Ozark Seasoning for pork and chicken
Greek Seasoning for salad dressing, soulvaki, etc.
Bouquet Garni for roasted potatoes, soups, stews, poultry
Pizza Seasoning for pizza sauce
Sandwich Sprinkle for croutons, garlic bread, pizza crust
Italian Herb Mix
Lemon-pepper for meat rub, tuna salad, mix in dips

My two new favorites are Cajun blend - available in medium or hot I think, and Trinidad which has a wonderful lemon flavor.

I love the Turkish blend and the original Taco seasoning.

Clare, my favorite sweet spices that they have are the China Cassia Cinnamon, and the pumpkin pie spice blend. For savory blends, I like the Greek Seasoning (makes DELICIOUS salad dressing)and the Barbecue of the Americas, which DH sprinkles on steak and burgers when he grills. Good luck and what fun to spend that gift certificate!!
DONNA

1. Chinese Cassia Cinnamon
2. Cake Spice (add it to French Toast batter and snack cakes)
3. Breakfast Sausage Seasoning (make your own sausage)
4. Brady Street Cheese Sprinkle (garlic bread, salads, pasta, dips, breading, potatoes)
5. Fox-Point (wonderful added to the dough for homemade sandwich buns, dips, potatoes)
6. European-Style Peppercorns

Another vote for the Fox-Point Seasoning. Good Stuff! I also love all the different peppercorns and the cinnamons.

Foxpoint here, too! It's really good on top of grilled vegetables, and meat and chicken, roasted potatoes. love that stuff. I like their shallot pepper. The Chinese Cinnamon. Double strength Vanilla.

I don't buy from them anymore (I prefer The Spice House), but I can't get Foxpoint or that particular Greek anywhere else. Both very good. My DH also likes the BBQ of the Americas.

I was just at a Penzey's this past Saturday.
I bought a pint of the Double strength vanilla, cocoa, celery flakes, whole nutmeg, Vietnamese Cassia cinnamon, bouquet garni, lemon grass, breakfast sausage seasoning, pork soup base (I add it to gravy) and Chicago steak seasoning.
I love their Baking Spice blend, ass't peppers, and am gradually replacing many of my seasonings and spices with Penzey's.

I think it really just depends on what you like to cook and bake...it's all good.

Nancy

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. It is just so hard to make up my mind.
Clare

Why make up your mind? Just stock up on

I go through Mural of Flavor (thanks to GinaW), Smoked paprika, and cumin. I also use black cardamom in my bean dishes. The Szechwan pepper salt is always on my veggie stir fries. I'm probably going to get the Chicago seasoning for grilled meats when my stash of other stuff is gone since I do like smoked stuff. Northwoods with and without the fire (chipotle) is great. Tuscan Sunset is new and interesting because it uses Aleppo pepper. I've also started using ground cardamom in baked dishes where I want a smooth consistence. I still use the green cardamom pods in canned pears and sweet potato casseroles.

When/if I find a quality USA source of tilapia (not Asian imported, tastes like mud), I'm looking forward to pan sauteeing it in a simple coating of black sesame seeds.

I don't use their vanilla - too expensive, I buy extract from Trader Joe's and the beans from Costco. My decision on a cost/benefit ratio, YMMV.

Terri just gave me her recipe for her homemade rub based on Penzey's ingredients. Beg her for it!

My sister turned me into a Penzey's junkie. She's bought me gifts from there and she has given me a couple of gift certificates from them.

Vanilla beans
Lemon Peel
Orange Peel
Cumin
Chipotle, ground
Hungarian Paprika
Adobo Seasoning
Rogan Josh Seasoning
Cinnamon Ceylon & Vietnamese
Cilantro - yes their dried cilantro actually tastes like cilantro
Sunny Paris Seasoning
Tuscan Sunset Seasoning

Don't make up your mind. Just buy a whole lot of little jars !

;-)

Becky

I really like the smoked Spanish paprika, Herbs de Provence and Fine Herbs. I like getting the small containers so I'll use them up before they get stale.

