It’s getting spicy around here.
Slap my ass and call me Martha. I have a good thing to share for the weekend.
The spice storage area is one of those things that drives me kind of nuts when it’s disorganized. I was preparing dinner last week while a friend was over for a visit. She got a peek inside my spice cupboard and suggested I ‘blog it’ to (a) share a wonderful organizing idea and/or (b) remind you of what a freak I really am. Take your pick.
First of all, I have an entire cupboard devoted to spices and cooking accoutrements. The top shelf is only herbs & spices and the bottom is other seasonings, kitchen string, hot pads etc.(In my old house, I had a drawer in which the spices could stand up with the lids visible but we’re way short on drawer space in this house and my new system keeps everything together.)
On the right, a metal tin containing all of my spice jars. Behind that, a plastic bin containing all of those little refill bags. On the right, the Costco sized containers of spice for things we use more often.
Each of the jars is labelled on top (I heart my label maker - big time) and arranged alphabetically in the bin for easy access. The refills in the back are also alphabetical and I keep a small recipe card in the bin with a list of the refills I have so I don’t purchase doubles.
I keep my refill bags sealed with bag clips from The Pampered Chef (expensive) and, now that I’ve discovered them, from Ikea (cheap, and exactly the same). Just be sure to clip them closed with the name of the spice visible so you don’t have to open things to see which green herb is actually in there.
There. I knew you didn’t have enough to do this weekend. Have fun organizing your spices!
Do you have a good thing to share? Let me know!
November 3rd, 2006 at 11:57 am
*Slap* Martha,
Now can you come to my house and organize my drawers…
November 3rd, 2006 at 12:13 pm
It’s kind of sad, but if you lived close I would love to. It’s what I do for fun. Keeps me from getting bored. My mom used to give me $5 to organize her medicine cabinet when I was, like, eight years old.
November 3rd, 2006 at 12:22 pm
I may have a client for you … one of my profs is HORRIBLY organized! Want a job?
November 3rd, 2006 at 4:10 pm
Wow you are organized! I love the idea of the tin with all the spices in it - keeps it nice and tidy! Might have to steal that idea from you!
November 3rd, 2006 at 5:01 pm
Jenny - Sure! Hook me up!
Michelle - It works for me! Feel free to give it a shot.
November 3rd, 2006 at 7:42 pm
A woman after my own heart- I love spices and my collection is huge since our old farmer’s market had freshly ground spices available at ridiculously cheap prices. Thank you for the organization tips I will most definitely be putting them into practice.
November 4th, 2006 at 12:50 pm
hehe that looks highly organized.
I so remember working with you and you driving all the scatter brains crazy with all your organizing and labeling! hehe!
I still fold my grocery bags like you taught me!
November 4th, 2006 at 2:39 pm
That’s funny because I shove mine all crumpled up into a closet!
November 5th, 2006 at 3:09 pm
Wow, truly amazed over here. Not that I don’t already have enough on my plate to chew on I will now have to survey the contents of our own spice cabinets and determine the efficiency of it all. Thus, I foresee a trip to IKEA in the very near future for me (on, and BTW, my hubby would like to thank you from the bottom of his dear heart for reigniting my OCD tendencies). The spice/seasoning cabinet is my next target right after I tackle my recipe drawer… thanks for the tips!
November 6th, 2006 at 7:02 am
I love how organised your spice drawers is! I’ve recently started cooking a lot more, and our spice cupboard is a huge mess, it’s just another thing I can say I’ll do differently when I have my own place
Organisation just makes tasks easier I think, I don’t care who thinks it’s geeky.
Happy C&C Monday
November 6th, 2006 at 4:29 pm
Now THAT is organization!!! I am MIGHTILY impressed with that!
January 18th, 2007 at 12:24 am
Hey great minds do think alike. Thanks for stopping by my site today
Laura