FauxPas

@liamsaunt, after coming back and re-reading this thread, I am wondering what you ultimately ended up doing for spice storage in your kitchen after it was all redone! Spice storage is a topic that keeps coming up. Hope you see this and have a chance to respond! 🙂

Looks like a nice design. Were they easy to install? Have they held up well?

I know, I was kinda shocked at the price on those stacking ones! I bought my Container Store stuff on Black Friday or some day when they were offering 20% off. It still wasn't cheap but I loved the storage I got from the product so it was worth it to me. But if you think something similar might work, maybe these stacking clear units on Amazon (eG-friendly Amazon.com link) though they don't look very deep. Which of the spice storage units do you like? I'm thinking about redoing my spice storage a bit.

I'd suggest perusing some of the Container Store pantry stuff. They have some nice clear bins and some of those stack so you can possibly double up on your shelf. Like these, which come in a range of sizes: https://www.containerstore.com/s/kitchen/pantry-organizers/plastic-storage-bins-with-handles/12d?productId=11019017 Or these, which stack: (BUT WOW, they seem pricey!) https://www.containerstore.com/s/kitchen/pantry-organizers/the-home-edit-stacking-pantry-bin/12d?productId=11012911 But the smaller size of the bins from IKEA might meet your needs too and I don't think they are too expensive. Here is how I have used the smaller ones, just for examples. i think they hold quite a bit but I'm not storing the same type of things, I don't think. I love that they have handles and a lower edge on one side. You would be able to fit two rows on a shelf but it might be hard to see what is in the back, maybe? There are the larger ones, but I don't know if you want that size. Even Dollar Stores might have something that works. Not sure if this is of any use to you! 🙂

In a previous home we owned in Tucson, we had a door to the pantry and I got an over-the-door storage unit from The Container Store. I was always amazed how many spices I could store here and it was a great solution for me as they tended to get lost on the pantry shelves. The shelving sizes were variable so it was quite flexible.

Could you share a photo of your pantry so we can get an idea of size and layout perhaps? Do you have a door to the pantry (would any over-the-door storage options work in addition to your shelving)? It's easy to put different bins or storage containers on the wire shelving but tricky to know how you categorize your contents. I use some of these IKEA bins (they come in two sizes) in my pantry and kitchen cupboards. I use the smaller ones for coffee pods, spices and seasoning mixes, cat treats. The larger ones I use for onions, potatoes (some of these are stored in the cooler garage) or various kitchen items.

Actually he did go to ER. 🙂 They didn't do x-rays for some reason and doc didn't think anything was badly broken. But he could have cracked a rib or two. He's definitely sore! He sees his GP tomorrow so they can take another look at things then. I would have planned something different but he was thinking he'd be good to go until fairly last minute. I wish we had better Chinese restaurants here, the quality isn't that great to begin with and they were so busy last night that things were a bit more mediocre than usual, ha. But it was all ok! We still had a pleasant evening, despite his wounds. 🙂

Our NYE plans got derailed as well. My husband also fell badly a few days ago. He somehow misjudged an awkward curb and probably twisted his ankle a bit and ended up going down hard on his left arm and side. He didn't think he was too badly hurt but yesterday he was really feeling it. Enough that he didn't want to do the steaks and seafood. I gave some other choices but we ended up just getting some Chinese take-out, which really wasn't that great. We did have a nice bottle of wine though! 🙂

Yes! Happy Anniversary, @Shelby! How did you prepare the steak?

LOVE the reindeer one! You must have a steady hand, they are all quite intricate. And I'm pretty sure I would have broken off the edges of the sleigh ones while working with them, ha.

OMG, I'm still trying to recover from the Xmas Day cooking so had almost forgot that another Big Day is right around the corner, ha. More meals to plan, oh noes. 🙂 I might switch with you and do Prime Rib for NYE, maybe see what looks good for a bit of a seafood add-on. Or just ask Mike to cook a steak on the grill and I'll do baked potatoes and sautéed mushrooms. We could still add some crab legs or something. The local store is pushing lobster but I don't know. I have to say that the veggie (butternut squash) Wellington I did for Xmas was quite a success. It made me think about other Wellingtons. I've done salmon ones and they turned out pretty well. Classic Beef Wellington is gorgeous, but you just did Prime Rib. Is Lobster Newburg still a thing? I haven't had it in so many years, it sounds kinda dated but age shouldn't factor if it's kept its magic. 🙂

Those snowmen have so much detail! They are really gorgeous. Is that Royal Icing? How did you do that lovely little bit of holly on the hat?

Steve Sando's latest bean cookbook is on for $2.99 at both Amazon Canada and USA. This is a great deal! The Bean Book: 100 Recipes for Cooking with all Kinds of Beans (eG-friendly Amazon.com link) Canadian link here.

@liamsaunt, I was looking for some ideas for Xmas dinner as step-daughter is largely vegetarian and I was thinking of a Butternut Squash Wellington. I did a search here and looks like you did one a few years back for Xmas. Your whole menu that year sounds lovely but I wonder if you remember the veggie Wellington? Was it the one from NY Times? Was it good? I am thinking of doing this one with wild rice and mushrooms which leaves the squash neck whole. Local farms are still picking some things like Brussels sprouts, kale and kalettes and want to make use of some of those items. Thinking of a shredded Brussels sprouts salad with pomegranate seeds, toasted almonds, shaved Parmesan and a lemon vinaigrette. I also have some kalettes but not sure if I will use them for Xmas or not. Does anyone else cook with these? I might add some in to the salad or roast some but wonder if anyone has tried anything different with them? I'll cook a turkey breast roast with stuffing on the side, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry-orange sauce, corn and edamame, several roasted veggies if I don't do the Wellington, pumpkin pie. My husband likes a fairly classic (maybe slightly boring, ha) dinner and I'm happy with whatever. We have some local smoked Pacific oysters for appetizers from a cannery just south of here. I'm going to make some eggnog of some kind. I ordered a few different white wines from one of my fave BC Okanagan wineries, including some bubbly for NYE. Our cat will probably have Feast of the Seven Fishes, kitty-style. hahahahaha 🙂

What do you do? Is it just the Pernod over the grapes or ??? McVities are indeed tasty!!! I never get tired of a good digestive biscuit.