spices are good

It took long enough but I discovered the best way to buy my spices and herbs. Instead of buying a bottle of spices that I will only use a handful of times before they start to lose their taste, I should just go to Central Market or Whole Foods. They have a great selection of spices and herbs in their bulk bins. I buy just what I need and it's fresh every time. But there has to be something a little bit nicer to store them in besides the little plastic baggy that you buy them in.

... So I have been wanting a spice rack for some time. While checking out Design Sponge, I saw the ideal spice rack. It's made up of test tubes. I love the fact that they hold a small amount, they don't take up much space, and have a clean presentation.



This Design Sponge post led to the search for something similar and then I found The Tubular Spice Company. They have the exact spice rack here. It comes with a metal stand and 40 spices and is $141. That's more than the spices I need, I want to be able to pick the spices I want, but most importantly, that's too much money.



Then they also have this. It holds 20 spices which is more like it but it's still $91 and comes with spices.



Finally, I saw this. It comes with 20 empty glass tubes in a wooden rack. I kind of like the wooden rack a little bit more. The best part of it is that it's $47.



All I have to do now is buy it!

the magic bullet

Last summer, my family had a reunion in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico. For the last few days of the trip, I stayed with one of my aunts in a timeshare. They packed a crazy amount of stuff including food and appliances for the kitchen- rice cooker and the Magic Bullet. During the whole time, my aunt would use the Magic Bullet to make all kinds of drinks- margaritas, piña coladas, etc. I wanted to watch every time she used it. It would quickly crush ice and make drinks. I also love the idea of making a drink just the right size for me (and pulling out my heavy blender is just no fun... it either stays out on the counter forever or in the cabinets forever).

When I was finally back home, I looked up this miracle appliance but forgot about it as soon as I thought about it. Well... recently I was in Macy's picking up some sheets and I saw the Magic Bullet. Suddenly, I remembered the days in Mexico and my need for the Magic Bullet. It got me looking it up again. The reviews are mixed. People either love it or hate it. Knowing that it's a mere $60, I don't expect it to do everything in the kitchen or that it will last forever. I do expect it to make a quick smoothie. I know it's been around for awhile but I've never been one to be sold on "As Seen on TV" products.

What are your thoughts? Am I dork for wanting one? If you have one, what do you love about it? Is it a guilty pleasure?

making tea can be fun

I picked up this kettle about two weeks ago but didn't start using it until this week. It's pretty awesome. It has 5 different temperature settings so you can brew the ideal temperature for various teas or French press coffee. It came with two different kinds of tea so I tried out the jasmine white tea by Rishi. Accustomed to the jasmine tea that you can find at the Asian grocery store, I never realized that jasmine tea could taste so good. So... now I'm hooked on two new things- the kettle and the tea.

I still have love my traditional kettle by Le Creuset but I think it's going to become kitchen decor. If you enjoy all kinds of tea, then this electric kettle is a kitchen must have.

Breville variable temperature kettle $150

are you a ho or a pimp?

These glasses are sick. I love them.

Ghetto pint glass $8

6 starbucks gift cards and counting

For some odd reason, I'm a magnet for Starbucks gift cards. People keep giving them to me for Christmas, for birthdays, etc. They give them to my husband, too. Out of the gazillion different gift cards out there, why do people think that Starbucks is the perfect choice? At first, I used them. They did come in handy when I ran out of coffee at home. But now, they are just starting to collect. So far, I have found 6 of them but I think there are more lingering around my home somewhere.

So why do I keep getting them? Yes, I love coffee. You probably figured that out being it was my first post. But, I don't like Starbucks coffee. It kind of tastes like dirt to me. If I go there, I lean towards the frou frou options.

What am I to do with all these cards? One suggestion was to regift them. That was a thought that ran through my mind for a second. At the same time, I didn't want to continue the torment of "Why another Starbucks gift card?"

At first thought, I wanted to use them for stainless steel travel mugs. After months of trying to find a similar one to the one I already love, I have lost hope. The options pretty much suck.

Now, I have a new plan. I'm going to use them to get a coffee or tea press or both. I'm just not sure which one to get. Here are the options I'm considering:

Assam tea press tea pot $24.95

This one has a black plastic handle. I kind of like that.

Assam tea press pot $39.95

$15 more and I can get it in stainless. Do I really care?

Assam cast iron tea pot $89.95

$65 more and it can be cast iron. It has a nice aesthetic to it. I have enough gift cards to cover the expense. If I'm going to get a press, might as well go all out, right? Oh, and it's got that Asian thing goin' on. Maybe, it will make me feel more Asian.

Columbia thermo press $79.95 or $99.95

I'm leaning towards this option because it's perfect for tea or coffee. Plus, it will keep it hot for a few hours (so they say). I just don't know what size to get? The smaller one is more than enough. The larger one would serve guests we never have. Hmmm?

I would love to hear what you think I should get. This, that, or this and that? Why?

coffee, please

I don't know why I didn't do this sooner. I've wanted a food blog. I'm no amazing cook but I do like food (don't we all?). So here is my first entry...

I don't see the point of denying myself of coffee. We all need our vices and this is one (among several). I love the stuff (practically since birth). It must come from having a French influenced family. We want our cafe sua da.

I remember being a very, very little girl and my mom forcing coffee down my throat. I think she thought it would help her sick little daughter so coffee-soaked french bread was pushed down my throat. Of course, I didn't enjoy it at the time... you can't make me do what I don't want to do. Anyways, the coffee bug stuck...

I know it's not the best thing for me... the caffeine, the teeth staining, etc. So what? I don't really care. It tastes good and it makes me happy.

Over the years, I've always had some form of a coffee maker starting with the cheap crap that will do in college to what I have now. I'm going to be using the one I have now until the thing dies on me.

When I first saw the machine, I was in awe. It seemed like the perfect kitchen appliance for me... a single cup coffee maker and a nice one at that. I'm talking about the Breville single-cup coffeemaker. It didn't take long from the time I saw it for it to land in my kitchen. Of course, I wasn't going to have such a nice coffee maker without accompanying it with an equally nice coffee grinder- The Breville Ikon burr grinder.

Then I started to use it. When it says you have 4 sizes, it doesn't just mean 4 sizes. It also means coffee strength because you need to fill the K-Cup thingy with 2 tablespoons of coffee no matter what. Once I figured out what size I want (which was the largest; I know, I like my coffee on the weaker side), I've been in coffee heaven.

The machine is beautiful to look at, it's easy to operate, and it makes the perfect cup of coffee every time (amount and strength). I'm equally happy with the burr grinder. I don't know what I was thinking buying my coffee already ground. It's just not the same.