Spice Racks Blog

I was over at a friend’s house last week, helping out with some holiday baking (Chocolate and Cherry Rugelach - you guys, they were soo good, if I do say so myself!). I always love getting a chance to see how somebody else sets up their kitchen - it’s always a good way to get some new tips! Anyway, my pal Beth doesn’t have wall mounted kitchen cabinets. So, she keeps her spices in a drawer. She told me that for the longest time, she would just toss the spice bottles in there - only to waste time later on looking for bottles that rolled out of order. Now she has a clever rack insert, and everything stays nice and organized. I have to say, it looked pretty dang good!

I found this drawer style spice rack. This one is made from chromed steel, and holds up to 12 spice bottles. I checked, and this rack also comes with 84 labels (most are pre-printed, but there are some blank ones). Plus, this rack is pretty stable - so you can easily take it out of the drawer for marathon cooking sessions, and then plunk it back in when you’re all done. Storing spices in a drawer is a great solution for practically any kitchen. Admit it - you’ve got that one drawer in your kitchen that’s just kind of filled with junk, right? I know I do! So, clean it it out, put in a drawer style rack, and make that drawer into a productive member of your kitchen!

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!

“People love cinnamon. It should be on tables in restaurants along with salt and pepper. Anytime anyone says, “Oh! This is so good. What’s in it?” The answer invariably comes back, Cinnamon. Cinnamon. Again and again.” - Jerry Seinfeld

Cinnamon. It truly is one of my favorite spices. Whether it’s a cinnamon babka, or just cinnamon toast, sometimes I feel like I’m addicted to it! Cinnamon is actually the bark of a laurel tree native to Sri Lanka. Did you know that Aristotle wrote about Cinolmolgus, the Cinnamon Bird? He believed this bird lived in Arabia, and used cinnamon to build its nests. People would collect the cinnamon by toppling the nests. Later on, Pliny the Elder ruined the fun by saying there was no Cinnamon Bird, and such stories were just made up to drive up the price of cinnamon. What a spoilsport! Pliny the Buzzkill, more like it!

Besides being delicious, cinnamon is starting to gain some notice for having some mega health benefits. Studies have shown that half a teaspoon daily can help reduce LDL (the “bad”) cholesterol. It also has a regulatory effect on blood sugar.

How do you like to use cinnamon? I love it with oatmeal, or on peanut butter sandwiches. I’ve also realized that cinnamon pairs well with beef. I like putting a small amount (we’re talking half a teaspoon) in bolognese sauce for pasta, as well as using it in a rub for short ribs. But, go lightly! Add too much, and it gets a little weird.  

And, of course. The king. The champion of breakfasts, and late afternoon snacks. Cinnamon Toast. I have such a love of cinnamon toast, that I’ve made a dedicated shaker for the cinnamon sugar. I took one of my empty spice jars (like one of these Glass Spice Bottles from Stacks And Stacks), and filled it with cinnamon, sugar, and half of a vanilla bean. Shake over toasted, buttered bread (I like sourdough), and enjoy!

So, how are you using cinnamon? Whether you’ve got a new recipe, or are just using it to build a nest (I still believe in you, Cinolmolgus!), let me know!

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?
• 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?