Homemade Cajun Seasoning

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Skip the store-bought spice mixes and stir together a batch of homemade Cajun seasoning!

Cajun seasoning is a blend of herbs and spices often used to add a kick to dishes running the gamut from popcorn to veggies to meat! Most of your favorite Cajun-style recipes likely call for some version of a Cajun seasoning mix.

Homemade Cajun Spice Mix

I first shared this recipe in The Weeknight Dinner Cookbook several years ago. This seasoning mix has been a staple in my spice cabinet ever since.

I use it at least twice a week and I figure it is long past time to share it here so that I can more easily link to it for you in other recipes.

What is Cajun Seasoning?

To the best of my knowledge, Cajun seasoning originated in Louisiana (which is why it’s also sometimes known as Louisiana cajun seasoning). The green can of Tony’s Creole Seasoning is a staple in the home of our Louisiana family and for years, Slap Ya Mama Cajun Seasoning was a staple in ours too.

Those are clearly the popular name-brand favorites, as you will often see them sold together. However, after trying my hand at making a homemade Cajun Seasoning, I’m pretty sure that this mix is going to be in my spice cabinet at all times now.

Cajun Seasoning Mix in a jar

How to Make Cajun Seasoning

Many years ago, I first made this blend of Cajun spices when a recipe I was following required Cajun seasoning. I didn’t have any on hand at the time, but I did have every single one of the spices that goes into a Cajun seasoning mix.

So, what is in Cajun seasoning? The signature reddish brown color of Cajun seasoning comes courtesy of a hearty helping of smoked paprika. The peppery flavor is heightened with ga

Easy Ham and Cheese Scones

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Easy Ham and Cheese Scones

A few weeks ago I was making our apple pie scones and suddenly had the brilliant idea of making a savory version, easy ham and cheese scones! ohsweetbasil.com

A few weeks ago I was making our apple pie scones and suddenly had the brilliant idea of making a savory version, easy ham and cheese scones!

The only way I could ever convince our family to ditch the amazingly wonderful sweet version of a scone was clearly to add cheese. Cheese makes everything better. And bacon. Shoot, I need to try a bacon version!

Grab your leftover Easter ham and make these buttery and flaky scones!

What Ingredients are Needed for Ham and Cheese Scones?

Tender scones are just a few pantry staples away! A good scone needs only a few ingredients, butter (or shortening if you must), buttermilk, salt, and baking powder. Everything else is just to adjust the flavor. Here is a complete list of all the ingredients you will need:

  • Flour: gives structure to the scones and regular all purpose flour is all you need
  • Sugar: adds a touch of sweetness to balance out all the savory ingredients
  • Baking Powder: the true raising agent that adds the real height you’re looking for. Do not use a substitute.
  • Salt: necessary in both sweet and savory dishes as it provides the flavor. Yes, cheese and ham are in there, but everything needs seasoning. I love that salt not only flavors a dish but it also makes the other ingredients stand out even more.
  • Unsalted Butter: gives you those tender, flakey layers and margarine just wont cut it in this case. As the steam rises so does that beautiful hunk of dough, creating a pillow of bread once cooked.
  • Buttermilk: use for savory scones while cream is great for a sweet scone. This allows for the dough to come together but still have enough fat to keep it a tender dough.
  • Colby Jack Cheese: we love colby jack, but you could use cheddar cheese, swiss, pepper jack or really any type of cheese you love.
  • Diced Ham: a perfect way to use leftover spiraled ham or you can buy cubed ham from the store.
  • Fresh Chives: fresh herbs make all the difference when it comes to flavor but if you need to use dried chives, use just 1 teaspoon. You could also use scallions.
    • TIP: If you’re not a chives fine, you can use fresh parsley or thyme.
  • Butter: I know butter has already been listed, but we use it again brushed on top as a finishing touch on these perfect scones.

