What Are Your Favorite Salt-Free Seasonings?
Adding a few salt-free blends to your shopping cart is a great way to add some variety to your spice rack! We have 3 favorites to share.
Updated: 3/21/22
Are you finding it difficult to cut down on your sodium consumption without compromising on flavor? These salt-free blends are great for eggs, homemade dressings or sprinkled on your favorite grilled veggies and proteins. We have 3 favorite blends that come to mind! Trader Joe's 21 Seasoning Salute is an all-purpose salt-free seasoning. This blend is light on the wallet but big on the taste! If there is a Trader Joe's near you, it'll be easy to keep one in your pantry and one at work.
Penzey’s Spices also offers many salt-free seasonings and blends. 2 of our Penzey's favorites? Mural of Flavor and 33rd & Galena. Penzey's offers a wide variety ranging from Adobo Seasoning, Chinese Five Spice, Garam Masala, Bangkok Blend and many more that will allow you to add loads of flavor without increasing your daily sodium intake.
Take advantage of their free shipping offers with minimum qualifying purchase or visit a store near you. Link to shop at Penzey's Spices: https://www.penzeys.com/shop/spices/
Of course, you can always search our recipe page and type in “spices” for some ideas also!
5 Easy Perennial Vegetables & Herbs to Grow
Most of our favorite vegetables such as peppers or tomatoes (technically fruits!) – are annuals. They complete their life cycles in a single growing season so we have to plant them year after year. Don’t have a green thumb? That’s ok. These 5 veggies and herbs are easy to grow!
Most of our favorite vegetables such as peppers or tomatoes (technically fruits!) – are annuals. They complete their life cycles in a single growing season so we have to plant them year after year. While there aren’t many true perennial vegetables, there are some that behave that way and can return each year.
Asparagus. Once planted, a good asparagus bed can last for decades, with weeds being their only real enemy. Keep your bed weed-free by adding a layer of compost on top each year. Asparagus “crowns” can take about three years to fully mature so be patient, as they are well worth the wait for a bountiful spring harvest.
Chives. The slender leaves can grow up to a foot long and are very popular throughout the world. They are easy to grow and can form clumps fairly rapidly.
Garlic. Break the head of garlic apart into individual cloves and plant them in a sunny, well drained bed with the root side down. The soil should cover them so that the cloves barely stick up above the ground. When it’s time to harvest, leave some of the smaller plants to die – they will come up again the following year and will provide a new crop.
Peppers. Although they are planted as annuals, pepper plants can be brought inside and cared for over the winter, and returned to the garden in the spring.
Wild Leeks. Relative of the onion, Wild Leeks are also known as “Ramps”. These plants are tender early in the spring and produce edible bulbs in the fall, winter and spring.
Is Popcorn Healthy?
When prepared the right way, popcorn can serve as a healthy snack! The healthiest way to prepare popcorn is by "air-popping". Try these 3 popular Popcorn Seasoning Recipes!
Updated: 8/23/19
Is Popcorn Healthy? When prepared the right way, popcorn can serve as a healthy snack! The healthiest way to prepare popcorn is by "air-popping".
To air pop your popcorn, use an air pop popcorn maker, or simply use the microwave! To use a microwave to air pop, spray the inside of a brown paper lunch bag generously with unflavored cooking spray, add the serving of plain kernels into the brown bag, fold over the top of the bag twice to seal it closed, and microwave for about 2 minutes, or until the popping slows to a few seconds between pops. (Cook time will vary based on microwave.)
Bagged microwave popcorn may be quick and easy, but it has its drawbacks! These types of popcorn typically contain added salt and fat, even when choosing light or low-fat varieties. The delicious flavor of salt and butter can be achieved by adding seasonings and other ingredients to your popcorn. The MWLC Recipes page has tons of popcorn seasoning recipes!
Always add your flavored mixes while the popcorn is hot, as it will hold the seasonings better. Mix all ingredients together then gently sprinkle the mix a little at a time over the hot popcorn.
Use unflavored cooking spray as needed so the flavoring sticks to the popcorn. You can also use a plastic bowl with a lid and shake the popcorn with the added seasonings so it is evenly distributed.
Try these delicious Popcorn Seasoning Recipes!
S’mores Popcorn
Ingredients:
1 MWLC Marshmallow Brownie Bar
1 packet Stevia Brown Sugar
1 Tbsp. Pumpkin Spice
1-2 oz. Boiling Water
Vinegar Powder, to taste
Preparation:
Air pop popcorn kernels. Stir the pumpkin spice and stevia brown sugar together and gradually mix into the popcorn. Next, take Marshmallow Brownie Bar and chunk one half into very small pieces. Place the chunks of the bar in the air-popped popcorn. Microwave the other half of the bar in a glass dish with 1-2 oz. of water for about 1 minute until it turns into a liquid, stirring along the way. Once the bar is runny, drizzle it over top of the popcorn while it is still hot. Last, sprinkle vinegar powder to taste, and enjoy!
Spice Cake Popcorn
Ingredients:
1 Tbsp. Stevia
1/4 tsp. Cinnamon
1/4 tsp. Ginger, ground
1/4 tsp. Allspice
1/4 tsp. Nutmeg
1/4 tsp. Ground Cloves
Preparation:
Mix all ingredients together, then gently sprinkle the mix a little at a time over the hot popcorn.
Smoked BBQ Popcorn
Ingredients:
1/4 tsp. Garlic Powder
1/4 tsp. Onion Powder
1/4 tsp. Smoked Paprika
Preparation:
Mix all ingredients together, then gently sprinkle the mix a little at a time over the hot popcorn.
Visit the MWLC Recipes page for more popcorn seasoning and snack recipes!