Frank’s Finest: Spicy Review, Recipe & Giveaway
Herbs & spices bring foods to a heightened level of culinary pleasure unlike any other ingredients. It is these flavors that deliver culture to our kitchens and onto the dinner table. Consider an ingredient like tomato. With oregano, rosemary and basil, we visit Italy. With mint, thyme & parsley, we journey to the Middle East. With turmeric, coriander and garam masala, we reach India. With cilantro, cumin & chili, we’re now in Mexico.
I found this concept deeply important when I began to prepare raw foods. When you take a vegetarian diet and strip out the cooked grains, pasta, dairy, cooked beans & legumes, etc, you are left with simple fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds & sprouts. It is herbs and spices that allow us to retain the variety & culture of our past diets when we choose to journey on the raw path.
I am super grateful to have had the chance to experiment with a couple of Frank’s Finest Spice Blends. Creatively developed by the talented, classically trained chef, Frank Giglio, these special blends merge the best of culinary tradition with herbalism and superfood nutrition. In my kitchen, I’ve been playing with the Chai Spice Blend and Mediterranean Seasoning Salt.
The Chai Spice is absolutely perfect for this time of year. A blend of traditional, warm chai spices, like cardamom, ginger and cinnamon are brought to a new level with the herbs damania, passionflower and rose (instead of caffeinated tea leaves). I love using this in my fall breakfasts–chia pudding, banana smoothies, apple porridge and of course, creamy warm chai drinks. This summer, I was on a chai latte kick, brewing strong chai tea and blending it with sweetened cashew milk and ice. I only wish I had Frank’s Finest then, using it’s divine spiciness to really kick things up a notch. I know what I’ll be using next summer! Plus, if you’ve had the joy of experiencing my chai cheesecake (from Pure Pleasures), you will know that this spice would be the perfect substitute for my spice list.
The Mediterranean Seasoning Salt is such a lively blend. It is not overly salty like most conventional salt mixes, which is very refreshing. It’s also very rare to find a seasoning salt with Himalayan salt as the base, but with Frank’s high integrity products, he uses only the best. This blend is wonderfully herby, featuring rosemary, oregano and thyme with a few fabulous surprises mixed in–like lavender and dulse. The lavender is just lovely–I often use it in desserts, but realized I never had the chance to really enjoy the herb in a savory setting until now. The dulse plays its role along with kelp, adding beneficial minerals. This really peaks my interest because normally I avoid sea veggies like nobody’s business (I pray for developing the taste one day) but here, with fragrant herbs, the entire mix is beyond delicious. I’ve been enjoying this blend to bring simple salads to life. My favorite has been a massaged kale salad with lemon tahini dressing and a generous sprinkling of Mediterranean Seasoning Salt.
In the Frank’s Finest shop, you’ll also find Autumn Dessert Spice, Lemon Pepper, BBQ Spice, Spirulina Gomasio (very original) and Chili-Garlic Salt among other tempting blends. I have never seen such an array of creative flavor blends anywhere else. I highly recommend that you hop on over to his shop and spice up your kitchen with new found favorites.
Creamy Dessert Chai
I count on this to warm my mornings and evenings. It is perfectly creamy, rich and satisfying.
- 2 cups warm to hot water (whatever your raw foodie preference)
- 6 tablespoons raw cashews
- 1 tablespoon raw coconut butter
- 3 tablespoons raw honey
- 2 teaspoons Frank’s Finest Chai Spice Blend
- 1 teaspoon Frank’s Finest Tahitian Vanilla Powder
Blend all ingredients in a high speed blender until perfectly creamy and warm.
Now for the Frank’s Finest Giveaway!
Frank has generously offered a fabulous prize pack to one lucky reader–including his amazing Chili-Garlic Salt, BBQ Spice Blend, and Mediterranean Seasoning Salt. It’s simple to enter! Just follow the details below.
To enter:
1. Sign up for the Frank’s Finest newsletter
2. Sign up for my Pure Luscious Lifestyle Newsletter
3. Leave a comment below this post with your name letting us know you did it!
That’s it! You’re entered!
For additional entries (up to 3 total entries):
1. Tweet this, including the link: I entered the #SpicyGiveaway from @FrankGiglio & @NataliaKW and you should too! http://bit.ly/qPMNcZ
Comment letting us know you did it, including your twitter handle.
