McCormick Original Chicken Seasoning Copycat Recipe

McCormick Original Chicken Seasoning was my go-to for years and a staple ingredient in many of my recipes. Sadly McCormick rebranded it as Just a Pinch Original Seasoning and then discontinued it. I have searched and searched for a copycat to fill the void to no avail. So after many many failed attempts, this is what I find to be as close as my taste buds remember. If you miss McCormicks Original Chicken Seasoning I hope this will help fill the void. 

McCormick Original Chicken Seasoning Copycat Recipe 

 Makes about 1 cup 

  INGREDIENTS 

4 Tablespoon Paprika 

2 1/2 Tablespoon Celery Salt 

2 Tablespoon Chicken Bouillion (I used Full Flavor Chicken Soup Stock Mix) 

1 Tablespoon Chicken Tomato Flavor Bouillion (I used Fiesta Brand) 

1 Tablespoon Sugar 

1/2 Tablespoon Rosemary (crushed or ground) 

3/4 Teaspoon Basil (crushed or ground) 

3/4 Teaspoon Parsley (crushed or ground) 

3/4 Teaspoon Thyme (crushed or ground) 

3/4 Teaspoon Onion Powder 

1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper 

  INSTRUCTIONS 

 1. Mix all ingredients together and store in and airtight container. 

  TIPS 

 To crush or grind the rosemary, basil, Parsley, and Thyme you can rub them between your fingers, grind them with a mortar and pestle, or use a spice grinder. I have and extra coffee grinder I use as a spice grinder.

Grandma Hiers’ Carrot Cake Recipe Courtesy of Paula Deen Based on 89 Reviews Servings: 8 servings Prep Time: 20 min Cook Time: 40 min Difficulty: Easy Ingredients Butter, for pans 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans (I subbed Pamela’s GF Baking & Pancake Mix cup for cup) 2 cups sugar 2 teaspoons baking soda (HELLO next time nix baking soda if using Pamela’s it’s already in the mix can you 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon say OVERFLOW????) 1 teaspoon salt 4 eggs 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil (I used ½ Organic Coconut Oil & ½ Canola Oil) 3 cups grated carrots 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans, optional Frosting: 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature 1 stick salted butter, room temperature 1 (16-ounce) box powdered sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 cup chopped pecans Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 3 (9-inch) round pans; Line bottom of the pans with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Add eggs and vegetable oil. Using a hand mixer, blend until combined. Add carrots and pecans, if using. Pour into pans. Bake for approximately 40 minutes. Remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes. Remove from pans, place on waxed paper and allow to cool completely before frosting. For the frosting: Add all ingredients, except nuts, into a medium bowl and beat until fluffy using a hand mixer. Stir in the nuts. Spread frosting on top of each cake layer. Stack the cakes on a serving plate and serve. Show: Paula's Best Dishes Watch Paula on Food Network ½ Recipe makes 12 cupcakes Turned out really tasty, only hitch the overflow all over the oven LOL….

Egg Roll Soup

EGG ROLL SOUP BY GIVEMESOMEOVEN.COM/EGG-ROLL-SOUP YIELD: 6-8 SERVINGS This Egg Roll Soup recipe was delish!!! I have tried several recipes from givemesomeoven and they never disappoint! Go and check out her page at givemesomeoven.com PREP TIME: 10 MINS MINS COOK TIME: 25 MINS INGREDIENTS: • 1 pound ground pork (or see other alternatives below!) (I used pre-cooked sausage links) • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 1 medium white onion, peeled and diced • 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced • 3 cloves garlic, minced • 1 small green cabbage, chopped into bite-sized pieces • 6-8 cups chicken or vegetable stock (I added Better Than Bouillon Chicken in addition to my broth) • 2 teaspoons ground ginger • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil • optional toppings: toasted sesame seeds, thinly-sliced green onions, homemade fried egg roll wrappers** (or store-bought wonton strips) DIRECTIONS: Head on over to givemesomeoven.com/egg-roll-soup

Henry Bain Sauce

This one is for all you Louisvillians who love this super tasty but often very expensive to purchase sauce. The sauce originated with the headwaiter of the famous Pendennis Club right here in Louisville. If you are not a Louisvillian and love a sweet and spicy steak sauce, this one is a must try.

Henry Bain Sauce

1 (8-ounce) bottle chutney
1 (14-ounce) bottle ketchup
1 (12-ounce) bottle chili sauce
1 (11-ounce) bottle steak sauce
1 (10-ounce) bottle Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon hot sauce

Process chutney in a blender or food processor until smooth. Add ketchup and next four ingredients and process until blended. Chill at least 2 hours.

Note: For testing purposes only Majors Grey's Chutney and A-1 Steak Sauce were used.

HINTS: This recipe makes a large batch. Purchase some nice glass or plastic containers from your local dollar store, tie a pretty ribbon around the top and give as thank you gifts for Christmas. 

Great on steak, chicken, or pork. 

Works well as a condiment or marinade.

The original recipe was published in Southern Living Magazine is January 2001.

This is my most requested dessert.  I don’t make one I make at least 2 at a time and there is always a fuss because someone ALWAYS wants more! 

