(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best sesoning & spice tools

Here are some tips I learned along the way to lose 110lbs (365 to 255) at age 37.

I did this without counting calories (this would of drove me insane..) and trying to follow some obscure nebulous and restrictive "program" (I'm looking at you keto, paleo..) that I would need to study and constantly think about (losing weight you're already struggling so this is particularly difficult in the beginning) and in approximately 8 months. Exercise was certainly involved - more on that later..

Not eating healthy and or being overweight your living in a fog - your mind and body struggle to deal with every day life already behind an eight ball. You will need something simple and laid out to get started and begin to see results that doesn't require a degree in fitness or nutrition to figure out.

This is a wall of text but hopefully has some bits and pieces that you and others will find useful - I wish I knew what I know now 10 years ago so I am gonna share this as much as I can. I am no expert but I have some experience.

Back story:
----------------
6'3" former high school football player, amateur kickboxer (read: some what athletic) finds girl gains 100lbs over 15 years of flirting with hardcore MMO playing, shitty eating and many many attempts to lose weight the wrong ways. I managed to always lose the same 20-30lbs every time but I always rebounded and always gave up. This is what happens when you go train without eating healthy.

Eating healthy IS 95% of the work. Get it? Got it? Good. Be forewarned - Healthy eating IS hard work and hard work is a GOOD thing. We live in a world that sells us convenience which slowly kills us - Hard work and a daily routine is what will help you help yourself.

My revelation was finding http://www.fit2fat2fit.com this site has 6 months of the meals a personal trainer ate to lose the 70lbs purposefully gained. Most people will tell you to eat right, few will tell you what it actually looks like.

Also included shopping lists and work out plans - I opted to train differently myself.

My tools of the trade:
----------------------------

• Foreman Grill - [Amazon Link to Grills] (http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1/182-2539320-6266833?url=search-alias%3Dkitchen&field-keywords=foreman%20grill&sprefix=foreman%2Ckitchen) cooking 4 chicken / turkey breasts in 12 minutes? No brainer. Depending on your budget maybe opt for something with a removable grill you can wash easily
  
• Vegetable chopper Amazon Link to Vegetable chopper - fast way to prep stuff
  
• Blender Amazon link to blenders - I choose a Ninja model but it was plastic and tended to crack..
  
  How I got started:
  -------------------------
  
• Put my laptop on the counter that day and followed as closely as I could
  
• I shop for food 2 to 3 times a week - always have the food you need
  
• I took 2 months to make sure I had eating healthy down - No gym yet - lost 30lbs in Nov. and Dec.
  
• By the 3rd month I was adding an extra class
  
• At 6 months I was training 4 to 5 days a week - your mileage here will vary - just stay active!!
  
  What my days look like:
  --------------------------------
  
• Wake up - urinate - check the scale (scales are ONLY one metric - this ONLY let me know if I plateaued so I needed to make changes)
  
• do dishes - make breakfast & prep snacks & lunch
  
• Work
  
• Shop
  
• Home - do dishes - make dinner (prep food for next couple days)
  
• Training / Exercise
  
• track progress - I used a simply google tools spreadsheet - no apps
  
• Bed rinse / repeat
  
  You have a child - your routine will obviously be different and around your family but this is my experience. I used to game for 3 to 4 hours - that time is gone spent eating right and training.
  
  What I did differently than F2F2F:
  ---------------------------------------------
  
• Made sure I had G.O.M.B.S every day - Greens, Onions, Mushrooms, Berries and Seeds - I added this in even when not called for
  
• I took an appetite suppressant PGX soft gels
  
  Lessons learned:
  ------------------------
  
• A scale is useful but NOT the only metric - measure yourself and keep track - the scale will mislead if you aren't careful. The body is an amazing engine that gains and looses 5 or so pounds over the course of a day so don't be deceived by daily fluctuation - weigh in once and think changes over weeks not days
  
• You need to eat to lose weight - seems counter intuitive but if you don't eat you flip the switch for your body to store energy - your body needs fuel to burn calories
  
• Eating healthy is putting the right fuel in for your body to run right - one doesn't piss in a gas tank and expect an engine to run right so why do we do this to our bodies?
  
