Tuesday, January 15, 2013
THE SPICE OF LIFE
The other day, I realized that my chili powder was a year off date.
I looked at some of the other items on the little shelf John built for me over the stove.
Ditto the Madras Curry Powder, the Old Bay Fish Seasoning, the Herbes de Provence and the pepper corns (so old I couldn't read the date).
How could this happen? How did I not notice?
Probably because I don't use much of this stuff very often. Curry every two months on the dinner menu cycle. No chili powder these days as most of the latin food I get is pre-spiced. Yes. Sorry. The fish seasoning? Basically a disappointment. I use the herbes or, to be honest, Mrs. Dash the salt replacement spice. Traditional. A 20 year tradition I think.
I am a big date checker when I buy shit. Not so much once it is in the house.
How old are your spices?
When we cleaned my mother's house out she had spices from so long ago there were no dates. Old logo A&P brands.
People in the "olden days" were oblivious to stuff like that. She even kept the oleo out of the refrigerator so it was spreadable. Eeeek. But it didn't make any difference. Oleo is oleo. Not much can happen to it. Butter would never stand for it.
Ingredients.
I know there are more superannuated things lurking around. Gotta keep my eyes open for them.
Labels: cooking
