Spice Racks Blog

One of the poorest and least developed countries in the world, Haiti in recent years has struggled with problems ranging from near-constant political upheaval, health crises, severe environmental degradation and an annual barrage of hurricanes, which killed an estimated 800 people and caused vast damage in 2008.

On Jan. 12, 2010, a massive earthquake struck Haiti, reducing much of its capital to rubble. It was the worst earthquake in the region in more than 200 years. Since then, there have been aftershocks, causing even more devastation.

It’s far too easy to feel powerless to help in the face of such heartbreaking news. But you can help!

To give to the Red Cross, phone users can text the word “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10, and when prompted, hit “YES” to confirm the donation.

The donation is added to the cell user’s bill, and receipts are available.

Other text-message codes for donations include:

• Text the word “HAITI” to 20222 to donate $10 to the Clinton Foundation Haiti Relief Fund.

• Text “HAITI” to 25383 to donate $5 to the International Rescue Committee.

• Text “HAITI” to 85944 to donate $10 to the International Medical Corps.

Also, some of my favorite companies have started donation campaigns for relief work in Haiti. Through January 28, StacksAndStacks.com will be donating $10 on every order over $100 dollars to the American Red Cross. You can make this a philanthropic double whammy - buy some organizing supplies for a local charity in your neighborhood, and if you spend over $100 dollars, you’ll be helping Haiti as well! It’s a new version of “Think Globally, Act Locally” - it’s “Act Locally, Act Globally”!

Hi everybody! It’s been a while since we’ve had a spice of the week, and I figured the New Year was the perfect time to do it. While searching through my library of spice lore, I found out an interesting fact about Allspice. It’s often sprinkled into a candle flame for good luck. Isn’t that just the neatest? I’m definitely going to add that to my New Year’s Eve good luck seeking regimen.

Allspice is also known as the Jamaican Pepper. It started being called allspice by the British, because it reminded them of a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. That’s right. Allspice is an individual spice - not a mixture of spices. Crazy, right? It’s finding out things like that which make my degree in spice history worthwhile.

The fruit is picked when it is green and unripe and, traditionally, dried in the sun. When dry, the fruits are brown and resemble large brown peppercorns. The whole fruits have a longer shelf life than the powdered product and produce a more aromatic product when freshly ground before use.

The leaves of the allspice plant are also used in Island cooking. For cooking, fresh leaves are used where available: they are similar in texture to bay leaves and are thus infused during cooking and then removed before serving. Unlike bay leaves, they lose much flavour when dried and stored and so do not figure in commerce. The leaves and wood are often used for smoking meats where allspice is a local crop. Allspice can also be found in essential oil form.

Allspice is one of the most important ingredients of Caribbean cuisine. Could you imagine jerk chicken without allspice? Well, don’t even try to imagine it, because it would be totally bland and awful. So, say hello to 2010 with the hot new spice of the second decade of this century: Allspice!!

Looking to buy some of the finest allspice ever? Check out the selection at The Spice House.

A little geek, and plenty chic! I love the look of this Test Tube Spice Rack. It’s perfect for those mad scientist moods we all get in (right? It’s not just me, is it?). You can use the pre-printed labels, which are pretty extensive. There are also blank labels for your more esoteric spices. Okay - and since the holidays are coming up, this is actually a great gift - with a little personalization!

• If you have a Harry Potter fan in your life, you can fill them with various spices and tinted waters for a Potions Class themed gift! Who couldn’t use some Veritaserum in their lives?
• Or fill it with red food coloring and water, and make a fun vampire themed gift for the True Blood or Twilight fanatic on your shopping list.
• For a more practical tip, if you make a signature dish that your friends love, fill the tubes with the spices you use, and give them this rack along with the recipe.
• Finding a gift for a baker? Fill the tubes with sanding sugars, sprinkles, and other edible decorations!

What else? I feel as if there’s a lot of gifting potential with these babies! Any ideas?

I admit it, I’m kind of clumsy. I go into craft projects with the best of intentions, but if my fingertips don’t end up getting glued together at least once, well - it just hasn’t been a full day! Also, that whole ‘measure twice, cut once’ advice - that one just doesn’t seem to sink in.

And that’s why I love these Hardwood Spice Racks. They’re hand crafted - and my hands had nothing to do with it! They are so simple, and have a timeless charm. They can either sit on a countertop, inside a cabinet, or you can even mount them to a wall. I found these at Stacks And Stacks, and they’re available in two lengths - 16 or 24 inches. So, until I take that remedial wood shop class, I’m going to take pride in these racks!

