Back to School: 3 Dinners Under 30 Minutes September 14 2015

The flurry of fall excitement is upon us. Between the kids heading back to school, fall sports revving back up, and daily work schedules, planning hearty dinners can fall by the wayside. That’s why we wanted to share some easy under 30 minute meals you can make for your family while still staying on a tight schedule!

Homemade Sesame Chicken

• 1 1/2 to 2 pounds frozen popcorn chicken
• 6 Tablespoons La Flor honey
• 4 Tablespoons ketchup
• 4 Tablespoons sugar
• 2 Tablespoons white distilled vinegar
• 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
• La Flor Salt and pepper, to taste
• Green onions
• La Flor Sesame seeds

Instructions: First, cook popcorn chicken as the package suggests. Then, over medium heat - whisk together honey, ketchup, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, and salt and pepper in a sauce pan. Bring the sauce to a boil, stirring, and reduce to a simmer until sauce slightly thickens. Toss cooked chicken in sauce and serve over rice - finishing with a dash of sesame seeds and green onion.

One Pan Italian Pasta

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• ½ cup diced sweet onion
• 1 teaspoon La Flor garlic powder
• 2-3 chicken breasts, diced
• 12 oz pasta
• 3 cups of water (or chicken broth)
• 1 envelope dry Italian dressing mix
• 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 tsp La Flor basil
• 1 cup Mozzarella cheese

Instructions: Over medium heat, saute the onions in olive oil until soft. Then add the chicken and garlic powder - cooking until browned. Add pasta, water, dressing mix, and tomatoes and bring to a boil, cooking for 10 minutes or until water has evaporated. Finish by topping with Mozzarella cheese and basil, letting it sit until the cheese is melted before serving.

Honey-Garlic Glazed Meatballs

• 2 eggs
• ¾ cup milk
• 1½ cup dry bread crumbs
• ½ cup diced onion
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 pounds ground beef (or ground turkey)
• 4 garlic cloves, minced (or 4 teaspoons La Flor chopped garlic)
• 1 tablespoon butter
• ¾ cup ketchup
• ½ cup La Flor honey
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce

Instructions: Combine eggs and milk in a large bowl, then add the bread crumbs, onion and salt. Add meat into the mixture and mix well until combined. Shape the mix into 1 inch balls, placing on a nonstick cookie sheet. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 12-15 minutes or until meat is no longer pink. While meatballs are cooking, combine garlic and butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in ketchup, honey, and soy sauce - bringing to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 5 minutes. After meatballs are cooked, spoon sauce over and serve.

When taste is everything, La Flor is all you need to transform your everyday meal into an extraordinary culinary delight. Shop our full selection of spices, herbs, and blends on the web - keep it spicy America!

#FoodieFriday - Must Make Rubs and Sauces for Labor Day September 04 2015

Celebrating the unofficial end of summer with a Labor Day BBQ? Spice things up, check out the below rubs and sauce recipes that are musts for your meats (using La Flor spices, of course):

Bring Da Heat Rub - Give your pork some heat, rub this on the night before your grill - trust us, your palate will thank you:

• 1 cup La Flor brown sugar
• 1/4 cup fine Sea Salt
• 1/4 cup La Flor garlic powder or flakes
• 1 1/14 teaspoons of granulated chipotle
• 1 teaspoon La Flor chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ancho pepper powder
• 1/2 teaspoon La Flor crushed red pepper

In a medium sized bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well. Then store in an air tight container until ready for use. The night prior to grilling, rub meat generously. (recipe via Kiss My Smoke)

Basic BBQ Rub - Little bit of sweet and a little bit of heat:

• 1 cup La Flor brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup kosher salt
• 1/4 cup cracked La Flor black pepper
• 1/4 cup La Flor paprika
• 2 tablespoons La Flor cayenne pepper

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and use on your meat of choice. For more flavor, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for a few hours, or overnight. (recipe via Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen)

Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce - Homemade brown sugar barbecue sauce with a spicy kick:

• 1 1/2 cup La Flor brown sugar
• 1 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1 1/2 tablespoon molasses
• 3 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoon ground mustard
• 1 1/2 teaspoon La Flor paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon La Flor chili powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoon La Flor salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoon La Flor black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon La Flor garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon La Flor onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon La Flor crushed red pepper, optional

Cook all ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat until mixture begins to boil, stirring frequently. Reduce to low heat and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Remove fro heat and use immediately. Transfer the remainder to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. (recipe via Baked By Rachel)

Have any DIY rubs or sauce recipes using La Flor products in your arsenal? Share with us and the rest of the La Flor community on our Facebook page!

