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Let's get Cooking!
This isn't just a collection of recipes. It's a growing library of cooking lessons, historical inspiration, and practical techniques designed to help you become a more confident home cook. Learn how to build flavor, understand spices, master the Bloom Method, and discover the stories behind the world's great culinary traditions. Whether you're making dinner in twenty minutes or spending the afternoon exploring a recipe from another century, you'll find ideas that make cooking both easier and more rewarding.
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Oink, Cackle, Moo, with Pig Pickin' Powder
We crafted this spice blend with pork in mind (because, well... the name!), but don’t let that stop you. It’s just as amazing on chicken and mouthwatering on beef. Whether you’re roasting ribs, grilling drumsticks, or slow-cooking a brisket—Pig Pickin’ Powder brings out the best in every bite. It is mild and smoky, full of flavor, not fire and totally family-friendly Mild Carolina Pulled Pork Servings: 8 | Prep Time: 10 min | Cook Time: 6–8 hrs (low & slow) Ingredients: 4–5 l
2 min read
The Heritage Table: Cooking with Herbs de Provence with Lavender Seasoning
Step into the sun-drenched hills of southern France with our handcrafted Herbs de Provence with Lavender blend from Oak City Spice Blends. This aromatic mix—featuring basil, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and culinary lavender—captures the essence of Provençal herb gardens, rustic kitchens, and centuries-old cooking traditions. In this post, we explore four recipes inspired by historical French cookery—from monastic bean stews to the poultry dishes of medieval Paris. Ea
3 min read
The Heritage Table: Cooking with Greek Temple Seasoning from Oak City Spice Blends
Oak City Spice Blends invites you to explore six recipes grounded in the rich culinary traditions of ancient and medieval Greece. Each dish has been selected and adapted to reflect historically accurate ingredients, techniques, and flavor profiles while remaining approachable for modern kitchens. These recipes are not mere interpretations—they are inspired by texts such as The Iliad by Homer, which mentions meat roasted on spits; Works and Days by Hesiod, which describes ba
4 min read
Bold, Beautiful, and Easy: 3 Marinades with Oak City Spice Blends
At Oak City Spice Blends, we believe marinades should be simple , flavor-packed , and satisfying —without a long list of ingredients or artificial flavors. That’s why we’re sharing three of our favorite marinade recipes using heart-healthy avocado and olive oil and a few spoonfuls of bold seasoning magic. Whether you're firing up the grill, roasting in the oven, or meal prepping for the week, these marinades bring the flavor fast—no preservatives, no nonsense. Smoky Viking M
1 min read
Sweet, savory, and utterly unforgettable - Kiss My Yam Seasoning
Oak City Spice Blends is bringing something special your way with our Kiss My Yam seasoning! Imagine juicy Roasted Pork Tenderloin, mouthwatering Honey-Glazed Chicken, Candied Sweet Potatoes, savory Butternut Squash & Bacon Hash, and deliciously caramelized Roasted Carrots & Parsnips. Each recipe bursts with the warm, sweet-spicy blend of brown sugar, garlic, ginger, thyme, and a hint of cayenne. Recipe 1: Kiss My Yam Roasted Pork Tenderloin Ingredients: 2 pork tenderloins (
2 min read
Go Whole Hog with Wiggly Piggly Seasoning
Ready to go whole hog with flavor? Oak City Spice Blends is celebrating the Pig Festival in style with five irresistible recipes featuring our fan-favorite Wiggly Piggly seasoning! Feast your eyes (and taste buds) on BBQ Pork Ribs, Pulled Pork Sliders, Glazed Pork Tenderloin, Southern Baked Beans, and Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon—each seasoned to perfection with our mouthwatering blend of sweet brown sugar, savory spices, and just a kick of heat. These delicious, easy
2 min read
Southern Classics with Raleigh Rub Seasoning
Get ready—your kitchen is about to become the most popular spot in town! We're celebrating Pig Festival Season by sharing an irresistible collection of recipes featuring our beloved Raleigh Rub. Imagine serving up tender Southern Smoked Pork Shoulder, Crispy Pork Belly Burnt Ends dripping with flavor, Sweet & Spicy Pork Chops that’ll have everyone asking for seconds, plus mouthwatering sides like Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Grilled Corn, and classic Green Beans with Bacon. Don't
3 min read
How to Choose the Right Cooking Fat and how to Bloom it!