• Do NOT try to change how you eat and exercise at the same time - learn to eat first & get into the routine - set yourself up for success
  
• Eating poorly makes your body crave junk food - it will NOT be easy in the beginning but as you continue to eat healthy your body will eventually crave the healthy food
  
• Water - This is ALL I drink. I used to drink a six pack of pop (soda) a day. No juice. No additives. No coffee latte or whatever. Just water. Okay occasionally green tea.. sue me.
  
• Hunger & water - In North America we are very blessed with access to an abundance of water - we DON'T drink enough. We often mistake hunger for thirst - our sense of thirst is so muted it feels like hunger - DRINK A LOT OF WATER - if you don't have a clear urination you did NOT drink enough water
  
• Supplements, pills vitamins - YOU DON'T NEED THIS SHIT. You want to piss neon or fluorescent green so you can piss in the dark? Just add whatever the latest miracle vitamin and that's about the only benefit you'll get. Eating healthy is how you'll get the nutrition your body needs
  
• Eating out - We all do it - All I did was make sure whatever I ordered matched whatever the F2F2F planned meal was and stayed away from too many extras. No matter what situation you're in - have a plan and you'll struggle less
  
• Processed food bad. Your plate should ALWAYS have 50% green stuff on it.
  
• Organic if you can but I found it was helpful to always have a bag or two of prepackaged vegetables or salad handy a week helped immensely when I was feeling lazier
  
  MOST IMPORTANT LESSONS:
  --------------------------------------------
  
• You need to take responsibility for what you eat - this is the ONLY way you'll find success - you need to do this for you - you cannot expect anyone else to follow you down this path - you will have to cook for yourself and it may mean eating different meals than the family - people will not understand - initially it is an adjustment for everyone you know. Just do what you gotta do and ignore the silliness
  
• Healthy eating has to become second nature - a routine - something you just do and don't think about too much - put the time in to prep stuff ahead of time so when you're down and out and not feeling it you don't have to do much to stay the course
  
• Making your meals every day removes that choice you struggle with when you didn't bring lunch and snacks and you have to decide - help you help yourself here..
  
• You WILL plateau - make minor adjustments and you'll get over the hump. I would lose 10lbs over a month and then nothing for a couple weeks. A minor change - adding in some more exercise or switching up how I ate a bit got my body back into burning
  
• When you lose weight and you're heavy you've depleted fat cells which don't go away without surgery so if you stray too far from the path these cells quickly restore energy - I've learned the hard way
  
• There is no cheating - If you eat something less than ideal that's okay!! Enjoy that shit and simply continue along. You'll have earned a treat. Just keep in mind that treats will quickly kick start the junk food craving - as long as you're prepared this is no problem
  
• this is a life style change. Pure and simple. Never look back.
  
• the more weight you lose and or the healthier you become results in more energy - couple it with training and that mental fog you walk around in goes subsides and you function at full capacity - give it time you'll understand
  
  Exercise:
  --------------
  
• What do you like to do? Find some way to do that. Start small. Make sure you LISTEN to your body. You are a big human being so its going to be hugely important for you to protect it while you build its capacity
  
• There is many options that don't require a gym - stay away from super high intensity stuff in the beginning like P90x. My love for martial arts led to GSP's rush fit - I was in good shape by this time but I could do this at home with minimal equipment - you should be able to find something you can do but think long term - no short term burn the candle and both ends shit - LONG TERM!
  
• Yoga is a good place to start - great to build a solid foundation
  
• Cardio isn't the weight loss answer - it's great to build endurance but not necessarily to shed pounds - weight training - more specifically metabolic weight training vs. traditional weight training is a more efficient method - what that looks like I am learning myself - google is your friend here - Coach Scott Abel has a lot of good info BUT this a steep learning curve so probably too much in the beginning
  
• Rather than trying to learn something complex just find a good training program to get started - the F2F2F site training would be a good jumping off point
  
  I hope this helps you and whomever else is out there struggling - been there, done that, still fighting every day.
  
  EDIT: Fix links / errors
  

From Season 9: Fish Made Easy


Testing notes

WINNER
OXO Good Grips V-Blade Mandoline Slicer - $49.99

> Razor-sharp V-blade made short work of a variety of fruits and vegetables, with a wide, sturdy gripper guard that felt exceptionally safe. Extra blades conveniently stored beneath the frame. Measurement-marked dial sets slice thickness.

