WAY overboard. Remember, you have to cook stuff with all these things you are ordering.




(and invite us all over to share it).

 

[Uncle Bob]

One caution.

It's really easy to go WAY overboard. Remember, you have to cook stuff with all these things you are ordering.




(and invite us all over to share it).

This...........

 

[PrincessFiona60]

One caution.

It's really easy to go WAY overboard. Remember, you have to cook stuff with all these things you are ordering.




(and invite us all over to share it).

Dinner at my place anytime...remember to bring your own oxygen the air is a bit thinner up here!

My problem is, I'm cheap...and I noticed you could order more at the same price if you didn't get the little jars. I think my first buy should include the jars, so I don't have to worry about storage right away. Then add to as I need them. I've set myself a budget and will stick to it.

Thanks for the advice, Andy!

 

[Andy M.]

I did something similar to what you are thinking. I bought the jars for herbs, spices, seasonings that I use a lot then reordered larger quantities to refill the jars. I usually buy a small jar for stuff I just want to try.

You can also jut buy small bags and empty bottles.

 

[Claire]

I personally like their Sicilian and Creamy Peppercorn salad seasonings. I'm lucky enough to have a spice merchant here in town, or I'd buy even more from Penzey's I also hit their store when I make my annual or so trip to Madison. The creamy peppercorn I use to make my version of ranch dressing in the winter, when my herb garden is defunct. The Sicilian is great with any wine vinegar/olive oil for a light Italian style dressing. I love that you can buy their seasonings in the small jar to try something new. Then if you like it, you can 'graduate' to larger jars for seasoning you find yourself using a lot!

I've received gift packages of their spices and was so charmed that I've sent them as gifts. They arrived nestled in celsior (is that right?), bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, whole nutmeg. Lovely presentation! Not to mention that the gift packaging was worth its cost!

 

[PrincessFiona60]

I did something similar to what you are thinking. I bought the jars for herbs, spices, seasonings that I use a lot then reordered larger quantities to refill the jars. I usually buy a small jar for stuff I just want to try.

You can also jut buy small bags and empty bottles.

I'm still working on a "cost analysis" empty bottles vs full bottles. If I'm going to be getting the bottles, anyway. I think I can get the bottles themselves with any sifters, etc. far cheaper than through Penzeys. I'll have to check. Plus, the bottles I do have are from one source and everything would be consistent in size and color.

Looks like I'll be waiting to order until next weekend.

 

[PrincessFiona60]

I personally like their Sicilian and Creamy Peppercorn salad seasonings. I'm lucky enough to have a spice merchant here in town, or I'd buy even more from Penzey's I also hit their store when I make my annual or so trip to Madison. The creamy peppercorn I use to make my version of ranch dressing in the winter, when my herb garden is defunct. The Sicilian is great with any wine vinegar/olive oil for a light Italian style dressing. I love that you can buy their seasonings in the small jar to try something new. Then if you like it, you can 'graduate' to larger jars for seasoning you find yourself using a lot!

I've received gift packages of their spices and was so charmed that I've sent them as gifts. They arrived nestled in celsior (is that right?), bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, whole nutmeg. Lovely presentation! Not to mention that the gift packaging was worth its cost!

Cool, now I'm even more interested in ordering a couple of the gift boxes as a way to try them out.

Thanks, Claire!

 

[GB]

I bought jars and then buy bags of spices. I keep the bags in my downstairs freezer and fill the jars as needed.

 

[PrincessFiona60]

I bought jars and then buy bags of spices. I keep the bags in my downstairs freezer and fill the jars as needed.

I am considering all my storage options. Wish I had a downstairs, but I'm already living in the dowstairs.

I built a 3 jar deep spice shelf on the inside of the utility closet in the kitchen. (no heat source, just a broom closet) It's 7 shelves about 4 jars wide. Plenty of space for jars, at least. Freezer space is problematic, I should have taken more of the buckwheat flour to my Dad. I have about 20 pounds of it in the freezer!

 

[bakechef]

Thank You, BakeChef!

Is it called Pork Chop Seasoning? and Is the smoked season salt the same as the 'Four S' or something else?

Yup, just called Pork Chop Seasoning. And yes it is the Four S smoked seasoned salt.

 

[bakechef]

Their base is the only item I have tried there that I have found better elsewhere. I use Minors bases. They are loaded with salt though.

I use Minor's as well. I can get a good size tub at BJ's for about the same price as a small jar of Better than Bouillon, I think that the Minor's has a better flavor too. I don't add salt to the recipe until the end, because the Minor's is quite salty.

 

[PrincessFiona60]

Yup, just called Pork Chop Seasoning. And yes it is the Four S smoked seasoned salt.

Thank you! Hadn't seen the Pork Chop Seasoning, yet, still in the 'C's' in the catalog...yes, I'm reading the whole thing from start to finish

I read the phonebook, too! Drives Shrek nuts! My favorite pastime!

 

[PrincessFiona60]

I use Minor's as well. I can get a good size tub at BJ's for about the same price as a small jar of Better than Bouillon, I think that the Minor's has a better flavor too. I don't add salt to the recipe until the end, because the Minor's is quite salty.

I haven't heard of or seen Minors, could it be regional?

 

[bakechef]

I haven't heard of or seen Minors, could it be regional?

I believe that it is made by Nestle. I have only found it in club stores. I usually pay around $6 for a 1 lb. tub

Minor's All Natural Chicken Base: Amazon.com: Grocery & Gourmet Food

 

[PrincessFiona60]

I believe that it is made by Nestle. I have only found it in club stores.

Minor's All Natural Chicken Base: Amazon.com: Grocery & Gourmet Food

Thanks for the visual!

I'll look more carefully at Costco, seems I only found the larger jars of Better Than Bullion...that don't fit in my fridge!

 

[PrincessFiona60]

Looks like Amazon has the Low sodium versions of Minors Chicken and vegetable bases. Price looks reasonable!