BLACK-BOTTOM STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE

 1 Keebler Shortbread crust  

 8 ounces milk-chocolate pieces (Hershey Kisses, Dove pieces)

 3 tablespoons milk

12 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

½ cup confectioners’ sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla (I add more)

1 ½ pint baskets of strawberries, rinsed, dried and tops cut off

1/3 cup seedless blackberry jam

Melt the chocolate pieces and 3 tablespoons milk in a glass bowl in the microwave until melted, being careful not to get it too hot and stirring every 30-45 seconds.  Pour mixture into crust and spread to level.

Refrigerate until firm to the touch. 

Blend together the cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla until smooth.  Spread evenly over the chocolate layer in the crust. 

Arrange strawberries on top of the cheese layer, pointed ends up. 

Melt the jam in a glass bowl on low in the microwave.  Brush or drizzle the jam over the strawberries. 

Refrigerate. 

Use a very sharp knife to cut and you can top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings if desired. 

I try to source all of my recipes.  This one came from a magazine over 20 years ago.  I no longer have the clipping, only a had written recipe.  Enjoy! 

Buffalo Flavored Pretzels

Buffalo Flavored Pretzels

Looking for an easy snack idea for the holidays besides a different flavor of Chex Mix.  These pretzels are always a huge hit!.  Keep the recipe handy for the next tailgate and they are a must for your Super Bowl Party.  

So head on over to http://atasteofthebest.blogspot.com/2011/07/buffalo-pretzels.html and give them a try!

Holiday Hassle?-How to make your holiday more enjoyable.

Holiday Hassle ?!??!?!

    It is the final night of a four day "vacation" for a lot of us.  Are you laughing like a movie character in an insane asylum, in the running for an Oscar???  Are you dreading the final dash to New Years Day, thinking "Oh, dear Lord, how will I ever make it???..."How will I ever get it all done???" ..."When am I going to sleep, eat, & heaven forbid; take care of ME???"?  Well let me help you out with that!

   Notice the common pronoun in all of those questions in the paragraph above? Yep, "I"!  Well "I"; I am about to rock your world.  YOU do NOT have to do it all!!!!!!! I am not sure when the "to do" list got put mostly on "I's" plate, but it is time to change.  Holidays are meant to be SHARED! Not just the fun par,t but ALL of it. 

   Make a list of the things that need to be done (tree, cleaning, decorating, presents, cookies, cooking, holiday parties...etc.)  Call the family together and ask what everyone wants to do to help.  No seriously stop laughing.  Oh, they don't want to help.  NO PROBLEM.  Cross it off your list.  If they don't want to help, then it is not that important to them.  Of course this does not apply to very small children, but if they are in grade school they can follow simple directions and they can help!  Oh it won't be "perfect", you pout.  Well you have two choices; you can do it yourself, have it "perfect" and be too tired and stressed to enjoy it, or you can let them do it, which gives them life skills, a sense of accomplishment, and you a few extra minutes to breath, sleep, or do something for "I".

   If you are thinking I am out of my ever loving mind, I am not, but I was at the end of my rope and stressed to the point I was....well let's just say, less than pleasant.  One of my boys said to me, "If it makes you this unhappy and stressed then why do you do it???"  Well out of the mouths of babes!  And I had no answer for my child.  I just kept thinking "Why do "I" do it?"  It was tradition, I needed to be a good mom and provide the "perfect" experiences for my children.  But what I realized was that I was not doing what was right for me or my family.  I was stressed, cranky, unhappy, snapping at everyone, and in a nut shell ruining those "perfect" experiences I was striving so hard to make. It was time for things to change!

   So we sat down with the "to do" list as a family and took a long hard look at it.  Fully decorating the house, I live with all males, not important.  However, the tree was.  Holiday parties, again all guys, they confessed there were some they dreaded attending.  This one was especially hard but a simple "I am so sorry, we love you very much, but will not be able to attend." was given.  Cookies, I used to bake tons of different kinds, starting often in October.  My family only really cared for a few, so now everyone gets to pick 2 varieties and I am done.  Yes, there are lots of people that no longer get cookies from the Withrow's for Christmas, as sad as that is, the reward is more family time and ultimately a happier mom.  The list goes on but you get the idea.  I am not saying it was easy and it was definitely a process.  However, the entire family is so much happier and content during the holiday season and no longer look at it as a list of things we really do not want to do. 

   Please remember just because you have always done it, does not mean you must continue.  If you all/most want to do it and they are willing to pitch in, by all means continue.  You may find that after not doing some things, they may miss them, and then be willing to help out.  My experience was the less we crammed in, the less we felt we needed to do.  This has led to lots of time for pajama days, family movies and games, and putting the focus back where it needs to be on family and most importantly Christ!  Holidays were meant to be shared and enjoyed.  By sharing ALL of the holiday, you give your family the freedom to actually grow together, learn to support each other, and most importantly you will teach your children how to truly have happy holidays when they grown and become the "I".   We now have the time and energy to open our home, hearts, and wallets and really make a difference, not only in our lives but in the lives of others as well.  After all Jesus is the reason for season, and how can you do Him justice if you are miserable and ugly?

   Wishing you a carefree and Merry Christmas!

    Crystal K. Withrow