BEST BUY

• Kyocera Adjustable Ceramic Mandoline Slicer - $26.96
  
  > "It looks like a toy, but it works like crazy!" exclaimed one tester, who pledged to go out immediately and buy one. No julienne or waffle blades, but this slicer is razor-sharp, adjusts easily, and fits in a drawer. Plus the price is right.
  
  HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
  
  
  
  
• Joyce Chen Benriner Asian Mandoline Plus - $49.95
  
  > Reasonably priced model comes close to the performance range of the top-rated OXO minus the safety perks. Some testers argued its julienne was the best, if you could brave the supersharp blade with the dinky hand guard.
  
  
  
  
• OXO Mandoline Slicer - $69.99
  
  > A close relative of the winning slicer, this model was intuitive, simple, and an all-around solid performer. Testers loved the "idiot-proof" dial to set slice thickness and change blades, the smoothly functioning hand guard, and the sturdy, soft-grip handle and feet. Would have been the winner, but its straight blade struggled to slice tomatoes.
  
  2 others were RECOMMENDED
  
  
• Borner V-Slicer Prima Stainless Steel Mandoline
  
• Zyliss Easy Slice 2 Folding Mandoline
  
  
  
  4 others were NOT RECOMMENDED
  
  
• SHUN Mandoline
  
• Bron Couke Stainless Steel Super Pro Mandoline
  
• Microplane V-Slicer
  
• De Buyer V-Pro Mandoline
  

To make a magical tea is fairly easy. The first thing we need to do it make the THC into a liquid.

For tea, milk is going to be your best bet. Use whole fat milk preferable, DO NOT USE FAT FREE MILK. THC is fat soluble, meaning you need fat to draw the THC out of the magical herbs.

What you will need:

1/2 cup of Milk

quarter (1/4) of an ounce(z) of weed (which is just over 7 grams)

A good grinder (or a clean coffee grinder that you use for NOTHING other then grinding weed) Good Ginder on amazon

A Strainer Strainer I use on amazon

A pot or pan (i'd give you an amazon link for this.... but i'm sure you can a pot or pan on your own XD )

1. Grind up the weed till it it nice and fine.
   
2. Combine all of the weed and milk
   
3. Heat the milk till hot on a stove top (DO NOT LET IT BOIL)
   
4. Reduce the heat and let it stay rather warm for about an hour or so. (DO NOT TAKE A 420 BREAK!)
   
5. Make a tea (black works/taste best) Optional: add sweeter of preference.
   
6. Take milk off heat, and strain the weed from the milk. (this weed is now useless. All of the thc has been taken out so you can throw it away)
   
7. Add three TABLESPOONS (or six teaspoons) of milk to your tea. Mix well.
   
8. OPTIONAL: Pour mixture into a clean pot and heat till the tea rises a little. This mixes it well. I am Indian and when we make Chai (a black tea with milk and spices) we do this. It blends the milk into the tea.
   
   Drink and enjoy.
   
   Your welcome
   
   Yeay for entHusbands!
   
   
   PS Mods can I get a fair for being a entHusband that helps support entWives? <3 all you lovely ladies and especially my ent wife!
   
   

Most of our gifts were replacements or upgrades of things we already owned. A really cheap and awesome gift we got was this stainless steel scraper, which makes it so much easier to transfer food from a cutting board to a pot/pan. We also got a matching set of this luggage belt with a TSA lock--I actually gifted one to my husband years ago, but we used this as an opportunity to replace his now worn-down belt. We also replaced our kitchen scale with this Amazon Basics one, which works really well. Another Amazon Basics item we received was this paper shredder, which is a kickass workhorse of a machine.
One of the first gifts we got was a Corelle dish set that I LOVE--it's so much lighter and more durable than the stoneware set we were using. We also replaced our silverware set with an Oneida set that we both picked out, which was a very sweet and meaningful experience. We already have a nice Oneida silverware set, but it belonged to my husband's late mother, and he wanted to retire it so it wouldn't take any more wear & tear.
Those are all gifts that were my hands-down favorite things we received. We were also able to buy two expensive items off our registry thanks to Amazon's completion discount. We purchased a Sonos soundbar and a Miele vacuum that were absolutely worth every penny we spent on them!

