When we hear the culinary term "dry rub", our minds tend to immediately imagine using it on a great steak or on ribs. But dry rubs offer so much more than just lending flavor and moistness to meats. Dry rubs are versatile enough to be used just about anywhere you want a kick of spice and flavor.

Here are a few of our favorite suggestions:

Next time you are making a sandwich, take a bit of your favorite dry rub and mix it with the mustard or mayonnaise. The boost in flavor will take your sandwich from ordinary to extraordinary!

When making a salad dressing, add a bit of dry rub to the mix to kick up the flavor.

Adding a little dry rub to your rice will give you aromatic seasoned rice, perfect with chicken! Dry rubs also work great when used to season casseroles.

Here's a tip for your next party...add some dry rub to your sour cream or yogurt, and voila, you have a great and extra easy dip. This also tastes great when used on baked potatoes!

Speaking of potatoes, sprinkle a spicy dry rub on your fries when they come fresh out of the fryer, and you'll have created your very own seasoned french fries.

Use dry rubs in your sauces to accentuate and accompany the dry rub used on the entree.

Sprinkle a dry rub on your popcorn instead of salt and you won't be disappointed.

Use your favorite chili mix instead of the jar stuff from the grocery store. Chili mixes tend to have a better variety of peppers and more flavor than your standard off the shelf chili powder. Use the mix anywhere you would normally use chili powder.

As you can see, dry rubs really do provide you with a lot of options. As we say at Caroline's Rub, you are only limited by your culinary imagination.

Joe Johnson is a proud Texan and founding partner and chief pit-master with Caroline's Rub, where he is in charge of product promotion and development for their line of gourmet dry rubs, smoked salt, and Texas chili seasoning.