Christmas Roasted Almonds

We found this recipe here, but modified it a bit to include smoked cinnamon. This gives the almonds a great smoky roasted flavor and they are sure to be a hit at any holiday party.

Ingredients

1 egg white

1 teaspoon cold water

4 cups whole almonds

1/2 cup white sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon smoked cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Lightly grease a 10x15 inch jellyroll pan.
2. Lightly beat the egg white; add water, and beat until frothy but not stiff. Add the nuts, and stir until well coated. Mix the sugar, salt, and cinnamon, and sprinkle over the nuts. Toss to coat, and spread evenly on the prepared pan.
3. Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, stirring occasionally, until golden. Allow to cool, then store nuts in airtight containers.

Infused Olive Oil Recipe

Herb and spice infused olive oil is great for both cooking and using as a salad topper, but did you know you can also make your own at home?

It's quick and simple and will save you money over using a store bought brand.

Simply get a bottle of your favorite olive oil, an herb and spice blend of your choice and bottle for storing the finished product. We recommend using a sealable glass bottle with a spout for easy pouring.

Take your herb and spice blend and add about four tablespoons to the bottom of the bottle. Fill the remainder of the way with olive oil and seal tightly. Let rest for about a week so the flavors marinate and then use and enjoy!

A great twist on infused olive oil would be to add smoked garlic or pepper. They can be found at http://www.smokehousespices.com/.

As the weather cools down, warm up with some chili.

This month, Cooking Light is showcasing their 15 favorite chili recipes. There is nothing better than a hot bowl of chili on a cold night so we are looking forward to trying some (or all!) of these recipes. However, we noticed one glaring problem right off the bat. None of them used smoked chili powder! Even their recipe for "Smoky Slow Cooker Chili" does not actually include any smoked spices. We plan on substituting smoked chili for regular chili powder in these recipes for a richer, heartier flavor. Whether you are a vegetarian or a chorizo fan there is a recipe for everyone here, so get cooking!

As always, our smoked spices can be found at http://www.smokehousespices.com/. Chili and cinnamon would both make great additions to your pantry at this time of year.

Marinade Madness

One of the easiest ways to spice up your favorite cut of meat is with a delicious marinade. Contrary to popular belief, longer is not always better when it comes to marinating times. Meat should not be left in a marinade overnight and most cuts should marinate for eight hours at the most. Seafood should only marinate for 15-30 minutes, as it will actually begin to cook after a half hour.

Here are some of our favorite marinades for beef, pork, chicken and fish.

Beef Teriyaki

2 tbs. vegetable oil
2 tbs. sugar
1 tbs. soy sauce
1/2 cup beef stock
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tsp. ground ginger

BBQ Pork

1 cup tomato sauce
1 small onion, chopped
3 tbs. vinegar
1 tsp. liquid smoke
1/2 tsp cumin, ground
1/4 tsp. mustard powder
1/4 cup brown sugar

Mediterranean Chicken

1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup vinegar
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. basil
1 large bay leaf, broken
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 tsp. black pepper

Savory Salmon

1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup cream sherry
1 tbs. fresh ginger, grated
2 medium cloves garlic, chopped


Happy marinating!

Love pumpkin spice lattes? Make your own at home!

It's that time of year again. The air is getting crisp, the sun is setting sooner and most importantly the taste of pumpkin spice has merged with your coffee for a delicious, seasonal pick me up. But who can spend $4 on a daily latte? Follow this simple, healthy recipe from Smokehouse Spices and you can quickly make your own at home.

Ingredients

3 cups hot vanilla soy milk

4 teaspoons white sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon smoked cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

6 ounces double-strength brewed coffee

Directions

Combine the hot soy milk, sugar, vanilla extract, and spices in a blender and blend until frothy. Pour the mixture into 3 coffee mugs to about 2/3 full. Pour coffee to fill the mug the rest of the way. Sprinkle a little smoked cinnamon on top and enjoy!

