Chinese 5 Spice Powder is mainly prepared with 5 spices but it's not limited in that way. 5 Spice is more of a name then a set of rules. Yet this is my take on Chinese 5 spice, a basic spice blend which is rather versatile and can be used in so many ways in your food. See for recipe ideas in the post.
Weigh or count out all your whole spices. Keep a small frying pan on the heat and place your spices into it. Dry roast the spices so that the aroma of each spice is released and activated. Once you can smell the spices you can take them from the heat.
Allow the spices to cool down completely. Place the spices in a blender and turn into a powder.
If there are any small spice pieces left in your spice blend, strain the 5 spice through a fine sieve and take the rough stuff bake to the blender to turn into a smooth mixture.
Use your spice blend directly in a dish or store in an airtight container.
This is a recipe for a smaller quantity. Double the ingredients to make more, however, spice blends should be always made freshly if possible. Besides, you won't need that much of five spice powder in your cooking so the quantity might just be enough for a couple of uses and then, of course, you can always make more in the future.
If you really don't get Sichuan pepper, then leave it out but only if you must. I would personally not make this spice blend without Sichuan pepper.
Store the spice blend in a glass jar and keep away from humidity heat and sunlight.