My coworker's $5 spice blend saved my chili

My buddy Dave from work told me to skip the fancy chili packets and just mix cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and a pinch of cinnamon from the bulk bins at WinCo. I tried it last week for a pot of beans and ground turkey and it came out way better than the $2 packets I usually grab. Anyone else get a game changing tip from a friend that costs next to nothing?

2 comments

2 Comments

sarah22920d ago

Is it bad that I thought "premium spice blend" meant mixing cumin with the fancy garlic powder instead of the store brand? @holly_green82, your grandma toasting her own cumin seeds puts my lazy self to shame.

holly_green8220d ago

That "pinch of cinnamon" part is what really got me. My grandma always put a little cinnamon in her chili and I never understood why until I tried leaving it out one time. Everything tasted flat and boring without it. She also taught me to toast the cumin seeds in a dry pan before grinding them up. It takes an extra 2 minutes but the smell alone will make your whole kitchen smell like a restaurant. Dave is right about those packets too, they're mostly cornstarch and salt anyway. Once you start mixing your own spices you never go back.