Magical Mystery Spice Mix
For Christmas this year, I’m giving the foodies in my family hand-mixed batches of Jan’s Magical Mystery Spice Mix (a.k.a. Peggy’s Spice Rub, from The New Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone by Deborah Madison). It’s fabulous on winter squash, roast carrots, sweet potato fries, grilled eggplant and even avocados. Also just the thing to add a “mystery finish” to soups that seem to need a little something extra. (Also excellent, I’m told, as a dry rub for pork…if you’re into that sort of thing.)
1 tsp. black peppercorns
2 tsp. sea salt
3 Tbs. coriander seeds
5 whole star anise
1 Tbs. fennel seeds
1 Tbs. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. cayenne
1 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 Tbs. five-spice powder
3 Tbs. organic brown or coconut sugar
Crush the peppercorns in a motar and pestle, add the salt and whole spices, then grind until everything is broken up and well blended. (A little texture is good.) Add the remaining ingredients and mix.
Yum!
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(illustration by Kate Pocrass, from En Route Notecards, published by Chronicle Books)