Shopping for Flavor- Penzey's

The catalog comes in the mail every few weeks. The temptation is there all over again, that insatiable need to go.........to smell.......to wander..........to use that free coupon. When I walk through the door all my common sense goes out the window and is replaced with a need to buy all the things. All the things.

Where exactly is this place that immediately turns me into a helpless soul wandering about, filling my basket with amazing tastes and smells? Penzey's of course! 

If you have never been inside a Penzey's store you really need to find one. They have everything you need to fully stock a kitchen with herbs and spices. They also carry a large selection of Penzey's blended seasoning mixes, many of which are salt free. From the French classics like Fines Herbes and Herbes de Provence to Penzey's favorites like Forward and Northwoods Seasoning, Bicentennial Rub and Rocky Mountain Seasoning, you will find exactly what you're looking for to make your recipes perfect.

It's been a few years since I signed up for the catalog. It's my favorite thing to get in the mail. There is always a coupon for a free product, often times it's a brand new product like a new seasoning blend, and once in a while it's Pick Your Favorite. This time around it's your choice of four different spices/blends in a new larger 3/4 cup sized resealable bag. The catalog is filled with all the amazing products they carry and interesting stories about folks who cook with the herbs and spices, including recipes. I've made many different foods from these recipes and enjoyed them all.

This trip to Penzey's I made a shopping list ahead of time. I needed a few things to complete some recipes I'm working on. Mustard seeds, for the new mustard recipes I have been playing with and can't wait to try, chipotle peppers for a home canned version of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, and of course a few things that accidentally ended up in my basket. How did that happen?

Now the recipes in the catalog are really great. From a very simple grilled chicken to more complicated curries and baking recipes, there is something for every skill level and they are all from other Penzey's users so every month it's more cooking magazine than catalog, plus the stories are very interesting and fun to read. In this current catalog there is a super fast chicken recipe that anyone can make, and the picture......is so mouth watering!

Grilled Northwoods Chicken
recipe from Penzey's

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
Northwoods Seasoning
2 tsp olive oil or cooking spray

Pound the chicken breasts evenly until they are about 1/4 inch thick, Sprinkle liberally with Northwoods Seasoning on both sides. Cover and refrigerate up to an hour.

Rub the grill lightly with olive oil or spray with cooking spray. Heat the grill to medium high heat. Place the chicken on the grill and cook until lightly browned, about 3-5 minutes. Turn the chicken and cook until browned on the other side, another 3-5 minutes. Serve with grilled aspargus.

Isn't that easy? What a great weeknight dinner when you're just too tired to do much. I like making these chicken breasts, slicing them, and keeping them on hand for tossing on a salad for a quick lunch. Grilling also means a lot less cleanup, but if you don't have a grill you can saute these chicken breasts just as easily in a skillet. Now head over to Penzey's! They offer online shopping if you don't have a store nearby.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 55: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."