If you don't have any smoked cinnamon in your pantry, you can get it here:

http://www.smokehousespices.com/category/cinn.html

Smokehouse spices is now taking custom orders!

Ever wondered what smoked sesame seeds would taste like on your morning bagel? Or maybe you want to impart a rich smoky flavor into basil. Well Smokehouse Spices is  now accepting custom smoked spice orders, so you can try all your favorite spices with a touch of smoke. Just visit www.smokehousespices.com or contact us at support@smokehousespices.com with your custom order or any questions you may have. There is a minimum quantity since we smoke all our spices in large batches, but send us an E-mail with what you have in mind and we will be happy to help.

Spices can help improve brain function.

In case you needed another reason to enhance your food with spices, research shows that certain spices are beneficial to your health and brain activity.

You can read the entire article here.

Cinnamon is one of the stars of the spice world in this respect, not to mention it tastes great. It helps to balance sugar levels, reduces growth of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells, reduces clotting of blood platelets and it is a great source of dietary fiber, iron, and calcium.

So sprinkle some cinnamon in your coffee or bake up a pumpkin pie and know that while you are enjoying the delicious flavor of cinnamon your body is thanking you.

And of course, you can always find smoked cinnamon at Smokehouse Spices.

Participate in "Meatless Monday" using smoked spices.

By now, you have probably all heard about the new trend of having "Meatless Mondays". If you haven't, it is a movement that started in 2003 that encourages people to cut meat out of their diet every Monday. It is based on the belief that eating less meat is not only good for our health but also the health of the planet. To learn more about Meatless Monday check out their website: http://www.meatlessmonday.com/

For hardcore carnivores and BBQ lovers this might seem like a foreign concept and a very daunting challenge. However, with the use of smoked spices, you can make meals that are so delicious and hearty you will never even miss the meat. Here are a few ideas:

• Marinate portabello mushrooms in a mixture of olive oil and our smoked BBQ spice. Throw them on the grill until tender and serve on a whole wheat bun with all your favorite fixins. Mushrooms tend to have a meaty texture and make a delicious burger substitute.
• Why not make Mondays homemade pizza nights? For a shortcut, you can buy pre-made pizza dough in almost every supermarket. Top with sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil and a sprinkle of our smoked garlic. The rich smoky flavor will make this unlike any pizza you have ever tasted.
• To celebrate the upcoming arrival of fall, try pumpkin pie for dessert. You can follow any pumpkin pie recipe you are comfortable with, but use our smoked cinnamon instead of regular. A new twist on an old favorite.

What is your favorite Meatless Monday recipe? If you are new to the concept, you still have six days to prepare so get your smoked spices ready!

Let's talk about smoke.

With all the buzz about BBQ and smoked spices lately, many home chefs want to get in on the action. However, who really knows the taste difference between hickory and mesquite woods? And what foods do fruitwoods compliment? Our handy guide will tell you all you need know about the different flavors of smoked spices!

Hickory is the most common wood used in smoking. Sweet yet strong, with a bacon-like flavor. Works well with pork, ribs, ham, poultry and beef.

Creative use: Sprinkle ontop of a turkey sandwich to give it a smoky sweet kick.

Pecan wood is sweet, mild and similar to hickory, though not as strong. Our pecan smoked salt works well with poultry, beef and pork but is best on turkey.

Creative use: Sprinkle a small amount ontop of freshly baked brownies.

Maple wood is midly smokey with a somewhat sweet flavor. Our maple smoked sea salt enhances the flavor of poultry and game birds and is also great on vegetables.

Creative use: Sprinkle over yams then bake for a delicious sweet and savory side dish.

Apple has the strongest flavor of all the fruitwoods. Our apple smoked sea salt is lightly sweet with a dense, fruity smoke flavor.

Creative use: Crust your porkchops with apple smoked sea salt and top with an apple chutney.

Cherry wood is mild with a slightly sweet and fruity flavor. Our cherry smoked sea salt is delicious on poultry but works well with all meats.

