Wednesday, January 13, 2010

The luxury of flavor (done cheap)

Louis L'Amour would be disgusted by my coffee drinking requirements no doubt, but I only somewhat recently decided I liked coffee. And when I decided I liked coffee, I decided I liked it better when it was mostly chocolate. :)

Since I haven't been given any Starbucks gift cards in years (and my friend Melody quit working there) I just never seem to go. So I made my own "flavor station" at home.


TWO kinds of sugar because sometimes that Sugar in the Raw adds such a nice molasses type flavor. Some hot cocoa mix and some cinnamon (I need to get another shaker for chili powder when I'm feeling Aztec).

The vintage canning jar has been around for ages but could have come from an antique store. White sugar dispenser came from The Dollar Tree, same with the parmesan-turned-chocolate shaker. The cinnamon (formerly salt or pepper) shaker came from Goodwill. So if we cut back the inflation on the price of the canning jar for how many years back it was bought...that could be...eight dollars worth of containers - that's like two (one and a half?) beverages from a coffee shop. Of course you have to buy what is in them too. ;) But then you get to use them over and over!

How about placing them, your coffee and filters on a handy lazy susan next to the coffee pot?


The lazy susan and glass coffee jar were Goodwill buys and the tin that holds the coffee filters came from the Joann super clearance section.

Well if we don't have more style than a major coffee shop chain then at least we have more character and did it on a super tiny budget!


Speaking of flavor I picked up this little salt cellar (I think?) sans spoon at The Apple Butter Barn for a dollar. It was just too cute to leave there. I'm planning on drying some of my lavender to put in here for culinary use. There is lavender in my Herbes de Provence and I'm interested in seeing what else I can flavor with it.


And if you like drinking your flavorful garden I found this sampler tin of teas at the Grocery Outlet for $1.99. I was terrified of the red lavender (it smells remarkably like cough syrup) but it actually tasted wonderful as do all the others! And when I've sipped my last cup then I look forward to reusing the tin to hold craft supplies.

8 comments:

Melissa said...

I love all of your little shakers and containers. I have been wanting to get some for my craft room. I saw somewhere that they work great for glitter.

Your teas look great too. The coconut chai sounds yummy. I love anything coconut.

Heather said...

Missie is right, the coconut chai does sound amazing! I will drink just about any tea, but don't mess with my coffee, lol! I almost alwayed use French Vanilla creamer, but now I am obsessed with the caramel macchiato creamer International Delight has out...YUM!!!!

Diane at Crafty Passions said...

What a good idea!!!!
Thanks !
Diane

Her Art Nest said...

Love what you did with the bargain containers, and that sampler tin of teas is beautiful. They sound enchanting. Take care, Nancy

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

What good ideas! I love making things special in the winter time when we are inside more! And thanks for the links! Red lavender...Hmmm!♥

Megan said...

I admit, my first inclination is to defend my beloved Starbucks. I always like to say that I'm not buying expensive coffee -- I'm buying a CHEAP massage ;). But I'd happily trade my rare coffee shop indulgences for a few minutes and a drink at Cafe Molly. Just need to work out that basement Stargate technology!

Manuela@A Cultivated Nest said...

What a great idea! A flavor station at home - I like it!

Manuela

Jennifer MacNeill said...

Oooo, you're giving me some great ideas once again:)