Ray's Take

Spices
- My spice mix (see below)
- Salt
- Garlic powder (granulated garlic)
- Onion powder
- Oregano / Italian herbs
- Black pepper
- Red pepper flake
- Sazon
- Adobo

Condiments
- Mayo, Best foods low fat mayo
- Ketchup, Heinz no sugar added
- Mustard, Grey poupon
- Soy sauce, Kikkoman low sodium (green one)
- Sesame oil, Kadoya
- Oyster sauce, lee kum kee panda
- Chipotle peppers
- Red wine vinegar
- Sherry vinegar

My spice mix, soon to be "your spice mix" - highly recommended
How I use: I have an old large spice container (costco size) where I will add roughly 3/4 garlic powder, and the rest onion powder and salt. I use this on EVERYTHING including meat, veggies, guacamole, and everything else. I highly recommend you make your own mix like this, with the following tips:
- Make sure salt is at most 1/4 of your mix. Mine is probably 1/5. This lets you sprinkle the mix heartily without making anything too salty -> more flavor, not too salty.
- Add whatever spices you like (that don't include salt) for the rest. If you don't know, just start with garlic powder 3/4 and salt 1/4. If you like black pepper, add some. If you like onion, add onion powder, If you like spicy, add red pepper flake. Just make sure its mostly spices and not salt. Now it's your spice mix.
- You don't need to measure exactly. Just eye it. It's fine. All garlic powders are different intensity and salts have different saltinesses.
- My process is: Add a bunch of garlic powder (kirkland) in the container, then add 1/4 to 1/5 the amount of garlic powder of fine sea salt (kirkland), then add about the same amount of onion powder as salt. That's it. The exact measurements don't matter. Feel free to start with this process.

Salt
How I use: In my spice mix so on literally everything. I like to add more salt than average to everything.
Where I buy: I've been using Costco Kirkland fine sea salt.
What to know: Different salts have different levels of saltiness....yes its true (influenced by size/shape). So just know that. Also, don't buy the Morton's iodized salt. It's cheap but its been stripped away of everything. I found i was getting leg cramps, but then after switching to sea salt, they went away.

Garlic powder (granulated garlic)
How I use: In my spice mix.
Where I buy: Costco.
Notes: Make sure its no salt added.

Onion powder
How I use: In my spice mix.
Where I buy: Costco.
Notes: Make sure its no salt added.

Oregano
How I use: In pasta sauces or carnitas usually.
Where I buy: Amazon, I use McCormick and buy large size.
Notes: You can add a lot of oregano to savory, non-asian dishes and its usually good.

Italian seasoning
Basically the same as oregano. Decide which one you like better

Black pepper
How I use: I actually am not a huge fan of black pepper on most things. Fresh cracked on salad is ok, or on steak. I don't really like it on most things. I do use it in my Asian salad dressing.
Where I buy: Any fresh cracked pepper. Haven't found a favorite. I don't like the pre-cracked Kirkland one.

Red pepper flake
How I use: Occassionally on veggies or meat. I don't love spicy
Where I buy: Costco if they have it.