Mediterranean Grilled Eggplant with Naturally Free Spice Blends

Naturally Free Spice Blends: A Cook’s Favorite “Easy Button” {Mediterranean Grilled Eggplant Recipe}

Publisher Note: Today’s post supports a good friend to Scratch Mommy in her new business endeavor. Loriel has been one of the biggest cheerleaders for Scratch Mommy, pretty much from the start. I hope that you enjoy the recipe that Contributor Claire shares here using Loriel’s UhMaaaaZing new organic, non-irradiated spice blends. You are going to *love* Naturally Free!
Make sure you read to the bottom where you receive a coupon code to save 15% off of your purchase!

Mediterranean Grilled Eggplant with Naturally Free Spice Blends
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When I first started on my “Life From Scratch” journey, ditching almost any packaged “convenience” product was Step Numero Uno.

It didn’t take long to realize just how convenient convenience products are.

Don’t get me wrong, the health benefits are great and it’s been really rewarding (… and fun!) to challenge myself in the kitchen. So, there has never a moment where I was ready to turn back towards convenience… But, if we are being honest, some things have been easier than others.

And, honestly? Salad dressing have been surprisingly hard.

It’s mainly because in my kitchen, salad dressing serves a dual purpose. Not just for salads, but also as quick, easy marinades for meat and veggies.

There are days when I have all the energy and drive in the world to make a natural ingredient salad dressing from scratch. Then there are other days where I just want to press the Easy Button.

The problem is, I have never found said “easy button.”

But, I have found Naturally Free Handcrafted Spice Blends, by Loriel of Naturally Loriel and it’s pretty much the same thing.

At Naturally Loriel, Loriel Adams, a mom from Florida, shares her stories of trying to live a more natural life. She owns quite the flock of backyard chickens; dabbles in gardening; whips up great, real food recipes in her kitchen; and recreates traditionally chemical laden products with natural ingredients.

And, that is exactly what she has done with her Naturally Free Spice Blends.

What started as blends of organic, non-irradiated spices that she made in her own kitchen for her family and friends, has evolved into a brand new business. Her products include Italian Seasoning, Taco Seasoning and French Onion Seasoning.

Most spice blends that you find at the store are likely to be packed with chemicals, fillers and other unnatural ingredients to extend their shelf life. For example, prepackaged taco seasoning contains additives like maltodextrin, silicon dioxide, and Ethoxyquin. (Google these if you are interested in nightmares…) Not to mention, it is also the source of sodium levels so high that they equate to the recommended daily intake.

Instead, with Naturally Free, Loriel promises that her spice mixtures are only made with 100% real spices that you could find in your own cabinet.

Instead of making sure your cabinet is stocked with everything and spending time measuring things out, you can hit the Naturally Free “Easy Button.”

Talk about a time saver.

I saved a bit of time in the kitchen over the weekend when we had friends pop in for dinner unexpectedly. I owe much of our great meal to Naturally Free.

Since the friends were unexpected and, initially, weren’t planning on staying for dinner, I had not done any shopping. But, the visiting went from one hour to two and before you knew it we were within the dinner hour.

The conversation lead to ideas like going out to eat; but, that was silly to me. I have so much coming out of my garden right now and the night was perfect for grilling. It didn’t make sense to spend money on food elsewhere.

My eggplants in particular were looking great.

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“So, now I just have to get a little creative,” I thought as I walked to the pantry only to be greeted by Loriel’s Italian Seasoning.

With friends to visit with and chicken to grill, I decided to scrap creativity and punch that “Easy Button.”

Naturally Free Italian Seasoned Grilled Eggplant
Author: 
Recipe type: Side Dish
 
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Put the olive oil, balsamic and Italian Seasoning in a small bowl and whisk until just combined.
  2. Put eggplant slices in a large bowl.
  3. Pour the mixture over the sliced eggplant and let marinate for about 20 minutes.
  4. Place the marinated eggplant on a warm grill rack.
  5. Let them brown about 3-4 minutes.
  6. A grill plate on the stove top or even a panini press will do the trick too!
I let the sliced eggplant marinate in the spices, a little balsamic vinegar and oil while I fired up the grill. Once we were really cooking, I let them join the chicken.

The zesty flavors of the Mediterranean dressed up the slightly charred earthy, eggplant making it a perfect, nutritious, and easy side dish.

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If you’re looking for some easy, organic, non-irradiated spice blends, look no further than Naturally Free. You won’t be disappointed!

Grab Loriel’s Naturally Free spice blends right now for 15% off!!!!

Use coupon code – SM15 – during checkout and see 15% roll off of your total.

Naturally Free provided product for this review, but all opinions are my own. Scratch Mommy is an affiliate of Naturally Free (and you, too, are going to *love* her healthy, organic spice blends).

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