Spice Hoarder

[delcecchi]

I like their stuff, and with that coupon how can you go wrong.  And if you make it to the cities the store smells really good.

[thirdeye]

We get 80% of our spices  from either Penzey's or Pendery's and order at least twice a year.  Store bought spices, even the popular names, can be year old... you just never know.  

Mrs ~t~ has a spread sheet to keep track of the types and amounts we order (an ounce of bay leaf is radically different than an ounce of pepper) and will adjust if we have too much leftover, or if we run out.   To maximize shipping costs we'll also do joint orders of things like rubs.

[lovebigbluegills]

Thanks guys!!! 

[thirdeye]

PS  I use a couple of coins to verify calibration, the mint is very exact on their weights. 

[leech~~]

15 hours ago, leechlake said:

You guys have brought up a treasure trove of ideas for me.  My folks place up by Walker is going to be a gold mine when I go up this weekend.  The spice rack will be one thing but the cabinet really is where the winner's will be.  About twenty years ago they became obsessed with going on an adventure to the Co-op in Hackensack to buy bulk spices.

How much Saffron can a retired couple of two use?  The problem may be some things aren't even labeled anymore.  My dad made his own "home made" syrup.  Tough recipe of one cup water, one cup brown sugar, and one cap of maple exract.  There may be a gallon jug of maple that's fermented for twenty years. 

Del- and yes there are jars of nails in the garage too.  They also sometimes picked up others trash at the "transfer station" aka dump.  Dad had an eye for used grills and when they no longer worked he couldn't pull the trigger and bring them back up there to throw away.  Behind the garage looks like a grill grave yard.  

My wife and I will head over to Stillwater a few times a year to do a walk about through the shops. There is a place called the Spice & Tea Co. 

Here is their on-line price for Saffron. So what is that about $430 an oz? Wouldn't be going in anything I cook ever!

"Saffron is $18.95 Add: 1 gram"

[delcecchi]

Saffron is really expensive, but a little goes a long way.  And there is stuff that, if you make it right, needs saffron.  Risotto Milanese is one, as I recall.   But that gram would make  several batches so it's only a few bucks a batch. 

[ThunderLund78]

I believe Alton Brown said that real Saffron, ounce for ounce is more valuable than gold in many parts of the world.

[delcecchi]

A troy ounce is just over 31 grams so gold is about $40 per gram more or less.   Depends on grade of saffron and where you buy it.