When taste is everything, La Flor is all you need to transform your everyday meal into an extraordinary culinary delight. Shop our full selection of spices, herbs, and blends on the web - keep it spicy America!

#FoodieFriday - Ways to Eat (& Drink) Turmeric! August 28 2015

This isn’t the first time we’ve touched on the benefits of turmeric in your diet. This highly anti-inflammatory herb has an infinite number of beneficial properties. Aiding in functions of vital organs, turmeric is said to provide defense against degenerative diseases and cancers while also promoting the absorption of antioxidants.

Commonly used in Indian cuisine, it’s certainly not limited to just that! See below for some simple ways to start including it in your everyday cooking:

1. Add it to scrambles and frittatas. New to turmeric? This is the best place to start! Take a pinch and add to your scrambled eggs, frittatas, or tofu scrambles. The color will be familiar and the flavor is subtle. Try this Scrambled Eggs with Turmeric and Black Pepper Recipe!
2. Toss it with veggies. Cauliflower, potatoes, and other root vegetables go especially well with turmeric’s slightly warm and peppery flavor. Sprinkle some turmeric on your next batch of roasted veggies or infuse half a cup of olive oil with a teaspoon of turmeric to brush onto corn on the cob in lieu of butter! Try this Cauliflower Steaks with Ginger, Turmeric, and Cumin recipe!
3. Blend it into your morning smoothies. While fresh turmeric root is especially good for fresh juices and smoothies, you will find adding some of the ground spice into your favorite smoothie will work as well. Its flavor is typically masked well in smoothies, you won’t even notice it’s there! Try this Anti-Inflammatory Frozen Watermelon Pineapple Smoothie Recipe!

Additional cooking tip - to get the most out of your turmeric intake, pair it with pepper. Black pepper improves the body’s absorption of turmeric, making small doses of the spice that much more effective!

Purchase your La Flor Turmeric online or in stores and get cooking with this miracle root! When taste is everything, La Flor is all you need to transform your everyday meal into an extraordinary culinary delight. Shop our full selection of spices, herbs, and blends on the web - keep it spicy America!

Reasons You Should Eat More Spicy Food August 18 2015

Spice enthusiasts rejoice - in addition to rousing your taste buds, spicy foods may also lead to a longer life according to a recent seven-year study.

Observing nearly half a million people across China, a study published in BMJ found those who consumed spicy foods (mainly in form of chili peppers), once or twice a week had a 10 percent reduced risk of death compared with those who ate spicy meals less than once a week. 

What about spicy food is so special? The study points to the benefits of capsaicin, the spicy chemical in peppers, which has been shown to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cancer-fighting properties.

So if you’re not a fan of the hot stuff, it may be time you gave it a shot. Give it a go with some of the below recipes, using your trusted La Flor Spices:

• Honeydew with Sweet-Heat Lime Sauce: Mix together some lime juice, honey, chopped mint, and cayenne pepper. Then skewer some bite-sized honeydew melon pieces and serve. (Recipe here ») 
• Grilled Fish Tacos: Instead of deep-frying the fish for these tacos, coat your summer catch in a flavor-packed chile rub and grill it instead! (Recipe here »)
• Bean Burgers with Spicy Guacamole: Sure to please even the most devoted of carnivores - the cornmeal coating gives a pleasant crunch and paprika, cumin, cilantro, and guac add some Southwestern flavor! (Recipe here ») 

• Mediterranean Style Stuffed Peppers: Artichoke hearts, feta cheese, chickpeas - oh my! This Mediterranean Style stuffed peppers recipe creates a flavor unlike anything else. (Recipe here »)

Any spice fanatics have some recipes to share? Post them to our Facebook page for the rest of the La Flor community to see!

When taste is everything, La Flor is all you need to transform your everyday meal into an extraordinary culinary delight. Shop our selection of spices, herbs, and blends on the web - keep it spicy America!