Hey sweet loves! It seems like ages since I’ve posted. It has been. Quarantining life for me has been fun. But it can always be more, right? Let’s not waste any more time and get right down to it. I’m gonna share some spice making wisdom and 5 reasons to spice it up!
What seems now like 100 years ago when hubs and I traveled to Missouri in our early 30’s. While there, we went shopping and I fell into this wonderful little spice shop and I so wish I remembered the name. But walking into that shop, you could smell the wonderful blend of fresh spices just floating in the air. It was incredible! It was also my first time in an actual spice shop.
I was a goner. I was thankful that this spice shop was nowhere near me because I would literally walk in there at least once a week, even if I didn’t need anything at all. Just for the smells and the feels. I came home with powdered cilantro, which I didn’t even know was a thing. Fennel and 5 spice. I bought the 5 spice only because of the smell of the combination of spices. I didn’t know what it was for but I couldn’t walk out of there without it.
Over time, I would scower recipes just to find ones using 5 spice.
Not realizing until later on, wise Belle would do some research and find that 5 spice is not just the name but literally has five spices in the blend!
Fennel, anise, cloves, cinnamon, peppercorns
That is what’s up! 5 spice is made up of these five wonderful spices to make the most amazingly fragrant and tasty combo in any dish but especially… any Chinese dish!
After using up that purchased jar of 5 spice in that wonderful shop… I decided to search and figure a way to make my own. Cause how hard could it be?
It wasn’t difficult.
I make it every few years when I’m running low or I just want to smell that wonderful combination being blended together or I’ve gone through a craving of cooking lots of Chinese (like recently)!
It’s a matter of blending and crushing all 5 spices in a food processor and storing in an airtight container. That is it.
Your kitchen will smell amazing and when you cook with it–it will smell even more amazing!
Chinese 5 spice
- CINNAMON: 1/2 stick
- ANISE: 4 whole stars
- FENNEL: 1/2 teaspoon
- PEPPERCORNS: 1/4 teaspoon
- CLOVES: 5 whole
Blend:
- Using an electric spice grinder or food processor, combine them all together and grind until finely ground.
- Store in airtight container & label.
Trying it in your favorite egg roll in a bowl dish, egg rolls, or beef or chicken and broccoli and much more!
So tasty, so easy!
*I might even share my favorite egg roll in a bowl recipe!
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