This is the EASIEST and BEST gift you will ever want to give or receive, and I’m not just saying it because I made them. In fact, all the thanks goes to my second cousin Lauren, who lives out in California and is a phenomenal chef. Additionally, her blog puts mine to shame…for a REALLY serious food orgy, check out http://www.groovefood.typepad.com and be dazzled. Anyway, I digress. Let’s just say that we Mitchell’s are a food obsessed bunch. Her recipe for sugar spiced salmon that she modified from some trendy restaurant where she worked is the easiest way in the world to make tasty food, even if you aren’t a cook. Just coat this stuff on virtually anything and it tastes good, although I haven’t tried it on shoe leather or road kill, I KNOW it would improve the flavor dramatically 🙂
What I do is to make up a BUNCH of the sugar spice mix, put them in some Ball jars, tie it with some festive ribbon and instructions and you’re done. Period. No cooking, slaving, or gnashing of teeth, AND you’ve made a wonderful, inexpensive homemade gift for cooks and non-cooks alike (the non-cooks will REALLY love you for it!).
What could be simpler, and more heart felt than something homemade anyway?
Here is the recipe:
1/4 c. sugar, 1/4 c. chili powder, 1 T. sweet paprika, 1 T. ground cumin, 2 tsp. cocoa powder, 1 tsp. ground mustard, 2 tsp. ground pepper, 1 T. kosher salt
The above is more than enough for several meals. I quadruple the recipe and it makes about 2 1/2 pint jars. You could put them in smaller jars and it would be just as nice.
Let me know what you think, and if you have easy homemade gifts to share…
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How did I miss this?? I love this post, Anne! Thank you for the Groove Food shout out and I am so happy to know the sugar spice lives on. We Mitchells are a seriously food-obsessed bunch, aren’t we? Case in point: my dad made homemade christmas morning donuts. I am so enjoying your blog 🙂
Thanks so much Lauren! I love, love, love yours too. In fact, the other night I made the cilantro chicken, which I grill, and its always a favorite. Keep the amazing recipes coming! I wish we lived closer. Yay for homemade donuts…its on my to-do list.