The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

Recommended Equipment

Pizza Cutter – This is a MUST in our house. The Dexas pizza cutter isn’t a steel blade, but a plastic blade and if you watch our videos you’ll notice I use a plastic pizza wheel all the time to cut dough. It is so much easier than a knife and wont harm any pans or counter tops. This pa

The Little Things Newsletter #410 – Life, laughter, and lots of great food!

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Welcome to the weekend, my friends! Despite the rain in the forecast, we’re hoping to sneak out for a short hike today whenever the weather gives us a break and we might get in some Frisbee golf too. (FYI I’m awful, but it’s still fun.) This is an Easter weekend full of family and friends for us.

I’m simmering some green chile stew for dinner tonight and tomorrow will be a waffle brunch after church followed by country-style ribs for dinner. We don’t have a traditional menu for Easter most years and it’s fun to play it by ear.

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: Whether you’re dressing up a salad or slathering it on a burger, Thousand Island brings a punch of flavor that’s downright irresistible. Creamy mayo meets tangy ketchup along with the pop of diced pickles and a sprinkle of zesty onions in this recipe for Thousand Island salad dressing.

Want to know how to make perfect French Bread Pizza? This method creates cheesy pizzas with a crispy crust. It’s homemade pizza that’s fast enough for a quick lunch or casual dinner.

Smashed Brussels Sprouts with balsamic glaze are the candy of the vegetable world. I simply can not eat just one!

Hash Brown Waffles are hot, crispy potato perfection. They’re perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and they make a terrific base for all kinds of toppings.

Topped with warm blueberry compote, these crepes are a breakfast that my kids would love to eat every day. Blueberry crepes are a breakfast lover’s dream come true.

Chocolate dipped Coconut Macaroons are rich, sweet, chewy cookies that are almost candy-like. While they’ve been a holiday favorite for as long as I can remember, coconut macaroons are a treat we enjoy year-round.

Vanilla sweet cream ice cream filled with chunks of birthday cake and plenty of sprinkles is as much fun to make as it is to eat! Birthday cake ice cream is my current favorite flavor. And yes, I just declared a new favorite ice cream for at least the 10th time on this website. How could I possibly choose a forever favorite when I’m constantly trying new flavors to share with you?

What I’m CRAVING: All the s

Weekly Menu Plan – Apr. 1 to Apr. 7

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Weekly Menu Plan – Apr. 1 to Apr. 7

a photo of a graphic showing the recipes for a weekly menu plan

This week are using up some Easter leftovers, trying out a newly posted recipe, and rounding out the week with some old favorites! Happy April!


Monday: Pollo a la Crema


Tuesday: Ham Hock Soup


Wednesday: Egg Salad Sandwich


Thursday: Ground Beef Stroganoff


Friday: Pizza Night


Saturday: French Toast


Sunday: Korean Oven Braised Short Ribs

READ: Weekly Menu Plan – Apr. 1 to Apr. 7

Birthday Cake Ice Cream

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Vanilla sweet cream ice cream filled with chunks of birthday cake and plenty of sprinkles is as much fun to make as it is to eat!

This birthday cake ice cream is my current favorite flavor. And yes, I just declared a new favorite ice cream for at least the 10th time on this website. How could I possibly choose a forever favorite when I’m constantly trying new flavors to share with you?

homemade ice cream with birthday cake and sprinkles

Prior to making this ice cream, I don’t remember the last time I tasted a funfetti cake topped with sprinkles frosting. Let me tell you, this cake was a time machine back to my childhood. I remember enjoying these cakes so very much at birthday parties. (And there simply aren’t enough opportunities for funfetti cakes as adults – let’s change that, ok?)

Could I have made the cake and the frosting from scratch for this ice cream? Absolutely! Could you do that? You bet! That said, there are a couple of reasons why I didn’t mess with doing that for this ice cream. First, if I’m being honest, it felt like overkill for a batch of ice cream.

And second, I don’t think it will make that big a difference. Might it be even tastier? Maybe, but not enough that I was willing to work through three different recipes just to make the ice cream I was craving.

birthday cake chunks on cutting board

Birthday Cake Ice Cream

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this recipe:

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