Wednesday, August 11, 2010

If they only served wine...

Confess. When was the last time you bought fresh spices? It's true that whole spices--peppercorns, cinnamon sticks, cloves, etc.--last just about forever. But ground spices and leafy herbs don't. If you crumble an herb in your hand and it smells like dust, it's time to toss it and get fresh. Same thing with ground spices--if you shake the jar and it doesn't have much of a fragrance, it's got to go.

Here in the Denver area, we're lucky enough to have two Penzeys, one of my favorite spice shops. You can purchase most of their products in small quantities, which means less waste. It also makes it easier to expand your culinary horizons without a big investment. Their gift boxes are wonderful for bridal showers and housewarming gifts, and their catalog and web site have great recipes.

The other reason I love our Penzeys? Both are right down the street from really nice yarn shops--Knit Knack and A Knitted Peace. Today I bought some very yummy yarn for a super-secret project, then walked down the street to Penzeys. Awesome! Now that's my idea of shopping.



I'll reveal more about the super-secret project once I've done the swatching, because we know how crucial the swatch is. You do swatch, don't you?

11 comments:

  1. I like the idea of getting a little bit of a spice or dried herb. I have plenty of bottles of spices that have never been used again! I'll be checking out the web site. Thanks!

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  2. That's a good point. I need to give my spices a sniff! Penzeys sounds great as do both of those knit shops. I was having fun looking at their websites. Looking forward to seeing your super-secret project. Me = bad swatcher.

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  3. I used to never ever swatch but I've gotten a lot better about it. I've also learned to read my swatch better. And since I've been trying my hand at designing, I've been doing way more swatching lately.

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  4. swatching .... i distrust that activity!

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  5. Yes, I do swatch. Sometimes too much for my own good :)

    You are really keeping it up with blogging each day!

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  6. I bought spices today as well. One of them was safran. I can't believe how expensive it is here. It is a fraction of the price in Europe.

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  7. Oh - I LOVE Penzey's! We are so lucky to have not one, but two in the Denver area. However I did NOT know about the knitting shops near both of them. HOW did I not know about these? Thanks for great information!

    Vickie (in Lakewood!)

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  8. I'm very guilty of holding on to dried herbs and spices too long. You've inspired me to purge my spice box this morning!!! We have a Penzey's a few towns over, but I've never actually gone in there. However, there is an incredible pizza / wine bar near by that has a small but very good menu of organic pizzas, salad and cheese. And a huge wine / beer menu!! When they serve your pizza, they bring a box of eight different Penzey's spice blends to shake on. It is pure heaven!!

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  9. I love Penzeys! Their spices actually smell the way they are SUPPOSED to vs. supermarket stuff, especially for the more delicate things like basil. I replaced all my other spices with Penzeys' stuff over the last couple years and it's made such a difference.

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  10. a store for spices. I need to get out more.

    Why yes, I swatched for the sweater I'm currently working on and then ignored it. Swatches lie.

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  11. I'm a recent convert to swatching. My original gauge plan, i.e. Wishful Thinking, was proven flawed more times than not.

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