Top tier: well, clearly, the top tier is for fancy pantsy decorating doo-dads, as well as for the irritatingly tall White and Black Peppercorns. I should tell you that behind those two gorgeously mammoth sprinkle jars, there are three more (smaller) sprinkle varieties.
Sprinkles, food colouring, peppers, cheap vanilla (for kids’ baking), assorted decorating candies, icing tubes, muffin papers, etc.
Third tier: less frequently used, though still essential, cooking and baking spices. I am particularly fond of my tiny jar of Ras El Hanout, which I make myself in very, very small batches. (This makes a diVINE chicken rub, by the by.)
Overflow spices, Herbes de Provence, dip mixes, alum powder, mace, etc.
Second tier: my favourite shelf holds baking essentials. Sometimes I climb up on the counter, stick my nose into the second tier, and just inhale. Aaaaaaaahhhhhh. Smells like Christmas, baking, my mom, and happiness, all rolled into one lovely moment of time.
Cinnamon, cloves, ginger, Poudre Douce, nutmeg grater, vanilla, cardamom, star anise, etc.
First tier: cooking essentials. It’s impossible to overstate how much I like the Vij’s Masala that my husband bought for me some time ago. This shelf also holds the crushed-chili shaker (at the far right) that I bought after Ames’ visit last May. We were having spaghetti, and she said, in a very pretentious manner, “What, don’t you have crushed chilis? Well.” It was the well that did it, and I slunk away to SaveOn to purchase the pictured shaker.
Oregano, basil, bay leaves, savory, curries, turmeric, sage, thyme, etc.
Now, if I can only refrain from scrabbling through the cupboard in an unbecomingly frenzied manner, I shall be calm and capable and uncluttered for Christmas baking. Horrah!
