Healthy onion soup and chili powder

Eating a healthy natural diet sometimes means saying goodbye to many of your favorite recipes, because they call for unhealthy items that are loaded with hidden MSG and other unhealthy additives.

Eating a healthy natural diet sometimes means saying goodbye to many of your favorite recipes, because they call for unhealthy items that are loaded with hidden MSG and other unhealthy additives. But, if you are willing to experiment, it is often possible to find homemade equivalents for seasoning items that will serve your purpose.

The following are healthy, homemade versions of chili powder and the popular onion soup mix, which will add great flavor to recipes like meatloaf, roasts and ground meats, without all the unhealthy additives found in store-bought mixes. These recipes can be prepared ahead of time for added convenience.

Dry Onion Soup Mix

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons dry onion flakes
• 4 teaspoons onion granules
• 1/2 teaspoon celery salt
• 1-1/2 teaspoons sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic granules

Preparation:

Mix together all ingredients. Use immediately or store in an airtight container. This recipe is equivalent to one packet of store-bought onion soup mix.

Chili Powder

Ingredients:

• 6 tablespoons paprika
• 2 tablespoons turmeric
• 1 tablespoon dried red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic granules • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Preparation:

Combine the dry spices and store in a sealed container.

Sources: Anglesey, D. Battling the MSG Myth. Kennewick: Front Porch Productions, 1997 and Blaylock, R.L. Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills. Santa Fe: Health Press, 1997.

Reprinted from AZNetNews, Volume 30, Number 6, Dec/Jan 2012.