Spice Racks

In my other blog, I discussed at some length what I gave my niece for graduation. When she does finally get her own place, she will be well taken care-of with housewares. My mom and I have stored just about everything she would need, and Niece has been given veto power. If she doesn't like something, it just goes to the Salvation Army.

Today, it occurred to me that one thing Niece will need is a spice rack. It was one of the first things I bought when I moved out. I felt like such an adult as I proudly placed it on the counter next to the stove! So I've been looking around. Here are some of my favorites:

From abodecookware, Define 6. I LOVE teak, and the metal containers are nice, since it's always a good idea to keep spices in darkness. I just wish that for the price, £31.95 plus shipping, we could get more than 6 at a time!

iKitchen has many great choices, and I see that they are having a Memorial Day sale right now. I'm going to record the regular prices, since I don't plan on buying today or tomorrow. First up, the Magnetic Canister set by Pfatlzgraff. I like the idea, but I also think it's important for each spice to be labeled, and that the cook doesn't have to search for the label. It is priced at $41.99. My personal favorite is the KitchenArt Carousel. It is compact, and stackable. There are pre-printed labels to stick on the outside, and it can even measure in 1/4 tsp increments. Ouchie! $49.99 is a bit steep, but a quick eBay drive-by calmed my shocked nerves. I found one listed at $9.99 plus shipping. Before moving on, I have one last favorite from iKitchen. It's also by Pfaltzgraff; a 24-Jar Revolving, with cute little jars and clearly labeled tops. It is pricey at $55.99.

TheTubularSpiceCo is another wonderful site. They have a few outstanding gift sets, one of which comes with a set of measuring spoons, a funnel, and a unique mortar & pestle made of stainless steel. Hm. I don't know if I would use a metal mortar & pestle. Another gift set comes with measuring cups and the tubes are set in a wood block, which is pretty cool. The only problem with the tubes (which I think are groove-o-matic, don't get me wrong) is the cork tops. Cork doesn't last as long as glass. Eventually, the cork will dry out or will get damaged after being used, and what do you do then? The pictured gift set is on sale for $89.99. Check out what they have over there! They also sell organic spices. Yes!

Again, I realize that these are pricey, but I am swooning over this beautiful work of art from Williams-Sonoma. If I had this set, I would probably end up turning the jars inward and using my own personal labeler. It costs a whopping $115.

StacksAndStacks has a few reasonably prices options, and a great selection. I like their square stainless lidded jars with mini-grinders. It can be stored on the counter or on the wall. Great for young people! It has nine jars and comes with labels! Great! I think it's a steal at only $32.99. For small spaces, this stacking spice rack has three drawers, and you can just throw your spices in there as soon as you get home from the store. Also a smart option for young adults. $39.99.

I would love to find some product reviews on some of these items. If anyone has experience or opinions about them, they are welcome to post a comment.

Old Recipes

I have a vast collection of old recipes. The hand-written recipes on 3x5 cards are my favorite. My grandmother gave me many of hers, which contained some of her mother's; who died when my grandmother was only a girl of 15. Wow! That's a long time ago! It's wonderful to have something of my great-grandmother's, written by her own hand, and was valued greatly by her.

My appreciation for these old recipes began when I was in junior high. I was extremely shy as a child. My mom had a unique idea. On Saturdays, we would rise early, stop at Dunkin' Donuts, and head straight for an estate auction somewhere nearby. She would give me $20 and encourage me to bid on whatever I wanted.

I made some great buys. Once I bought an old army trunk full of antique hats and purses. When we got home, I pulled everything out and matched the hats and purses together. My bed was completely covered. I tried on my favorite hat. I grabbed the "matching" purse, and put my Bonne Bell lip gloss in, and pranced around the house for awhile. Soon, I reached in to retrieve the lip gloss. I couldn't feel it. I opened the purse wide, and saw that there was a hole in the lining at the bottom corner.

I fished out the gloss, thereby making the hole even bigger. But I could also feel something else. I fished it out. It was an old $5 bill. I was so excited, I started checking all the purses. From them, I found over $200 in old bills. It was a wonderful lesson, and the people behind their old belongings became fodder for my imagination and appreciation. I spent hours thinking about the previous owners of my finds.

One time, we attended an auction at a beautiful old home. Everything was so fancy, I could not bid, having only $20. One of the last things to be auctioned was an old box full of newspaper clippings, stationary and - that's right - 3x5 cards. I bid on it just because I didn't want to leave empty handed. I got the whole box for $1, as nobody else wanted it.

When I got home, I emptied the box on my bed, as usual. I organized the papers. The recipes stood out to me. Firstly, some of the dishes seemed tasty. Secondly, I thought it an awful large amount of work for a person to print out each of these cards, dozens, maybe over 100 of them. I gathered them up and ran down to the kitchen, where my mom was preparing some Saturday sloppy joes. I showed her the cards with amazement. She laughed, and pulled out her own box. "Here are my favorite recipes. Someday you will have your own box. It makes life easier."

I saw my mother's familiar, neat cursive, patiently instructing the reader how to prepare some of my personal favorite things to eat, such as "Special Occasion Chili Dip" and "Roast Beef Stew." I asked her if I could have her recipes when she dies. "Of course, you can have them any time you want them." I went back to my room to put everything back in the box.


I thought about the lady who had loved those recipes. I wondered how in the world someone could forget about their mother's prized recipes, which were prepared for the health and enjoyment of her family.

Ever since that day, I have never passed up an opportunity to get my hands on hand-written recipes. Somehow, I believe that someone should appreciate them, and I do. I have probably fifty recipes for chocolate cake, but it's not only the recipe that endears it to me. It is the handwriting, the stains from use, the comments added later like "good!" and especially the love that went into the preparation of the food each and every time the card was used.

Summer entertaining and the perfect gift - Bedside Pitcher

I call this the perfect gift, but of course it isn't for everyone. Just MOST people. It is an excellent housewarming gift. I like to give this to anyone who has a guest room whenever the occasion calls for a gift.

Where can you find one of these? They aren't as common as you would think. I have purchased at least a dozen from Pier1, and at only $7.00, it is a KILLER deal, especially when you have to nurture your inner sucker if you fall for Crate & Barrel's pricing for what appears to be the same exact thing at $14.95.


Wrapables offers a slightly different design, which I do not have. Looks cute. I like the handle. But I'm not paying the advertised $21.95 and that's final.



The sad loser is Restoration Hardware. What a disappointment! Nice design, but is it WORTH $25? Do not think so, dear. They do redeem themselves slightly with looks to me to be the most attractive design out of them all, with a price which unfortunately is not as bad as some. They call it their Bottle Carafe.

One might suspect that I am a cheapskate. But it's not the case. As I always say: When you are poor, you are either responsible with what little you have or you are an idiot. The idea of being cheap is not a factor. Anyway.

I may be persuaded to spend a bit extra just because I love VivaTerra. Their version of the above is recycled and seems to have a slight blue-green tint. $24.

The wonderful thing about these little sets is that you do not have to use it for just water. You like mojitos but your friend wants a margarita on the rocks? No problem! Make a small pitcher of each. Great, it's only 10 a.m. and I'm already wishing I had a mojito.

Summer entertaining - 3-in1 Server Set

I could kick myself for not having bought this server over the holidays when I spotted it at a Kirkland's outlet for less than $20. Seems that it is only available online for an arm and a leg plus tax.

A quick comparison search yielded astonishing results:

Highest price was Freshfinds at $39.95. Can't they do any better than that?

Then came Wrapables who advertises it on "sale" for 34.99.

But you can always just get it from Amazon, who you can order it through from Wrapables for the same price.