My mom never cooked with many spices, which I actually think is pretty common among a lot of American cooks. It’s hard to experiment on a weeknight when you’re just trying to get dinner on the table. Plus, a lot of classic “American” dishes (burgers and fries, meatloaf, etc) don’t require many herbs and spices to taste good. This blend is a great, all-purpose seasoning that you can use as a cheat of sorts to add a bit of flavor to just about anything. Plus, if you’re trying to get healthy, it’s a great salt substitute!

My mom used to put a version of this blend on everything from popcorn to cottage cheese. I finally asked for the recipe about a year ago. It was one she’d gotten from Woo-Woo who in turn had gotten it from someone else. And, of course I changed it because we like things with a little more kick and earthiness.

All-Purpose Seasoning:

4 parts onion powder
2 parts paprika
2 parts garlic powder
3 parts cayenne
1 part turmeric

I mix with teaspoons and keep it in a big shaker on our spice rack.

Try it on:

eggs
popcorn
potatoes
roasted vegetables
meat (Make a marinade for steak or beef with a little citrus, a little olive oil, and a pinch of salt.)