As you may know, we renovated our kitchen about four years ago, adding about 100 square feet to our modest little 10′ x10′ craftsman-style kitchen and basement. Most renovations don’t go exactly to plan, and our’s was no different. I had hoped to gain an olive oil and vinegar drawer beside the stove and a great spice pullout on the other side, but because we have some angles on our main wall with most of the cabinets, we were limited (it makes for an interesting layout, but awkward functionality). I did manage both of my wishes, but we had to be creative on where we put them.
For years I managed with my spices being in small labelled tins, but a tablespoon of this or that would deplete my tin, so I was constantly refilling. Last fall, we were visiting our good friends Paul and T in Yorkville Illinois and I noticed that she had some lovely little jars of spices she had picked up in Target (we Canadians say Tarjé, as in French!). Much to my surprise, she generously picked up an entire set for me! What a dear, dear friend.
They didn’t have some of the unique spices I like to have on hand (such as garam masala, meat masala or five Chinese spice) so I relabeled some duplicates, which worked out perfectly! Now my spice drawer is complete! I’m wondering what my next project should be?
Yes, I may have ‘type-A’ tendencies! The spices are organized alphabetically! It’s not crazy, just super organized! No, really!
ha-ha, love the type A tendencies… you know, reading about your pre-reno tins reminded me that for years I used recycled baby food jars for my spices (I almost miss them…). My spices are still a disaster but no longer in baby jars : ) Your spice drawer is definitely my new envy. Looks so well laid-out and tidy. Great job indeed.
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Thanks Kelly. Baby Jars sound perfect because they have a mouth large enough to stick a tablespoon into. I think I am going to grow tired of these cute little jars because I can even get a teaspoon into it! But I do get 30 in my drawer, so there is a lot of selection!
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Awesome idea- actually really cool idea without sounding too much like a teenager. I love the step by step instructions too!
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Thanks Jessica! I’m disappointed that I can’t help my nephew make it.
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Wow! That is beautiful! Arrange them alphabetically made sense, it is easy to find the spice you want. Love it! Very sweet of your friend!
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Thank you. I am blessed to have such generous friends.
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That’s such a great idea! I wish I was so organised too!!!! It would make my life so my easier! 🙂
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Hi Manu, it does make thing so much easier, that’s for certain.
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What a beautiful display! Hehe and I have been called Type A before but really when you’re cooking, order and organisation really helps! 🙂
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Thanks Lorraine. Being organized is key, it means spending less time preparing and more time cooking!
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I love those little bottles….they are SO cute! I pretty much get my spices wherever I need them, but I’m a fan of penzeys. They have GREAT spices, but ugly jars!
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Thanks Ann, I’ve never heard of Penzeys. That is one thing I am envious of America, you have such SELECTION. I suppose that is the difference between 34 million people and 350 million people!
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You have inspired me Eva. I have a ver small kitchen but I will still revisit my spices and think of a tidy solution for them
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Wonderful Sawsan! Let me know what you did. I’m always curious about products from other countries.
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I probably don’t cook as much Indian, but I always make my own garam masala. I bet you have everything you need for it. Anyway, this is really, really cool!
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Thanks Greg. Winter is when we start cooking Indian again, because it’s less salady and more stewy and saucy. And yes, I do have many of the spices for Indian, Thai, Moroccan (new) and of course Hungarian! It’s fun to have an international food repertoire!
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Neat and tidy! This should be my next kitchen project!
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Thanks Angie, I’m sure you will be able to find some very interesting bottles in Singapore. As long as they are all the same, the effect is organization!
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What a great idea! If I could, I’d do the same in my kitchen, right down to keeping them alphabetized. What’s the point of storing them, all nice & tidy, if they’re not in order? I need to revisit my spice shelf and come up with a solution. You’ve inspired me!
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Thank you John. I am happy that you’ve found inspiration to do so. I always feel better when things are kept neat and organized. I’m doing my closet now (summer clothes out, winter in!).
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Beautiful! I got annoyed with having a mish-mash of jars and tins all over the place. I bought a whole load of plastic tubs, filled them with bulk-bought spices from a big store and labelled the tops of them and that works out great, although as I start getting even more spices my shelves start filling up with little jars and tins again, lol!
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Hi Charles, a mish-mash of jars was the impetus for this new organization. My refill packs are zip lock baggies filled from my bulk store, in a large plastic tub (I have two, one for A-G’s and F-Z’s) in my pantry. I love tidy cupboards…check out my baking drawer from a post https://kitcheninspirations.wordpress.com/2009/03/19/a-place-for-everything-and-everything-in-its-place/. Nice tidy jars of baking goodies!
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I love it! I too need a solution for my spices. There are just so many of them and not a good place to keep them. I love Tarje’s (we call it that too – LOL) little jars too – they are easy to store and find. And I would alphabetize them too. 😉
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Thanks Kristy, my friend in Yorkville bought herself the larger jars which sadly I don’t have room for, but you can actually get a spoon in them – these small one’s not so much.
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Lovely. Can’t wait until Target comes to Canada so we can all get a set.
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Thanks Pam. Send me a link to your blog, I seem to have misplaced it! Missed you Saturday night. The gals and I had a blast. Lea knows how to have fun!
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