2. Share this, including the link, on facebook: I entered the Spicy Giveaway from @ChefFrankyG & @NataliaKW and you should too! http://bit.ly/qPMNcZ
Comment letting us know you did it, including your facebook name.
The Fine Print:
Contest ends at 11:59pm PST on October 23, 2011. The winner will be announced on October 24th in my newsletter and here on this blog post. The prize will be shipped to addresses in the US & Canada. Thanks for playing!
42 Comments
Mary
October 14, 2011I subscribed to everything!! Looks Yummy!!
Mary
October 14, 2011I tweeted about the giveaway!! My twitter handle is @ocean_mary
Laci
October 14, 2011I am already subscribed to your newsletter and now i am signed up to Franks as well!
Laci
October 14, 2011shared on FB : Laci Hodges
Lisa A.
October 14, 2011I signed up for Frank’s Finest newsletter!
Lisa A.
October 14, 2011I shared the giveaway link on my facebook page! FB: Lisa Anderson
Mariel
October 14, 2011I’m Mariel, and i subscribed to both newsletters
Mariel
October 14, 2011tweeted! @Marielxox16
Mariel
October 14, 2011shared on facebook!!
Heather
October 15, 2011I subscribed to both. Thanks.
Kathy :)
October 15, 2011Looking forward to both newsletters!
I Love Franks spices and your site as well!!
robin
October 15, 2011Hi Natalia, I’m already signed up for your newsletter. I signed up for Frank’s today. I love his title: holistic chef / culinary artist. Very intriguing. Thank you! and lots of love, robin
Carmella
October 15, 2011Those spice blends sound wonderful! Thanks so much for pointing these out! Oh and I’ve subscribed to Frank’s newsletter (I already receive yours) and posted about your Giveaway on Facebook (Carmella Soleil)
rachel morrell
October 15, 2011Subscribed to both!!
Nancy
October 15, 2011Hi. I am signed up for both newsletters.
Marte Rogers Penland
October 15, 2011I happily suscribed to everything!! Thank you!
harper
October 15, 2011yes, i too suscribed.
be well
Amber Dunham
October 15, 2011I’m all signed up, too! Would love to be chosen… am in need of some ‘kitchen inspiration’!
jody
October 15, 2011Subsribed!
Carina Sommers
October 15, 2011I am subscribed!! Thank you for the giveaways.
celia
October 15, 2011I’m already signed up for your newsletter, and i just signed up for Frank’s newsletter.
Elaine
October 15, 2011I already received your newsletter, and now signed up to Franks!
Mindy
October 15, 2011Subscribed to both newsletters. I’m so happy to have discovered these amazing-looking spice blends. Thank you!
Ana
October 15, 2011Done it!
melly
October 15, 2011i subscribed! what a treat!
Catharine Wethered
October 15, 2011I signed up for both email lists! My name’s Catharine Wethered.
Catharine Wethered
October 15, 2011I tweeted it! My twitter name is ReGreta9.
Catharine Wethered
October 15, 2011I shared it on facebook! My facebook name is Catharine Wethered.
danyah
October 15, 2011Ok me too I subscribed ! Im a little late lol
rudy
October 18, 2011i signed up for the 2 email lists
Jaimee
October 20, 2011I subscribed
Cathy Rasmussen
October 20, 2011joined both websites
Catherine
October 20, 2011I AM fully on board! Thank you for the opportunity. How does it get any better than this?
shannonmarie (Rawdorable)
October 20, 2011I subscribed to both. I can’t believe I hadn’t gotten on your e-mail list already. So glad I am now.
shannonmarie (Rawdorable)
October 20, 2011Just tweeted. (@Rawdorable)
edith
October 20, 2011done, done and done!!! thanks!!
ash
October 20, 2011totally subscribed! very excited!
Wendy
October 21, 2011I subscribed
Nancy Schwickrath
October 21, 2011Hello! I am signed up for both newsletters. And thank you for the Cupcake book PDF- I love it!
Katie M.
October 23, 2011Hello wonderful! I subscribed to both lists and am ready for more deliciousness…thank you ten folds
~Katie
info@FaeryCupboard.org
@theFaeryQueen (twitter) — **I tweeted, too**
Jillie S.
October 23, 2011Thank you for posting this giveaway! I am subscribed to both lists
Natalia
October 24, 2011Thanks so much for playing! I’m excited to announce that the number that I pulled from Random.org was Elaine’s!!! Congratulations!