The ABCs of Spices

Guest Writer: Ruth Morse

Here's a tip for saving money in the kitchen. It will revolutionize your cooking, your baking, your grocery shopping. What can do all that? It's simple!
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ALPHABETIZE YOUR SPICES!
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Huh? Who would want to do that? Sounds dumb.
But wait (this is starting to sound like an infomercial), there's more!
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I have all my spices in alphabetical order on two turntables. It's so easy to find the jar you want. It's super duper at helping you see when your supply is getting low and you need to shop. You don't end up with 3 jars of poultry seasoning that you only use once a year, lurking in the back of various cupboards.
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If you have more than one cook or baker in the house, this concept simplifies life a lot. Jim started baking several years back. He likes the system, too! We never argue over who put what jar back where.... and why.
But wait!! There's more!
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I rarely buy spices in a normal grocery. Most of my supply comes from Pine Ridge, a small Mennonite grocery in Bainbridge, NY, where they sell food in bulk. Spices come in small plastic containers and are so fresh and so cheap compared to grocery store stock.

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I store these in yet another turntable in a far corner kitchen cabinet and use the supply to refill the spice jars on the turntable. An example: for $.93, a small container of Italian seasoning can fill my turntable jar 3 or more times. A quarter of a pound of cinnamon costs $.53!! How much cinnamon is that? It'll fill 4 or 5 jars. Doesn't get any better than that. And bay leaves!! They only sell that by the large container and, believe me, that's more bay leaves than I will use in my lifetime. Anybody want to wallpaper a kitchen? Pine Ridge has a vast assortment of spices and other bulk products, homemade rolls and breads, a deli counter with delicious meats and cheese all at reasonable prices. And their subs! It's worth driving out there for the subs alone! I recommend a roast beef sub with everything, on a whole wheat sub roll, Yum!!
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OK, now I'm hungry. Need to find time this week to take a trek out to Bainbridge. If you check around in your area, I'll just bet you can find a good place to purchase bulk spices. Call around, ask around, theck the internet. NEVER drive around to multiple stores -- oh, don't get me started on that one!
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...and one more thing......
uh, I'll get back to you when I remember it.
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The Cheap Senior Citizen is a Guest Writer who occasionally shares helpful hints she has learned through her experience.
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