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.