I make it a practice never to cook without spices of some kind. That is because I simply cannot tolerate a dish that is blah and bland.

While I sometimes make my own spice blends, every once and a while I turn to an outstanding product that is already on the market. One of my favorites of all time is Tony Chachere's Spice N' Herbs Seasoning.

I love this spice blend because it works well with just about any type of food you can imagine. The one exception, of course, might be desserts. However, even a few of those can benefit from a spicy kick.

Tony Chachere's began with a focus on Creole classic foods back in 1972. That's when Chef Tony decided to retire from the restaurant biz but still wanted to keep his hand in the food till.

Tony wrote a book entitled Cajun Country Cookbook and, inside it, he spilled the beans about his unique blend of spices and herbs. Most people; however, wanted the seasoning already done for them and letters poured in requesting that Tony market his secret recipe.

He did just that, originally focusing on his most popular blend of Creole seasoning. But it was so popular and grew so quickly that he soon expanded his line.

At the age of 75, in 1980, Tony finally did retire and turned the reigns of the business over to his son Alex and his grandson, Don. They expanded the business further to include fish fry mixes, cornbread dressings, injectible marinades and dozens of additional products.

While people can now enjoy a wide range of Tony Chachere's products, including complete meals, the favorite in the line remains Tony's amazing seasoning blends.

Tony Chachere's Spice N' Herbs Seasoning includes basil, bay leaf, black pepper, garlic, miscellaneous (secret) spices, oregano, red pepper, salt and thyme. This delicious seasoning can be used in place of salt.

Let's talk nutrition. A serving size of Tony Chachere's Spice N' Herbs Seasoning is ¼ tsp., which is equal to 1 gram. There are approximately 142 servings inside each 5-oz container.

Tony Chachere's Spice N' Herbs Seasoning contains no calories, fat, carbohydrates, cholesterol or sugar. It does; however, contain 260 milligrams of sodium. Unfortunately, Tony Chachere's Spice N' Herbs Seasoning has no nutritional value whatsoever.

This seasoning is good for grilling as well as for blackening meat dishes. However, it is equally good for flavoring your favorite Italian dish.

Tony Chachere's Spice N' Herbs Seasoning can be found in most major supermarket chains and even in some discount department stores that have an extensive food department.

Here is my summary review:

Taste: 5 stars. It is spicy without being overpowering and salty without ramping up the sodium intake.

Ease of use: 5 stars. Tony Chachere's Spice N' Herbs Seasoning is easy to use. Just shake it into your dish as you cook or bring it to the table and allow your guests to use as much or as little as they like.

Nutrition: 3 stars. This seasoning doesn't have any nutritional value. On the flip side; however, it contains little, outside of salt, that will hurt you.

Green rating: 4 stars. Tony Chachere's Spice N' Herbs Seasoning comes in a combination cardboard, plastic, and metal container. It you remove the outer paper label and clean the shaker thoroughly, it could be reused in the kitchen or even for crafts.

Packaging: 5 stars. This delicious spice n' herb seasoning comes in a colorful green, blue and red container that resembles an oversized salt shaker. A caricature of Chef Tony graces the label along with Tony Chachere's logo. The packaging is colorful and clever, making it easy to spot on the grocery store shelf.

Variety: 5 stars. Tony Chachere's now provides a range of seasonings which include, but are not necessarily limited to their Original Creole Seasoning, Spicy Seasoning, Lite Seasoning, Salt Free Seasoning and Gumbo File. They also have dinner mixes, entrees, roux and gravy mixes, meat pies and sweets. There is likely to be something for everyone in the Tony Chachere's line.

Ease of storage: 5 stars. The container is small measuring 4 ½" in height and 2 ½" in diameter. It should fit easily into any kitchen pantry or cabinet as well as inside many drawers and a few spice racks.

Availability: 5 stars. Most large retail supermarket chains now carry Tony Chachere's products. They can also be found in major discount department stores that have a large food section.

Price: 5 stars. The price is more than reasonable at under $2 per container. With 142 servings inside, that works out to mere pennies overall.

Product purchase probability: 5 stars. I love Tony Chachere's Spice N' Herbs Seasoning. I wouldn't be without it.

Final rating: 4.7 stars. This seasoning is one of the best on the market today.

RATING SCALE:

5 stars – outstanding
4 stars – good
3 stars – average
2 stars – below average
1 star – poor