Holiday gift giving can be impersonal and impractical, not to mention a real stress-inducing activity during this already-hectic time of year. Deciding what to get everyone on my list has been a little extra overwhelming for me this year.
In an effort to get back to the real reason we give gifts at the holidays, I’m trying to make way for some hand-crafted and homemade goodies and gifts this year.
This Taco & Fajita Spice Blend is a great way to present your friends and loved ones with a handmade gift that’s not only thoughtful, but also affordable and useful. I bought spices in bulk from that big, online retailer that has a signature smiling arrow in the logo. All together, the spices cost me less than $40. That’s enough to easily make 15 to 20 gift-size jars of this magical blend.
I like to use this spice mixture for oven-roasted shrimp, fajita platters and tossed in to spice up my breakfast potatoes. It works well to dust atop eggs, as well as stirred into whatever you’re using to make Taco Tuesday a bit more magical.
Depending on the batch size you want to make, just choose a measuring device that’s consistent. If you want to make a smaller batch, use a tablespoon. Larger batches might call for a larger measuring cup.
(Note: I used a 1/2 cup measuring cup for my latest gift batch, and it made 8 of the pictured gift jars with plenty of leftover spices to at least create another 8 jars full.)
Ingredients
- 6 parts chili powder
- 4 parts ground cumin
- 2 parts sea salt
- 1 part garlic powder
- 1 part paprika
- 1 1/2 parts dried oregano
- 1/2 part ground black pepper
- 1/2 part onion powder
Instructions
Determine what size of measuring device (perhaps a tablespoon or a 1/2 cup measuring cup), and add all spices to a large bowl.
Mix well with a wooden spoon or metal whisk.
Individually portion in small jars or decorative tins. Dress them up with ribbon and gift tags. Optionally, you can add the ingredient list or some recipe recommendations for the spice blend.