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It’s time for the roundup of “Show Us Your…Spice Collection!” It’s also good that I didn’t promise a time for the roundup today as it’s 9:30pm my time and I’m just able to sit down and get it posted.
We had a lovely turnout from around the world! Thank you so much to all who participated. We enjoyed getting a look at your spices and herbs and your creativity in using them.
First to show us her spices is lovely Chriesi from Almond Corner blogging out of Zurich, Switzerland, with an artist’s palette of spices and a luscious Cinnamon Floating Island -Truly tempting and beautiful!
Next, from Eugene, Oregon, along comes Tracy from Tracy Food with a magical view of her spices and a lovely pot of Masoor Dal (red lentils) and Moong Dal (Dried Split Mung-Beans) and Saag (Turnip Greens) that indeed are magical!
From the UK, Anupama from Food-N-More is treating us to a view of a Masalyacha Daaba -a traditional Indian Spice Box that is as beautiful as it is useful! Anupama cooks a beautiful dish of Batatyachi Bhaaji (stir-fried potatoes and peas with mustard seeds and a plethora of other wonderful exotic spices) that leaves my mouth watering!
Here’s Shari from Whisk: A Food Blog in Ottawa, Canada with a brand new organized system of spices and a very lovely Sour Cream and Yogurt Cinnamon Coffee Cake. May I just say MMMM?!
How wonderful that sweet Ulrike from Kuchenlatein in Northern Germany shows us her lovely spice cabinet (nice job on those shelves hubbie!) and makes a Bell Pepper Gratin that nearly made my heart skip a beat-it is so beautiful!
Nicole from Kitchen Stories, Schaukelpferd Kocht in Vienna, Austria, sends us a view of her beautiful glass jars, large and small- that’s quite a collection! Her Mediterranean Chicken with Tortilla Rice is quite a beauty too!
Straight from New York- it’s Susan from The Well Seasoned Cook, who seems made for this very event- she even purchased an adorable apothecary cabinet to house (her precious) spices and herbs that’s enough to make me long for a dark cave and a pocket large enough to steal it away in. Luckily my green envy is quickly sated by her Green Mango and Tomato Curry– yes bring it to me-my precious!
Rounding out our contributors this month, signing in also from Austria, is Katiza from Katiza she keeps her spices in what looks to be a professional makeup case- I think that’s fabulous- after all spices and herbs add beauty to our cooking don’t they? She’s serving up a beautiful Rote Linsensuppe with vegetables, spices, ginger and yogurt-
Finally, here’s a peek at my own spice drawers-
I have one for sweet baking spices and herbs and one for savory spices. I keep them in small stainless steel tins that I can get my fingers (or a Tablespoon) into when necessary- they’re easy to fill and easy to use and they don’t break if I accidentally drop them on the hard surfaces of my concrete counters or slate floor. I do have more bulk herbs in the pantry such as chile peppers, salts and vanilla beans etc., but I may have to show them on another day.
For my dish I made a carrot cake for my friend Sue’s homecoming with her new baby, adorable Tristan, and I used Ceylon, Saigon and Cassia Cinnamon along with Cloves, Coriander, 5-Spice Powder and Allspice. I’ll post the recipe tomorrow for the cake as this roundup is getting quite long!
Well, as I am just getting this in under the wire myself, I again want to thank everyone who participated again- you’re all the best.
Through a random, numerical selection (pulled a number out of a hat)…Ta Da! Susan at The Well Seasoned Cook… you are the winner of the small spice gift basket and a small hand turned rolling pin. I’ll be contacting you shortly with details. Congratulations!
I hope you’ll all come back again for the next installment of “Show Us Your…?” which I’ll announce soon- and if you have an idea for a subject you’d like to cover please let me know.
Cheers to all!
Gabi
P.S. Please let me know if I’ve made any errors or omissions that need correcting on the roundup- it’s my first and I don’t want to let anyone down. 🙂