When it comes to building mouthwatering meals, most people focus on the spices. But here at Oak City Spice Blends, we know the real flavor magic happens when you pair your spices with the right cooking fat. Fat doesn’t just make things rich and satisfying—it’s a powerful flavor carrier. It brings out the essential oils in spices, distributes heat evenly, and influences how a dish tastes, feels, and smells. Here’s your guide to choosing the right fat for the right job. Butter
5 min read
Beef, Onion and Rice Bowl with Lu Bao Seasoning
Ingredients For the Rice: - 2 cups Jasmine or short-grain white rice - 4 cups water - 1 tablespoon Lu Bao seasoning (Oak City Spice Blends) For the Beef: - 1 lb thinly sliced beef (sirloin or ribeye recommended) - 1 large onion, divided - Half grated finely - Half thickly sliced - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil - 1½ cups beef broth - 3 tablespoons soy sauce - 2 tablespoons oyster sauce - 1 tablespoon Lu Bao seasoning (Oak City Spice Blends) - Optional garnish: sliced gr
2 min read
Golden Sunset Chicken Shawarma
Love chicken shawarma but never thought about making it at home? Or maybe you've never even tried it? Why aren't you making this delicious dish yourself? It's easier—and tastier—than you think! Introducing Golden Sunset from Oak City Spice Blends. Our aromatic blend of coriander, cumin, garlic, paprika, turmeric, and more brings the vibrant, warm flavors of the Middle East straight to your kitchen. Golden Sunset—so easy, so good, so amazing. Transform your chicken tonight! Go
1 min read
Ham & Yam Gift Pack Recipe Guide
Welcome to your flavorful journey featuring four signature Oak City Spice Blends! Each recipe is thoughtfully created to make your meals memorable, delicious, and perfectly seasoned. Kiss My Yam Recipes 🍳 Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash Ingredients: 2 large sweet potatoes, diced 1 onion, diced 4 strips bacon, chopped 2 cups spinach 4 large eggs 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp Kiss My Yam seasoning Salt (optional) Instructions: Heat olive oil, sauté diced sweet potatoes, onions, and bac
3 min read
Kiss My Yam Seasoning
Experience the perfect balance of sweet and savory with Kiss My Yam, a seasoning blend designed to complement the rich flavors of ham and the natural sweetness of yams. This unique blend enhances dishes with warmth, depth, and a touch of spice. Flavor Profile: Kiss My Yam features a harmonious combination of brown sugar, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, paprika, ground ginger, and a hint of cayenne. It delivers a perfect balance of sweet, smoky, and slightly
4 min read
The Flavors of Medieval Norway: Spices, Herbs, Salt, and Cooking Techniques
Medieval Norway was a land shaped by its rugged coastline, long winters, and deep connection to the sea. The people of this time relied on local resources for sustenance but were also part of an extensive trade network that introduced new flavors and preservation techniques. Herbs and wild plants played a crucial role in everyday cooking, while imported spices remained a rare luxury reserved for the wealthy. Salt, particularly smoked sea salt, was essential not only for flavo
6 min read
Three Soups for Surviving Winter (Minnesota Style, With a Side of Nostalgia) - Growing Up on Soup and Public Television
Winters in Northern Minnesota are not for the faint of heart. They turn your eyelashes into icicles, make your car battery question its existence, and turn the simple act of going outside into a survival sport. Naturally, we had two major coping mechanisms: soup and public television cooking shows. As a kid, I would watch Julia Child wield a cleaver like a Viking warrior, cheerfully reducing chickens to their component parts. Then, there was Pol Martin—a French-Canadian chef
4 min read
A Pot Roast Worth Writing Home About featuring French Countryside Seasoning.
Pot roast isn’t just dinner—it’s a culinary time machine. One whiff of that rich, slow-cooked aroma, and suddenly, you’re back in your grandmother’s kitchen, where the meal simmered for hours while you were told to "stay out of the kitchen until it’s ready." (As if you could ignore the smell.) Or maybe your memory takes you further—centuries back, when French country kitchens perfected the art of braising tough cuts of meat until they turned into melt-in-your-mouth perfection
3 min read
Shredded Frittata Soup: A Hidden Italian Gem You Need to Try
Some dishes feel like they should be more famous. Shredded Frittata Soup is one of them. This rustic, no-frills soup comes straight from the heart of Italian home cooking, where simplicity meets absolute comfort. Imagine a pot of golden, savory broth, infused with herbs and cheese, and laced with ribbons of tender frittata. It’s warming, satisfying, and—best of all—incredibly easy to make. But let’s rewind a bit. Where does this genius idea even come from? The Unexpected Orig
3 min read
Oatmeal, Spice, and Everything Nice: A Chai-Spiced Twist on a Cold Morning
There are few things as reliable as a bowl of hot oatmeal on a miserable, gray morning. You wake up to the sound of wind rattling the windows, rain pelting the roof, and suddenly, you just know—this is an oatmeal kind of day. Oatmeal has been keeping people warm and fed for centuries. It’s the ultimate humble breakfast—cheap, filling, and just fancy enough to feel like you’re making an effort. The Scots, the champions of oats, have been stirring up bowls of the stuff since at
3 min read
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