Buffalo Spice

“I wanna really, really, really wanna zig-a-zig ah”

Theme song by The Spice Girls “Wannabe” from Spice
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I’ve never understood the idea of a “guilty pleasure” especially when it comes to music. Either you dig the song or you don’t. Where’s the guilt coming from? Is it some peer pressure music nerd notion that some bands are “cool” and others are “lame”? Whatever. I stopped being hip a long time ago (though honestly not sure I ever was hip) and don’t really give a damn about the “coolness” of the music I like. Plus, the Top 40 Pop Crap of today can easily turn into Iconic Classics in 20+ years. I have been known to defend Britney Spears and N’Sync from dismissal as “factory manufactured pop” by citing a little label from Detroit that did pretty much the same thing in the ’60s. It’s all a matter of perspective.

No, The Spice Girls are not Motown Icon Artist level, but they are certainly, through the filter of time, a major influence on pop culture and music. I worked at Astralwerks Records during The Spice Girls rise and reign and can attest to the fact many stereos in a hip NYC underground dance label were blasting “Wannabe.” And rightfully so! It’s joyous fucking pop music with a great beat AND you can dance to it! If you can’t embrace the sheer infectious joy of The Spice Girls, you might just be dead inside.

I’m fairly sure this started as a seasoning for Nothing Compares 2 Blue, and I still use it often for grilling chicken, but my primary use now is Buffalo Cauliflower. Slow roasting cauliflower rubbed with this mix transforms a bland vegetable into a delicious substitute for chicken with The Great White Buffalo Salad and Cauliflower Dreamin’ being two examples. Oh yeah – and it’s killer on chicken wings or seitan nuggets.

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BUFFALO SPICE
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon mustard powder
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Mix with a spoon or your fingers to combine. Store in an airtight container.