Spice Racks Blog

I’ve realized it’s been a long time since I’ve done reader questions. So, let’s reach into the old Spice Racks Blog mailbag and see what I have:

Dear Spice Racks Blog,

I love Spice Racks, but my family doesn’t. How can I make them see that spice racks are an integral part of the kitchen.

-Defensive in Des Moines

Dear Defensive,

Well, that’s a very hard question. As you know, I don’t have a family, so it’s hard for me to relate. I’m a sassy independent lady, so I can have as many spice racks as I like. I have one by the front door, and I put little seeds and nut cakes into it for the the birds and the squirrels of the neighborhood. If you like, I could go to your house and install one by your front door, and when your family sees it, I’m sure they’ll fall in love with it. When should I do that? My schedule is pretty open. How about Thanksgiving? I could come by for Thanksgiving. Are you doing dinner? Are you making a turkey? Will there be brussels sprouts – because I’m allergic to them. Really allergic. Like, I can’t even smell them, or I don’t feel well. I could bring a side dish, if you need an extra side dish. I make a sweet potato pie, but instead of sweet potato, I use Cool Whip colored with orange food coloring. It’s really good. Anyway, let me know what time I should be there. I can’t wait!

Dear Spice Racks Blog,

Why do you always write about Spice Racks? Don’t you have any other interests?

- Puzzled in Pasadena

Puzzled,

I’ll have you know that I have many other interests. I like organizing spice bottles, even if there is no spice rack. I have a lot of friends, too. I’m really good friends with some really famous people, and they think that I’m really interesting and we have so much fun all the time. Like when Dorothy Kilgallen came over and I taught her how to french braid hair and we made friendship bracelets. So. Yes.

Dear Spice Racks Blog,

You have to choose one spice rack. Which one do you choose?

- Questioning in Quebec

Dear QQ,

Wow! What a great question! It would have to be a 3 Drawer Spice Organizer which organizes full size bottles. It’s made of plastic, so it’s modern, and it comes with labels, so you don’t have to worry about forgetting which spice is which. That’s the one I would choose, and that’s the one you should choose. You can get it at Stacks and Stacks!

I was organizing my spice racks the other day, and I started thinking about two of my favorite things, the SOHO Five Spice Under Cabinet Rack, and Phil Collins. Do you like Phil Collins? I’ve been a big Genesis fan ever since the release of their 1980 album, Duke. Before that, I really didn’t understand any of their work. Too artsy, too intellectual. It was on Duke where, uh, Phil Collins’ presence became more apparent. I think Invisible Touch was the group’s undisputed masterpiece. It’s an epic meditation on intangibility. Just like how the SOHO Five Spice Under cabinet rack is an epic meditation on the ability to keep five of your favorite spices close at hand, whenever you need them. The strong magnetic backs ensure that the spice jars stay affixed to their complementing board. Much like the magnetic pull I feel towards the music of Phil Collins – at the same time, it deepens and enriches the meaning of the preceding three albums. Listen to the brilliant ensemble playing of Banks, Collins and Rutherford. You can practically hear every nuance of every instrument. In terms of lyrical craftsmanship, the sheer songwriting, this album hits a new peak of professionalism. Take the lyrics to Land of Confusion. In this song, Phil Collins addresses the problems of abusive political authority. In Too Deep is the most moving pop song of the 1980s, about monogamy and commitment. The song is extremely uplifting. It’s almost as uplifting as the holding power of the mounting hardware that comes with the SOHO Five Spice Under Cabinet Rack. The lyrics are as positive and affirmative as anything I’ve heard in rock. Phil Collins’ solo career seems to be more commercial and therefore more satisfying, in a narrower way. Especially songs like In the Air Tonight and Against All Odds. But I also think Phil Collins works best within the confines of the group, than as a solo artist, and I stress the word artist. This is Sussudio, a great, great song, a personal favorite. And here is the SOHO Five Spice Under Cabinet Rack, great for any modern loft apartment.

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!