Plus, there’s something so nice about the natural beauty of hardwood. It seems like there’s a big push these days for chrome, or metal, or stainless steel, or aluminum kitchen accessories. And all of those are nice, but sometimes it’s nice to get back to nature. After all, we’re not robots! Why should we feel like our kitchens should look like some sort of robot emporium? All that metal can be so cold!

Since I’ve got such a great response to my last post, in which I discussed the prevalence of spice in the movie Dune, I’ve decided to talk about another important pop culture phenomena related to spice. I refer to, of course, The Spice Girls.

Wikipedia tells us that The Spice Girls were a British pop girl group formed in 1994. They consisted of Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice), Melanie Brown (Scary Spice), Emma Bunton (Baby Spice), Melanie Chisholm (Sporty Spice), and Geri Halliwell (Ginger Spice). According to the BBC and The Times, they are the most successful girl group of all time.

They were signed to Virgin Records and released their debut single, “Wannabe”, in 1996. The song hit number one in 31 countries and helped establish the group as a “global phenomenon”. Credited for being the pioneers that paved the way for the commercial breakthrough of teen pop in the 1990s. Their first album, Spice, sold more than 23 million copies worldwide, becoming the best-selling album by a female group in music history. They have sold 60 million records worldwide with only four albums and twelve singles, making them the most successful British band since the Beatles, and the best selling girl group of all time.

Today, the Spice Girls are Spice Women, and unfortunately do not perform together anymore. Luckily, you can always rent the movie “Spice World” to relive their particular brand of magic. Don’t worry, I’ll be reviewing “Spice World” in the future! I’m just waiting for the Netflix to arrive.

I don’t know why some savvy marketer never made a blend of spices named after the Spice Girls. Let’s try to do it ourselves. Starting with Posh Spice. Hmmm…I think Posh Spice would be a blend of saffron, vanilla, and cardamom - those are the world’s most expensive spices, you know!

I was watching the movie ‘Dune’ the other night, and realized, you know what - they just don’t make enough movies about spices anymore. It seems like there’s a bunch of movies about chocolate. There’s “Like Water For Chocolate”. And “Chocolat”. And I’m sure there’s a bunch of others, but you don’t see any movies called “Allspice” or “Tellicherry Peppers”. Get on it, Hollywood. Anyway, ‘Dune’ is a good science fiction movie that also is about the importance of spices. In fact, in the movie you need Melange (the spice) to extend your life, or travel through space, or just to be powerful. Sting is in the movie, which I thought was kind of strange, but it was the 80s! Anyway, I’m not sure how it ended, because I fell asleep, but it seems like a really interesting movie! I give it four Cinnamon Sticks out of five!

Anyway, though they talk a lot about Spice in the movie, they don’t talk about spice racks very much. As you see, I added a picture of a space age spice rack into the the movie still above. But let’s get a closer look at the rack in question:

Look at that beauty! It’s certainly a great spice rack for Paul Atreides (played by Desperate Housewives star Kyle MacLachlan). This Stainless Steel Carousel Spice Rack is a great spice rack for this, or any other universe. It has a patented auto measure dial dispenser that measures and dispenses spices in precise increments. One click for 1/4 tsp., two clicks for 1/2 tsp., etc. The individual dispensers will accommodate the entire contents of a standard spice bottle, and have large openings to accommodate measuring spoons and volume pouring, as well as shaker tops. Great for your counter, or stash it in your cabinet. Or your spaceship!

Have you ever had to stash your spices away? You know how it is, sometimes you have people with food allergies who come over, and you have to be sure to hide away any possible allergens. Also, you know how some rude people go to other peoples houses and rummage through their medicine cabinets? Well, I’ve had that happen - but instead of my medicine cabinet, people are going through my spice rack! I’m pretty sure my friend Missy sneaked off with a bottle of fennel pollen that I had! Just kidding! (Not really - give it back, Missy!).

Anyway, sometimes you need to be able to secure your spices. One way to do that is to have a spice rack that can go from counter, to drawer, to even under your bed if you need to. That’s why I like combination Drawer/Counter Spice Racks. This 20 Bottle Magnetic Spice Rack is ready for any location!

The versatile design of this wooden spice rack allows you to use it inside a drawer, or standing on the counter!  The spice organizer includes 20 bottles with clear tops for easy viewing, and magnetic backs for sturdiness when standing.  The free standing spice rack converts easily to a slide out spice rack, so you can change it up depending on your kitchen’s needs.  Made from eco-friendly bamboo, the drawer spice rack features a modern steel front for great kitchen aesthetics!

