For starters, hello! Here I am…first post. Welcome to my blog. The “About Me” tab above will give you a little more info.
Now, about that spice cabinet and it’s tired state. Few things are more disappointing than a perfectly put together chicken curry and roasted cauliflower that lacks punch. It’s really enough to reduce me to a puddle of tears. All of that slicing, dicing, chopping, and spice blending was for what? A bland puddle of yellow that only teases me with real curry flavor. The horror. I’m not going to be victimized by the lackluster spice cabinet again! Here’s my plan:
Every end of September and March (the start of my two favorite cooking seasons), I’m firing all of the spices in my cabinet. Buh-bye! Tossing them out. Washing my hands of them. Never looking back. Then, I’m going to have my driver (husband) to take me directly to the bulk section for a restocking excursion. Of course I can drive myself to the store, but I must have at least one glass of wine before venturing to spend a good 40 minutes in the bulk spice aisle. I’m not sure why, but purchasing bulk spices is a seriously dreadful task in my world. I think it’s the small baggies, lack of writing room on the tie, and tying over and over. Monotony makes me crazy. Wine makes it bearable. If you’re worried about throwing away that unused portion just consider the chicken and how unfair it is to make it simmer in all of that color minus flavor. It’s for the chickens folks… oh, and your taste buds. Toss the 0.48 worth of flavorless powder, it’s so last year.
Before I head out, I’ll make a note of my most used spices from last season so I can attempt to buy a little better. Now, a few staples I use often enough that they are always fresh in my cupboard, but the rest of those dead little dusty’s have got to go!
I love mixing my own spice blends and am always inspired by my big pile of little baggies when I get home. After I put them all in their new small jar home I’ll get busy blending up a few of the star players like curry, fajita seasoning, warm breakfast blend, and more.
I’ll be sure to share the mixes as I use them. For now, I’ll leave you with my breakfast blend. This is a favorite in my house on buttered toast, blended into a waffle mix, added with a little vanilla to warm maple syrup, and even sprinkled on coffee. You can even add a little cayenne and roast almonds in it. Go ahead, get crazy! I leave it on the counter in a spice duster so the kids can use it when they want. Mixing a few new flavors into the tired cinnamon and sugar blend just helps expand their horizons without really pushing the issue. Put the word magic into the name and they won’t be able to resist. Try it!
Magic Breakfast Dust
(make a small batch for starters – use it for a few days and then make your own flavor adjustments)
2 tablespoons each of cinnamon, sugar
1 teaspoon, nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon each salt and clove
I’d love to hear your thoughts about spices, tragic ruins caused by old bland spices, happy bulk aisle dances, and why you chose tap over jazz.
{ 14 comments }
You and your post spiced-up my day! Welcome Family Relish. By the way, if hubby is unavailable to play driver, my hand is in the air… very high! Love you and your blog!
oh, the stories…i did a “cleaning” of my mom’s spice cabinet before i left for college—saw those little cans with expiration dates numbering in the 10+ years old and freaked! i had been baking with what?!?!?
when she noticed, well, turns out she liked the cans–and had just been refilling them….so not only did i toss perfectly good spices, but the cute little spice cans she so enjoyed…oops…good thing she’s a mom–they’re required to love ya!
I have been looking forward to the this first post! I am always on the look out for inspiration when it comes to cooking for my family; you and your blog are definitely inspiring! Can’t wait for more!
Daught,
Love it. I am forwarding this to some culinary challenged cook show wannabes. I have another idea for spices. How about a pay it forward program… Before throwing them all away, write a little description of how you use each one and then give them to a worthy recepient.
Another fun touch would be to give the twins simultaneous tastes of spiced food and then take a photo of them both.
pops
Thank you all for visiting and for commenting. Pops, I like your idea. I’d probably buy a little extra of the new batch so they get fresh full flavored spices. You have some blends to share too – since you are the rub down bbq king!
Way to go Liesel. Love your blog. I was inspired to clean out my spice drawers a few years ago. I bought cute little jars and labeled everything and alphabetized all my spices. However, I had a very hard time throwing out old spices. I’m sure I still have spices from years past! I am a pack rat and just can’t throw anything away. Maybe if I could find a use for the old spices. Any ideas? (bird food, plant food, or weed killer).
Yay Liesel – loving the blog! This is great because I was just thinking how I really need to toss my spices and start fresh. and yes, those baggies and ties drive me crazy too!
Oh Godness! How I know the pain! Slightly unrelated, but the worst is baking powder, soda, or yeast that is older than you realize and the bread/cake/scones don’t rise! Ack!
Waste makes me almost as crazy as “the taste is wrong” so, I actually USE my old spices-I throw them out twice a year like you do. I take a foam ball from the craft store, paint it with glue and roll it in the old spices. (Anything woody works particulary well, and looks very pretty!) Then I pile them in a basket on the table! They still smell nice enough that they give the house that dusty-herby-Witches-Cottage smell that I like, and they don’t go to waste!
Daught,
I suppose i missed the fact of the glob… spices lose their spice after awhile. It would be tacky to give away spiceless spices. Here is another idea… sprinkle them into the shoes in the closet. That way if you are ever at a restaurant and they serve you a particularly bland dish you could take your shoe off.. oh never mind.
pop
Well hellllllloooo!
Love it…all!
XOXO,
Liz
Liesel,
I love your blog and without sounding condescending, I am really proud of you!
With that said, thanks for another mundane task on my “to do” list. Perhaps, your diver would swing by and pick me up too, so we could mix work and pleasure? Wendy
Liesel,
Blog on!
fyi, I added you to my list of faves so I can get to you in one click, and laughed because this is what I see… “Family Relish Blog of Lies”… hee hee! So not.
XOXO,
Lizzie
I looooove the typo in Wendy’s comment.. “Perhaps your diver would swing by and pick me up…” Since i spend a great deal of time complaining about the rain in Oregon, it makes sense to me that someone would hire a diver to take them to the store. This is my first real attempt at globbing and i am loving it. Only there is a problem… i think i might be the only man reading this. I am feeling a bit lonely. If there is another man out there, set aside your machoness and say “Hi”
Liesel! I am so excited that your blog has arrived… I can’t wait to learn learn learn from all you do. I love in your about me section where you say,” that whispers to them, “this woman is nuts about me” with every bite”….. ooooh how I love it. I really want that to be thought in so many areas of my life with my family, and I can certainly say that is not necessarily happening. Thank you for the inspiration. I look forward to what you have in store. And I think the biannual spice renewal is a fabulous idea.
Comments on this entry are closed.