Santa Fe Spice Rub
This is great to use when mixing hamburgers, meat loaf and meatballs. Use about 2 teaspoons of rub per pound of ground meat.

2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon celery salt
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic salt
1 1/2 teaspoons dried leaf oregano, crumbled

Mix all the ingredients in small bowl. Place in jar with tight-fitting lid. Store in cool, dark, dry place for up to 1 year.

Sazon Preparado (Prepared Seasoning)

3 medium onions, chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
4 large garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
1 tablespoon oregano
1 cup scallions, chopped, both green and white parts
1/2 cup parsley, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup coriander, chopped
1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
1 tablespoon sweet paprika
1 cup tomato paste
1 cup olive oil
1/2 cup white vinegar
Salt, to taste

Combine all ingredients and blend, bit by bit, to a purée in blender. Pour into saucepan and simmer, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes.

Cool and bottle. Used to flavor stews, beans, rice and vegetables. Easy to make and useful to have on hand.

Yield: 6 cups

Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix

1 tablespoon instant, minced onion
1 teaspoon green pepper flakes
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon instant, minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon celery seed
1/4 teaspoon chili powder

Combine all ingredients until evenly distributed. Makes one package.

To make Sloppy Joes, brown 1 pound ground beef in a skillet over medium heat. Drain excess grease. Add 1 package Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix, 1/2 cup water and 1 cup tomato sauce. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Serve over toasted hamburger buns.

Southwest Seasoning

1/3 C. chile powder
2 T. dried cilantro leaves
2 T. cumin
2 T. Mexican oregano leaves
2 T. dried sweet basil leaves
1 T. garlic powder
1 T. dried thyme leaves

Combine all in a medium bowl. Store in an airtight jar for up to 4 months. Makes 1 cup seasoning.

Spaghetti Seasoning Mix

1 tablespoon instant minced onion
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1 tablespoon parsley flakes
2 teaspoons green pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon instant minced garlic
3/4 teaspoon Italian Seasoning

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and blend well. Spoon mixture into a square of aluminum foil and fold to make airtight. Label package as Spaghetti Seasoning mix. Store in a cool, dry place and use within 6 months. Makes 1 package (about 1/3 cup) of mix.

Spaghetti Sauce
Brown 1 pound lean ground beef in a medium skillet over medium- high heat. Drain excess grease. Add 2 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce, 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste, 2 3/4 cups tomato juice or water and the seasoning mix. Reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Stuffing Seasoning

1/2 cup celery flakes
1/2 cup parsley flakes
1/2 cup leaf sage
1/4 cup marjoram
1/4 cup savory
1/4 cup thyme

Mix and pack in a container with a tight-fitting lid.

To use, mix 2 to 3 tablespoons Stuffing Seasoning with 2 quarts day-old bread crumbs, 1 beaten egg, salt and pepper, 1 small onion, chopped and browned in 1/4 cup butter. Add enough water or milk to moisten.

Szechwan Peppercorn Salt

1/4 cup Szechwan peppercorns
1/2 cup coarse or Kosher salt

Combine ingredients in a skillet and toast over moderate heat until salt turns off white. Grind in a spice grinder or food processor.

Taco Bell Meat Seasoning

MIXTURE 1:
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon cilantro leaves, whole
1 teaspoon instant tea powder
1/2 teaspoon dry minced parsley
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon onion salt
1/4 teaspoon onion salt

MIXTURE 2:
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon seasoned salt

Combine Mixture 1 ingredients and sift together 3 times. Funnel into bottle with tight fitting cap. Keep out of direct sunlight and use within 6 months, or refrigerate to use in one year. Makes 3 T of seasoning.

For taco seasoning: use 2 T of Mixture 2 ingredients *mixed together* added to the 3 T of above seasoning Mixture 1 for 1-1 1/2 pounds ground beef.

Taco Seasoning Mix

2 teaspoons instant minced onion
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon instant minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon crushed, dried red pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried, minced onion

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl until evenly distributed. Spoon mixture onto a 6-inch square of aluminum foil and fold to make airtight or store in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Label. Store in a cool, dry place. Use within 6 months. Makes 1 package (about 2 tablespoons).

To make taco filling, brown 1 pound ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat. Drain excess grease. Add 1/2 cup water and 1 package Taco Seasoning Mix. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Makes filling for 8 to 10 tacos.

Taco Seasoning Mix in a Jar

3/4 C. dried minced onion

1/4 C. salt

1/4 C. chili powder

1 T. dried oregano

2 T. cornstarch

2 T. crushed dried peppers

2 T. dried minced garlic

2 T. ground cumin

Mix ingredients together to blend. Store in a pint jar.

Yield: almost 2 cups

Vanilla Extract

1/2 cup brandy
1/4 cup water
3 or 4 vanilla beans

Chop vanilla beans into small pieces. Do not lose any of the little black seeds. Drop the pieces into a clean jar and cover with brandy and water. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and keep in a dark place, shaking every other day.

Vanilla Extract will be ready in about 2 weeks. Add a tiny bit more brandy if the beans still seem potent. The mixture can be added to indefinitely. Use just as you would regular vanilla extract.

Store it anywhere, and it will keep for up to one year.

Vanilla Powder

1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1 vanilla bean

For an intense flavor, grind the bean and blend with the sugar in a small coffee grinder.

The flavor increases with time, and will exude into foods when baked.

The bean can be used for other purposes as well.

Vanilla Sugar

2 cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Blend sugar and extract in bowl. Spread on wax paper-lined tray to dry. Let stand for about 4 hours.

Place in plastic bag. Seal. Use a rolling pin to crush. Store in an airtight container.

Other flavoring choices
Almond
Mint
Lemon

NOTE: To make vanilla sugar using a vanilla bean, store 1 or more vanilla beans in a tightly closed jar of granulated sugar for a few weeks.

Vanilla sugar keeps indefinitely. You can simply add more sugar to the jar as necessary.

Yucatan Chili Spice Mixture

1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 square bitter chocolate
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
Salt
Pepper

These measurements are for a pot of chili using 1 pound of meat and serving 4 to 6 people.

Multiply them accordingly if you are increasing the volume of the recipe.