Sassy Bourbon-Honey Salmon Fillets

We love salmon here in the Pacific Northwest, and never tire of finding new ways to enjoy it. Lemon & dill? BORING. One of our favorite "out of the box"blends to use is our Sassy Steak Spice. It's bold, exotic, and it hits all the flavor highlights - a little bit smoky, a little bit sweet with just a bit of herbs and heat - which perfectly compliments our favorite fish. We used grilling planks for an alder wood accent to finish it off, but you can also use a grill pan indoors. Love smoky flavors? Use our Upper Left Madrona Smoked Honey to add another layer of smoky flavor.

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Chaat Masala Fruit Salad

Want to raise a few eyebrows at your next picnic or BBQ? Try our Chaat Masala Fruit Salad for a wholly unexpected treat. This traditional Indian street food combines pungent, piquant and savory spices with black salt, citrus and fresh fruit for a refreshing summer treat. The flavor combinations are outstanding. Try the party sized recipe below and mix it up with just about any seasonal fruits. We were wishing we had some watermelon....or mango....or....

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Smoky BBQ Pork

Pork shoulder is one of the most inexpensive cuts of meat, and you can find it almost anywhere. The lean meat is punctuated with ribbons of fat, which self-bastes the pork as it cooks slow and oh-so-low. While the meat is fabulously tender, it doesn't boast much inherent flavor...which is where our Smoky BBQ Rub comes in. This spice blend, combined with beer, forms a marinade that infuses a wonderful smoked flavor deep in to the roast - you won't believe it came from the oven!Banana leaves are a nod to traditional Mexican carnitas, effectively steaming the meat as it cooks slowly, holding in the moisture, while imparting some of their own nutty, grassy flavor. They can be purchased in many Latin and Asian markets. You can sometimes find them fresh, but they'll often be frozen, which works just as well.

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Rooster Grilled Artichokes with Spicy Garlic Mayonnaise

Seattle's local farmers have been showcasing artichokes for a few weeks now, so what better produce to highlight one of our favorite blends, Rooster Spice!! Inspired by everyone's favorite Vietnamese hot sauce, Rooster Spice packs a wallop of heat, but boasts a delicious complexity that will keep you coming back. It's the perfect accompaniment to these artichokes, or really anything else your market basket can throw at it.

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Cinnamon Toast Spice Blondies

Sometimes we just want a little something sweet, but not too heavy. This updated version of a classic blondie fits the bill. Our Cinnamon Toast Spice, featuring Indonesian and Vietnamese cassia-cinnamons with true cinnamon, brown sugar and just a hint of nutmeg, perfectly complements the sweet potato base. These disappeared in moments at our last recipe test, and may need a "re-test" in my personal kitchen tonight. They've got sweet potatoes in them... so they're totally healthy, right?

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Ancho Chili Beef Empanadas

Who doesn't love food that you can hold in your hand? The beauty of empanadas is that the rich, buttery dough can be filled with almost anything - sweet or savory. Our Ancho Chili Powder is mild-medium in heat and adds magnificent depth to the beef and vegetable filling we chose. Ancho chiles have a wonderful, darkly sweet flavor, so we added a little Alderwood Smoked Salt for just a touch of smoky contrast. They can be served either hot or at room temperature - we like ours with salsa, sour cream and a Hibiscus Margarita.

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Brunch For Mom

Eggs Benedict is a classic, there's no denying that, but "classic" is perhaps not the word I'd use to celebrate my funny, youthful, and adventurous mother! For Mother's Day, her poached eggs will sit atop crisp potato pancakes, under a blanket of creamy Orange Tarragon hollandaise sauce. The sweetness of the orange peel plays against the anise notes of the tarragon in this classic French combination, made whole with shallots and Tellicherry black pepper. The sauce is so sumptuous, and the crunchy fried potatoes make a perfect vehicle for it. Not to mention the eggs - nothing says "love" like a perfectly poached yolk, don't you know! Make these for Mother's Day, or just because - and let her know how sorry you are for your teenage years.

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Dolmades (Stuffed Grape Leaves) for Greek Easter

If you thought that the Easter fun was over far too soon, not to fear! Greek Easter is this coming Sunday, awash with delicious traditions all its own. Not to be missed are these tasty little pockets of meat, rice, and nuts, expertly seasoned with our savory and tangy El Greco blend. They're called "dolmas" in the singular, and "dolmades" when referring to the scores of them you'll eat once you've had a taste of their perfect balance of Mediterranean flavors, all wrapped in a convenient little two-bite nosh.All of the ingredients ought to be readily available in most markets, including grape leaves, which often come in cans or jars. If you've got a grape vine over an arbor, fresh work wonderfully, too; just poach them a bit of salted water with a half a lemon thrown in. Admittedly a little time-consuming, the dolmades can be prepared 2 to 3 days before serving, and refrigerated or frozen until you're ready to use them. If you do freeze them, they can be thawed overnight in the refrigerator, and gently heated with a little broth or water before serving. You'll find them more than worth the effort! Kalo Pascha!

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Hibiscus Margarita

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo like never before with this delicious cocktail. The hibiscus infuses a deep rich red color to this libation... Add a slice of lime and Sel de Mer to the rim of your glass and you have the colors of the Mexican flag! Almost cranberry in flavor, it's got a "zing" that is enhanced by using silver tequila and the homemade spiced simple syrup. Tune in to the mariachi station on Pandora while you whip these up for an absolute fiesta!

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