Cookaholics Bulletin Board

There is a quick and easy seasoned noodle recipe [toss 1 TB. Bangkok Blend, 2 TB. rice vinegar, 1 /4 Cup oil and 1 TB. peanut butter with 3 Cups noodles] from Penzey's site that I make occasionally when I need a quick side, and I use it to season a more elaborate peanut-lime noodle recipe that am working on.

I use it on skin-on chicken pieces or whole chickens that I grill or grill-roast. The spice mixture needs tome fat to get the flavors to bloom a bit. Works well in combination with lime. Sub lime juice for half or all of the rice vinegar recipes.

Anyone else finding that the emails from Penzey's have gotten really odd lately? And anything you've tried lately that's a must have? Hubby will be in Madison next week and is making a run for me. I'm going to get lemon peel powder this time to add to fish/chicken breading.

Jean,

Penzey's has the best powdered turmeric I've found, and that includes Asian markets.

How did I miss this lemon peel powder? Sounds like a must-have to add to my next order.

And, yes, all of a sudden the Penzey's emails come almost daily.
Maybe they have a new marketing director.

I vastly prefer the monthly magazine/catalog. The little articles are fun.

Good to know, Fuzzy, I generally just toss it into the pile of newspapers to go out....next time I'll give it a look first.

Yes, I enjoy scanning those articles as well. Definitely an interesting slice of Americana. Although I wish they would include recipes that use their blends. I buy those and then they sit on my spice shelves while I continually go through all the basics. (The exception would be the Italian Herb blend. I use that one all the time, and in many things that aren't Italian.)

Emilie

Emilie,

What's interesting to me is how the content and subjects of the articles have changed. 5 years ago, it was exclusively "average midwestern homemakers" per stereotypical TV definition (mostly white, middle income, straight, married). Since they, they've undergone a sea change; there's immigrants from many countries, Muslims, Jews, gay couples, soldiers on assignment, striking unionists, and more. It shows that "who is an American" can be defined with a great deal more diversity today, at least as far as Penzey's marketing is concerned, which makes me feel good.

As for blends ... well, frankly, I find blends pretty useless. I'm not surprised that they have trouble sourcing recipes which use them. The only ones I get from Penzey's are garam masala, and sweet curry, because both of those are salt-free blends of more than 5 spices which I use in some recipes in very small quantities, making it not worth blending myself.

I love some of the blends and use them constantly. Foxpoint to add to fish breading or directly onto fish, Sandwich sprinkle for croutons and riceball/chicken breading, BBQ3000 for steaks and ribs, greek seasoning for souvlaki and greek salads.
Other ones (new world seasoning comes to mind) languish in my cupboard too.

thanks - order is with him and he will be stopping in the store in Madison to pick up the goods!

You know when you get a craving for that garlic bread you make with a leftover hamburger bun and some garlic salt? Don't lie, you know what I'm talking about. Sandwich Sprinkle is really good for that.