"Garam masala" is an Indian expression refering to a mixture of dry, ground spices. Indian households often have their own formula. I'm not Indian, but I stumbled upon the following mixture when, near the end of a camping trip out west of the Pecos, I took two spice mixtures, which I'd taken along for different purposes, and combined them into this one grand mixture.

One part each of:

• mustard seeds
• tumeric
• chili powder
• dried red chilis (crushed)
• garlic powder

Two parts each of:

• corriander seed (whole or smashed up a bit)
• cumin seed (whole or smashed up a bit)

The main use of this masala is in Trans-Pecos Stir-Fry