Trail Cooking

A tiny pack of spices and herbs that you can customize to what you want and like, having the ability to rotate flavors in and out? Ability to have a set for Italian? Thai? Mexi? Low sodium flavors? Have it affordable and easy even for those with DIY skills to make? Sure!

DIY Spice Kits:

#1 Spice Shop/Bulk Bins:
The bulk spice & herb section. Check for this in gourmet grocery stores and health food/co-op stores. Cities often have spice shops as well.

Most of the cost of spices in stores is marketing and packaging. You are paying a horrid cost for the small jars. Better to buy just what you need out of the bulk bins! The cost difference is quite shocking: a $6 bottle can be 50 cents in the bulk section and often is much fresher. Frontier Co-op is the company that provides the bulk setup for many stores. (They are the mother company of my favorite brand Simply Organic).

Take a long look at all the options in front of you and think about what you like and would love to try. At spice shops you may need to buy a minimum of 1 ounce of each type, bulk bins are usually whatever you want. On average though all you need to acquire is a couple tablespoons of each flavor (often 1 heaping spice scoop). Even if you decide to go to town and buy 20 or more types you can often come out for only a couple dollars if you buy out of bulk bins.

Bag up and head over to the....

#2 Craft/fabric store:
You will need to head back to the bead section of the store. Look for packs of tiny zip top plastic bags. They come in a couple sizes, you will want the smallest size. You will also need either the larger craft bags - 5"x3" - or snack size zip bags from the plastic bag section in your grocery store. Either will work fine. The snack bags do work a bit better as the open wider for easier access.

#3 Make your spice kit:
At home line your space with paper towels. Spices love to make messes! Take your tiny craft bags and fill them up carefully with the spices & herbs. Tap down the contents and seal carefully, pushing out any air. Make sure to not get any in the zipper closure. Label the bags with either stickers or just use a black permanent marker to write on the bags.

Put the bags inside the larger bag, You can mark this bag as well if you are carrying spice blends by type. This makes it easy to grab your Thai kit or for myself, a "pep it up" kit that is all low sodium.

#4 Kit blend ideas:
Need some suggestions on what to carry?

Italian:
Garlic, oregano, parsley, black pepper.

Thai:
5 Spice, crushed red chili flakes, garlic, dried shallots, coriander seeds, cut lemon grass,yellow mustard seeds, whole cloves, white sesame seeds, cayenne pepper, black mustard seeds, ground ginger and black sesame seeds.

Indian:
Crushed cumin, turmeric, madras curry powder (medium hot), cardamom pods, garam masala (a blend of spices), fenugreek, star anise, yellow mustard seeds, crushed chilis and coriander seeds

Low Sodium Pep-It-Up:
Any Mrs. Dash flavor, cracked black pepper, garlic, chives, low sodium bullion

All American Diet:
Cracked black pepper, kosher salt, mini bottle of Tabasco sauce.