Spice blends

Yeah, you can make your own, but there are companies and pros out there who do nothing but develop incredible spice-forward rubs and mixes to create different and unique flavor blends. The benefit of using these prepared products is consistency. If the flavor blows you away, you know it will be the same every time you use it.

I made a special spice drawer to keep jars of my favorites organized and close at hand. Using prepared spice mixes and rubs makes life a lot easier. Even so, I’ve included generic substitutions in recipes where the flavors don’t absolutely hinge on a particular product. I’d still urge you to try the products I mention because they bring something special to the party. It’s also a good idea to always be on the hunt for new products that will take your flavors in unique directions.