Creative use: Rim your glasses with cherry smoked sea salt to perfectly compliment dark rum cocktails.

Mesquite wood has a strong earthy flavor, but it is sweeter and more delicate than hickory. Our mesquite smoked sea salt compliments richly flavored meats such as steak, duck or lamb.

Creative use: Add to homemade baked beans to give them that great woodsmoked taste.

Reader question: What dish would you add cherrywood smoked sea salt to?

Barbecue Tips for Labor Day Weekend

With Labor Day weekend beginning in about 24 hours (but who's counting?) here are some great barbecue tips, tricks and secrets. So open a cold beer, fire up the grill and enjoy the last long weekend of summer.

-Grill your homemade pizza on the BBQ instead of baking it in the oven. This gives it a great smoky flavor along with a crispy crust and offers a departure from typical cookout fare.

-In addition to your meat, throw corn on the cob on the grill. You can also add sliced zucchini, eggplant and peppers that you have marinated in olive oil and, of course, spices. A complete delicious meal can be ready without ever having to turn on your stove or oven.

-Don't overhandle meat that is cooking. Once it is on the grill you should really only flip it once or twice. Any more often and you don't get that great BBQ crust. Also, don't make the mistake of pressing your hamburgers down with a spatula. This forces the juice out of them and causes meat to dry out.

-A great marinade or rub can really make the meal. We recommend coating chicken in Smoked Salt and grilling for a great crunchy crust. And of course there is always Smoked BBQ Spice, which is exactly what it sounds like.

-Most importantly, have fun and be safe!

Spices can make high fat meals heathier.

We hope all our readers on the east coast made it through Hurricane Irene safely and things are returning to normal. If you still don't have power and are trying to cook all your food before it goes bad, remember to add spice! Not only will your tastebuds thank you, but your doctor will too.

Researchers from Pennsylvania State University have found that adding spices to high fat meals can actually make them healthier. By just adding common spices like rosemary, oregano, cinnamon, turmeric, black pepper, cloves and garlic power to high fat meals, antioxidant activity increased in the bloodstream of the people consuming the food. The spices also helped to reduce triglyceride levels by up to 30%.

The entire article can be viewed here: NY Daily News.

Who knew? Not only do spices enhance the flavor of your meals but now they also may be beneficial to your health. So next time you are ready to enjoy a meal that is higher in fat then your arteries may appreciate, spice it up!

Calling all chefs and avocado lovers.

Avocados are truly one of natures perfect foods. Healthy, delicious and versatile...what more could you want? From tried and true guacamole to avocado brownies (yes, that's really a thing!), avocados can be used in dishes spanning many ethnicities and styles. Our favorite way to eat them is to cut an avocado in half, remove the pit, sprinkle each side with smoked sea salt and enjoy.

This month, our friends at the California Avocado Commission are featuring a contest that is open to chefs in the United States that are over 18 years old. You have until September 30, so start thinking about a delicious, unique recipe showcasing the avocado and enter it here.  Also be sure you are camera ready since they require a video submission as well. Even if you don't win, your video will be showcased on You Tube. And if you are the winner you will be $2,500 richer. Not too shabby.

As I mentioned earlier, our smoked sea salts are the perfect compliment to the cool, creamy taste of avocado. Go with a hickory salt for heartier BBQ recipes or one of our fruit smoked salts for the perfect mix of sweet and savory. Check them all out here.

Good luck to all the chefs that enter!

Our website is live!

I am pleased to announce that the website of  Smokehouse Spices is now up and running! It can be found at www.smokehousespices.com, conveniently enough. We are selling high quality spices which have been hand smoked with various woods to impart a rich smoky flavor. Smoked spices are a perfect compliment to many dishes and give you that right off the grill taste. Additionally, you can use our smoked spices on meats or veggies that you are planning on barbequing for a double dose of flavor. Stay tuned for tons of ideas and information about food and spice and everything nice.