So, as you see - just because you’re feeling paranoid about people getting at your spices, it doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style! What ways do you have to ensure that your secret blends of herbs and spices stay a secret? Let me know in the comments!

Hey everybody! How have you all been?  I recently took some time off, and went to Greece for an extended vacation. I figured that going to Greece would be a great way to get over my  divorce, and I was right! Now I’m back, recharged and ready! Now I’m ready to get back to telling y’all about the latest and greatest in spice racks.

One of the most famous things in Greece is the Parthenon! I saw the Parthenon, and I could only think of one thing when I saw it (No, not Gerard Butler’s abs in ‘300′!). First - take a look at the Parthenon:

Now, take a look at this Wall Mounted Magnetic Spice Rack:

The resemblance is totally there, right? That’s why when I saw the Parthenon, I thought of this Wall Mounted Magnetic Spice Rack - and I knew I was ready to go home. This spice rack is pretty much a full set. It comes with twelve bottles, labels, and the rack! You know how some spice bottles flip open, and you spill everything? Not with this one - the canisters have locking mechanisms, which keep your spices inside! You can mount the spice rack to your wall, and the magnetic canisters attach to the rack. It’s a great way to keep your spices organized, that’s for sure.

Travel is a great way to clear your mind, and remind you of the important things in life. Plus, it can inspire you to see your spice racks in a different way when you get home. Like Mark Twain said “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness”. It’s also fatal to taking your spice racks for granted. It was nice to get away, but it sure is nice to be home again!

So, circumstances change. One day, you may be living in a big house with a large kitchen. Then, you notice a bunch of suspicious phone numbers on your husband’s cell phone bill. Then, you ask him about the numbers, and you get a whole song and dance about ‘work’.  Then, you dismiss it all by feeling that you’ve been paranoid. Then, you find charges on the credit card to the Olive Garden, when you haven’t been there since your anniversary. Then, next thing you know, you’ve moved out to a studio apartment. We’ve all been there, right?

While it’s good having my own space, I’m still trying to find ways to store my old spices (no, not the cologne! Thankfully I don’t have to deal with that anymore). One thing that I’ve found is that kitchen drawer inserts make terrific ad hoc spice racks!

Nice and simple, right? Just because you’re cooking for one, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t treat yourself right! Plus, it frees up a lot of room in my kitchen cabinets, which is great because, as you know, it’s Girl Scout Cookie season. With the room I’ve gained in my cupboards, I have lots of room to lay in my annual supply of Thin Mints. Remember, the three food groups are chocolate, chocolate, chocolate! Ack!

This drawer insert is made from clear plastic, and holds spice bottles at an angle, so that they’re easy to see. It’s also a good choice for a bedside table, as it can hold prescription bottles of anti-anxiety medication, as well as menthol inserts for a humidifier!

So, have you been switching things up in your life lately? Remember, variety is the spice of life!

Can you believe it’s St. Patrick’s day already? It seems like Christmas was just last week. And Valentine’s Day seems like it was only yesterday. But here we are - it’s another holiday already!

One of my favorite things about St. Patrick’s Day, besides Shamrock Shakes from McDonalds, is Irish Soda Bread. Irish Soda Bread is a great way to get your DSU on! (DSU stands for Daily Spice Use. I’m trying some new acronyms, like Rachael Ray does. Let me know what you think!).  Traditionally, Irish Soda Bread uses caraway - and I certainly don’t want to break with tradition, but I can’t help adding some extra spices TTM (to the mix!). Here’s the recipe I use:

Irish Soda Bread with A Kick

2 c. all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp. baking soda

3 tbsp. sugar

1/2 c. currants

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground ginger

1 tbsp. caraway seeds

1 c. buttermilk

Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar together. Add spices and currants. Stir in buttermilk to make a soft dough. Knead dough on a lightly floured board for about 1 minute (it’s a loose dough, so don’t feel that you need to add extra flour). Then shape it into a round loaf and put it into an 8 inch greased round pan. Pat flour lightly over the top surface. Then cut a cross shape into the top. Bake at 350 degrees in oven for 40 minutes. Bread should have hollow sound when you tap it.

Irish soda bread is tasty whether you serve it with dinner, or have it toasted with tea. Or, with a neat glass of whiskey. I don’t judge.