Penzeys Spices

A plethora of seasonings at Penzeys Spices.

Today's purchases consisted of:

Italian Herb Mix - normal and cheaper than the grocery store
Cinnamon Sugar - delicious with a hint of vanilla bean
Sesame White Mexican Seeds - should be kept refrigerated so they do not go rancid
Italian Dressing Mix - now I can control the oil
Italian Sausage Seasoning - smells great, can't wait to try it
Lemon Peel Powdered - For lemon bars and cheesecake, keep refrigerated

All for less than $20. For those in Grand Rapids, Penzeys will be moving to Alpine in October 2008.

Here's a recipe I can't wait to try:

BLT Ranch Dip

1 Tbs BUTTERMILK RANCH DRESSING BASE
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 Tbs water
1 C sour cream
1/2 C Mayonnaise
1 lb bacon, fried and crumbled (I'm going to try Tastefully Simple Bacon Bacon)
2 C chopped tomatoes

Put the base, black pepper and water in a bowl and let sit for 5 min. Whisk in sour cream and mayo until well blended. Fry the bacon, let it drain and crumble into 1/2 inch piece. Cut the tomato into wedges, seed them and chop them. Fold the bacon and tomatoes into the dip. Refrigerate until serving tie. If you use low fat sour cream and mayo, serve within a few hours as the dip will get watery overnight. If you use regular mayo and sour cream, it is even better the next day! Stir before serving. Serve on a bit of lettuce with your favorite crackers.

Prep time: 10 minutes
Serves: 6 - 8