Ash Wednesday! Insufficient Saffron Funds: My top 10 spices when I am making dinner

I don't have the funds for saffron, even though it's under 6 dollars at Trader Joes. It's not that I can't afford it. I tell people I literally have no idea what to put Saffron in aside from maybe a gumbo recipe, but then I have to deal with their whole store and I really just don't have time for that shit. I am hungry, there is no time to read about how you acquired this recipe through your ex husbands, cousins, and finance. But I’ll get to that more one day, Okay Ash enough get to the main course:  Here Are my current top 10 spiciest spices when I am making dinner these days: 


Everything But The Bagel Seasoning: I put this fucking shit on everything. Bagels, cucumbers, pasta, they even make this stuff in a nut mix, the cashews are my fav. 

Truffle Powder Seasoning: It's truffles,very 2016, sushi burrito, trendy shroom, I know I still think it is 2010 sometimes.  But hello Truffle fries? Um YES! I love that shit on fries, it's also amazing in this 5 mushroom soup I just made. 

Furikake: Japanese Multi Purpose Seasoning: Kelp! I forgot what was in here, I think it's mostly chopped up seaweed and assorted sesame seeds. I love making rice, and this stuff is the tits on some steamed rice, a little tofu, some miso soup. And BAM Japanese breakfast! It's one of my favorite things to make on the weekends. 

Smoked Ghost Pepper Chilis: This is HAWT! A little crank goes a long way! I love anything spicy, I used to make hot sauce, and ghost pepper pickles. I asked the guy at the store what their hottest pepper they had in the store, normally I would go for a Carolina Reaper, but I could get down with some haunted pepps. 

Roasted Vegetable and Potatoes Blend Seasoning: I am not sure what's in this stuff but I put in on breakfast hash browns and my brain near lobotomized itself. A random spice encounter, but delicious nonetheless. I am going to use these babies in a stir fry this upcoming week.  

BBQ Coffee and Garlic Rub: Originally to make animals tasty, but I actually find these pairs really well with tofu stir fry, and roasted veggies. It's pretty heavy on the coffee flavor. Ash Like. But if you’re sharing it with other people make sure they have some of the more garlic parts. This was really good on a roasted eggplant pizza I made this summer. 

Basil: it's boring but your girl loves her pesto and gnocchi. So Basil it is, I will usually pick up plants during the summer and make an air garden, last year I had plans to start one but you know you have to get past all the planning. I love fresh tomatoes tho! They’re also amazing with a little pesto and cheese. 

Smoked Peprika: Are you really Russian or Eastern European if you dont fuck with the rika? I put this stuff in my dumplings, goulash, stews, paprika is one of those weird people you end up bringing to a party and they are a totally different person. Wallflower, to WATCH OUT! 

Lavender: It's not a secret that lavender is my favorite, and for some reason I bake it pretty frequently. I love it in cakes, ice creams, cookies, cheesecakes, pop tarts, literally anything I have tried to “Lava fy '' almost any baked good. I even made Lavender Mochi Pancakes last spring. IT was AMAZING!!!! >.< 

Cloves: I saved very best for last, clove has been something that I have reached for unknowingly in times of comfort. I don't bake with it so much anymore. But I actually used to smoke cloves as a kid. When I taste clove I get super nostalgic. Now it's just in my coffee, and I feel a bit more like an adult. You're still subbing out one clove thing for another but it's particularly good in gingerbread cookie dough too. 


My friends and I actually like cooking and baking alot. When we do get together, ( COVID permitting) There is always plenty of food, we all got our own things we like to make, were pretty creative, and even went on a 3 month cookie escapade where we just were making mad amounts of cookies. 

I’ll catch you next Wednesday! 

Ash Catcher.