Spice Racks Blog

Sometimes, you crave simplicity. Like the pleasure of freshly washed and ironed cotton sheets. Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudel. Or even brown paper packages tied up with string. Of course, simple things are all the lovelier when they are also useful. So I hope your next brown paper package contains these Unlabeled Spice Bottles.

Plain spice jars are a terrific idea if you’re starting to build your spice collection. You can go to your local store that sells spices in bulk, pick up  a few different ones, and bottle them up at home. If you like your new spice, you can create a label (or just Sharpie the top of the jar!), and add it to your permanent collection. And if you don’t like your new spice (I’m looking at you, chipotle-carraway blend), just wash out the jar and get ready to try a new herb or spice.

Besides storing spices, these unlabeled jars have many other household uses. 

• They’re a perfect way to store glitter for kids art projects. The shaker style tops help to reduce some of the mess from glitter art projects.
• Are you a beader? These jars are terrific for organizing all sorts of beads. From seed beads to hex cuts and faceted beads, these glass jars can keep them sorted. Don’t feel like you’re stranded without a craft organizer - just get some jars.
• These glass jars are also a nice way to display any sort of small collection. I know of people who, during each trip they take, collect a little bit of dirt from the area they’re in. It’s a perfect way to display collections of sand, or small pieces of beach glass. 
• You can also add a little pizazz to your desk by using these jars (with the lids off) to hold small office supplies like paper clips or staples. Sometimes you just need something a little unusual to lift your spirits, and using uncommon items to store common things is a great way to cure the blues.

What would you put in these spice jars? And yes, you could always fill them with spices and put them on your kitchen spice rack!

“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!