Filling the cupboards with extracts and spices.

It all started with vanilla.

I enjoy baking and giving my goodies to friends and family but the extreme cost of extracts and spices was discouraging me. I also have been known to can my extra banana breads, pumpkin breads and whatever to keep from wasting. Being single means smaller portions needed. Well I finally did it. I bought the vanilla beans and vodka. I now have two quarts of vanilla extract brewing, some vanilla sugar blending and some vanilla pudding mix in the pantry. I will be sharing some of the extract and using some for gifts. 

We had been making taco spice and other mixes since our discovery of Pinterest and saved money with our every day cooking so why not keep going and make more mixtures and extracts. The result is two cupboard filled with everything from canning spices to exotic extracts. The canned store bought tomatoes are because I now live in an apartment and growing my own is not allowed and canning them in my small kitchen would be too much. Some day I will have that privilege back. I miss it. If you have it cherish it.

I have a quart of local honey, lavender blossoms and extract, lemon and orange extracts and I also added some burger seasoning this weekend. I hurried this morning to make the lavender extract so that I could put the empty vodka bottle out with the recycling. There were two bottles that went out this morning. I wonder what the refuse collector is thinking. Oh well that's how it goes. Later this week I will be making lemon orange sugar with some leftover dried rinds. I think this holiday season's baking and gift giving is going to be so fun. I'm also looking forward to enjoying healthier eating and more flavorful eating. I already am missing fresh Basil.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week.

Monday afternoon treasure. One of many.

Thank you to the universe for this well needed gift. Canning jars are seasonal in the north east and finding just what you need when you need them can be difficult. My eldest daughter took yesterday off from work to get some sleep after a long work related trip to Texas. She rested, completed her homework and decided she needed some fresh air. She took me to a light lunch and to Savers thrift store. It was a wonderful trip and I found so much. Everything in the store was 25% off because it their Monday discount. Yay! Over the weekend my younger daughter came to visit and she had taken me to a different Savers and I treated her to a light lunch. I have fantastic children. So this was a brand new case of 4 ounce Jelly Jars. I do different things with these small jars. What I needed them for were these:

 

 

She brought me back a gift of spices and sugars from The Spice and Tea Exchange in Fort Worth.

spiceandtea.com

The end result is a better organized spice cupboard and uniform sized jars.

 

 

This jar has a cover on it from a grated cheese container. My daughter saw it on Pinterest and couldn't wait to run out of cheese to try it. Great for using a measuring spoon with. The top closes tight and has the sprinkle side if you just want to top something lightly. This is her home made Taco seasoning. So now it's on to wash the jars well and put my new spices away. I may use a couple to bake some brownies in. That way I don't eat the whole pan myself in one sitting. Have a great day everyone and stop by soon to see all the other treasures I've found on my two trips. Lots of Pyrex coming.