Date: 20 January 2014. Spices.
© janice142
In the continuing
Becoming Clutter-Free
series on clearing out your dirt dwelling and preparing for life afloat,
this week we begin to concentrate on spices and condiments. Examine your collection
and anything dusty you can safely assume is landfill material. Get rid of
it. Now, as we start the year begin keeping track of what it takes to make the
meals you love.
The reason you begin this list now
(on a 3x5 card or a piece of paper taped to the inside of your cupboard)
is because there are certain spices you might use just once or twice a
year. A list will help ensure you miss nothing critical. For
instance, spices like nutmeg I only use in my pumpkin pie or at
Christmas in the eggnog. Just because something is not an every day item
does not mean I want to forego having it aboard Seaweed.
Everyone has food seasoning
preferences.
Of course like me
you will probably find a separate storage spot for the seldom used spices
-- a place not quite so handy as those you use regularly. I know I
want my spices:
In that regard I kept my eyes open
at the thrift stores for quite some time, looking for just the right
thing! Paying retail was not an option. As a budget cruiser the
thought of dropping $20 for a spice rack was abhorrent.
There are a lot more uses for my
available cash than money reserves allow so I keep a running list of wishes. See
the
3x5 Cards
article on shopping lists for the
wanted (but not enough to pay retail) items aboard Seaweed. Lists help
keep me organized.
What I eventually found was a Tupperware plastic
cake container without a lid. Turning it on end, I cut out the middle and
then screwed the two ends to the inside of my locker under the sink.
Two spice shelves were created for 69 cents plus some stainless screws in
a space that otherwise would have been empty.
The top one has my most used spices,
along with eye-glasses. Everywhere I sit and need to see I try to have a
pair of dollar store specs. You will note the line of clothes pins under
there too no doubt. Those are ancient (from our 40'er) and probably twenty
or more years old. They are decent quality though and I use them to pin up
sun shades over the windows.
Having items
convenient to access means it is equally easy to put them away when I
am done.
And yes, as a matter of fact, I am obsessive about stowing things
properly.
The lower shelf has those items less
frequently accessed. There are more spices and condiments tucked into the
locker under my sink. Still when you are planning on where to put items
like spices, it pays to not narrow your choices to specific spice racks.
Pick what works for your situation.
As matter of fact, you the
reader could help me in that regard. I grow sprouts in spice containers
and am seeking a way to stow them on edge. I prefer them sideways so more
air will circulate. What I've not yet determined is how or where to put my
spice jars! On a 23' boat priority is given to where something can be
stored and at present my sprouts are still without a permanent storage
spot. Please let me know how you have solved the sprout dilemma onboard your
boat or in your home.
Thanks and don't forget to keep up
with the clutter free life. Please do not let Stuff creep back into your home!
I'd love to hear of your progress.
And, are you interested in the this series continuing?
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Categories:
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