Cooking with Spices

After showing the kitchen before and after photos yesterday, I thought I’d do a little close up of one of my favorite parts of my kitchen – the spice rack!!!

When I first moved in, I loved the IKEA GRUNDTAL system of racks and rods that had already been installed in my kitchen. When my cupboard starting filling up with too many spice bottles, I decided to take matters into my own hands and pick up the GRUNDTAL Spice Rack for $19.99 at IKEA.

The spice rack didn’t quite fit onto any of the rods I had, so I decided to install each shelf from the spice rack shelf directly onto the side of the cupboard in the kitchen, discarding the two hanging bars that you would usually use.

I use mostly McCormicks spices, which fit perfectly in rows of seven jars. I made sure to leave enough room between the shelves to get the jars out. I am a huge fan of using spices to add flavour to dishes and it is essential to have them all on hand for quick use. I even have it all alphabetized to make it easier to grab what I need when I need it.

While we’re talking about spices, I wanted to highlight two of my favorite go-to spices that I use, that are different from your usual oregano, cumin, basil, thyme, etc.

First up is the McCormick No Salt Added Garlic & Herb Seasoning. I put this on just about anything – roasted chicken, pizza, vegetables, in salad dressings, etc. Its just a great blend that lets you control how much salt you add into your dishes.

My other favorite spice is this Nutmeg Grinder. I’ve found that this gives the strongest and purest nutmeg flavour. It reminds me of the nutmeg my great aunt once brought us back from vacation for us to grind. I like to add this to my breakfast oatmeal or even into some greek yogurt with a bit of honey and a sprinkle of cinnamon.