Now that I see everyone's suggestions, I think it's time I took another trip to Penzey's.

Hey, Bean, Spice House has Foxpoint, it just has a different name, it's called Lakeshore Drive Seasoning there. I've gotten it from them, too.

Here is a link that might be useful: The Spice House - Lakeshore Drive

Top of my list..
Smoked Paprika
Sandwich Sprinkle (I love it on french fries!)
Brady St Cheese Sprinkle
Galena St Rub
Korjenti Cinnamon
Cajun Hot

Just got back from Penzeys about half an hour ago; had to replenish some items! My very favorite spice from there is the Extra Fancy Vietnamese cinnamon. Other favorites are:
Ozark Seasoning
Northwood Seasoning
Cumin
Smoked Spanish Paprika

Lets talk cinnamon. I was going to get the Korjenti Cinnamon, now I am leaning toward Extra Fancy Vietnamese or China Casssia. Those who have tried all of the above, what really is the difference? Is the Vietnamese really that much stronger?

I am looking at all the blends because I don't have many of those and they are so great to have around. I have a whole drawer full of herbs and spices so trying to get really different ones.

I am also thinking of getting the natural cocoa instead of the Dutch which I always use. Is that cocoa stronger like it says? I am thinking of all the baking I will do in the upcoming holidays.

I wish our Costco had vanilla beans. Ours don't have much in regards to spices. Thanks again to everyone for their input.
Clare

Oh, thanks Dishes! That's great! It means I can get everything I need there now except the Greek, and I'm pretty sure I can make a decent replica of that myself.

Cinnamon - I can't say one is "better" than the other, but they are very different. The Ceylon is mor delicate and bright and traditional to European baking. It has an almost citrus note to it. The Korintje isn't a "true" cinnamon, but a cassia. It's what we're most used to here in the US - a little stronger with a bitterish edge to it. The Vietnamese "cinnamon" (Also a cassia) is extremely aromatic and has a stronger flavor and a bit of sweet heat to it (think heat as in the way ginger has heat, not like jalapeno). Personally, I really like the Vietnamese best, but sometimes I will mix it with the Ceylon. Depends on what I'm making with it.

If it were me? I'd get small jars of each and play around with them.

beanthere_dunthat - Thanks for the information on cinnamon. So Korintje is like the ones you buy in the grocery store. I guess I will go with Vietnamese then, to try something different. I can mix it with the other and get a different flavor as an added bonus.

I almost have a list, then change my mind. And I am going to go over my gift card. Oh well it can be an early present to me!
Clare

It's probably a lot fresher and more flavorful than what you would get in the store, but the flavor profile would be the same.

BTW, the cocoa? Don't bother, IMO. I found it to be nothing special. Droste is just as good, if not better.

Definitely the Vietnamese over the Dutch cinnamon, the smell alone will help you make the decision! I really liked the Chicago seasoning, the smokey flavor is wonderful on grilled steaks or chops. I also bought a bag of dried parsely, there's is much fresher tasting than other dried types.
The Mural of Flavor is a terrific salt free blend and conversely the Sandwich Sprinkle is a great addtion to egg salad. Don't miss the Double Vanilla!!!

We have sticky pecan rolls nearly every Saturday morning for breakfast. I remember the first time I used something other than "Cheap-Giant-Container-Cinnamon" from Sam's Club on the cinnamon rolls - using Chinese Cassia Cinnamon from Penzeys for the first time. WOW! What a taste experience! Even hubby noticed the wonders of the new cinnamon. I was a worshiper at the Penzeys Herb/Spice throne from there on out.

-Grainlady

Count me in as another Fox Point fan. In addition to the other uses meantioned, I love it in scrambled eggs. Yum!

I've been happy with all the individual spices I've ordered from them. I haven't ordered too many of the blends. Next time I order I'll add a few mentioned here.

I was given a sample of the pasta sprinkle, but didn't care for it.

Sharon S.