I personally use wooden utensils in place of silicone ones. They equally don't scratch up non-stick surfaces and can be more affordable.

I'd also get a stainless steel high walled pot like this. It doubles as a frying pan and a sauce pan, which means less storage and clutter. I do 90% of my cooking in this.

Like others have said a crock pot or Instant Pot. I have both and if I had to choose one I'd get the Instant Pot. It does more faster.

If you like making smoothies, purees or sauces a blender can be invaluable. But outside of that it's not necessary. I've been a home cook for a decade and only recently got one because I wanted to experiment with making my own hot sauce.

I would also get a few wide mouthed mason jars. They make for fancy cups, great storage for meal prep, or fermenting/pickling. I'd get a few 16 oz and 32 oz. Not an absolute necessity unless you're into fermenting/pickling. If you just need meal prep storage then any glass container will do fine. I prefer glass because it's safer for microwaving.

Also a really nice to have is a splatter guard for your microwave like this. It has the added bonus of steaming your food a little and of course keeps your microwave clean.

A spice rack will keep your spices organized and can add a world of flavor to your cooking even if you're just making beans and chicken breast all the time. Something like this will get you started.

Stay away from as many single-use gadgets as you can. They'll just end up breaking on you and cluttering up your limited kitchen space.

Other kitchen tips to make cooking cheaper/easier/quicker without spending extra money include reusing glass jars (pasta sauce, oil, etc.), having a dedicated rag/towel for wiping up oil and grease, and planning out meals in advance whether it's writing them down on paper or making food in bulk. Like any other skill it takes practice and time to get it down right. I've burnt plenty of things when I first started. Have fun!

I agree with what everyone else said on getting rid of stuff because you do have a good amount of cabinet space. Then get more efficient and clever about how you use the cabinet space you do have. For one I would move the racks you have on the counter into the cabinets so you can store things underneath them and create more space. Someone else mentioned a tiered plate holder. I have one of those and it works great!

Finding ways to use vertical space has done wonders for my small kitchen. For the spices you could mount a rack like this one on the side of the cabinet to free up counter space: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002ES1SRU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_co3SCbN770XC2
I purchased a magnetic knife rack that hangs on the wall because I only have two drawers in my kitchen I needed for other things: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016ISHAC8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Vz3SCb4EVBRP6
I've even seen people do pegboards, with adjustable hooks for hanging pots, pans and utensils: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CP5VN0E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_EB3SCbTNZBQZP

I would definitely get a small dish drying rack that fits into one side of the sink and get those dishes off the counter. It will look much neater. The stuff on top of the fridge would look more tidy in a basket/crate. I'd get two command hooks and hang those potholders on the wall right above the stove. I also use command hooks to hang pot lids on the inside of my cabinets. I'd also move the cutting boards off the counter and down below facing sideways so you can pull them out easily. Cutting boards are great for low deep spaces.

A general rule of thumb is that a bunch of smaller items will tend to look more cluttered than a few big items. So if you need to keep something on the counter make it the bigger appliances.

Appetizer: Hot Crab Dip I don't know what type of drinks your are into.. alcoholic or not but a fruit spritzer would pair well with this and you can make them non-alcoholic.

Entree: Pork Belly with Mashed Potatoes and Asparagus. I would pair this with a red, maybe a good dry Spanish, or an ale/lager, but if you don't drink just ignore that suggestion and have your favorite drink.

Dessert: Chocolate Lava Cake. pair with more chocolate. And fresh fruit. And ice cream. And maybe a chocolate martini for good measure. Or a king cake martini (using rum Chata).

To go with the theme this spice rack. would be awesome possum.

Thank you for the contest,. Where are you coming back from?

I'm ready for this question! I have a whole bookmark tab because I'm planning on building a vanity and redoing all of my storage. I'll give you a sneak peak into it (; Let me know if you want more! I have a bit more than a dozen of these things saved.


First up, acrylic drawer organizers!. Much cheaper than most other competition I've seen. I use these to house blush and bronzer and whatnot. If you guys can find a flaw in the first one I linked please let me know since that is what I'm planning on buying!


For samples, lots of people go for ammo boxes but I'm thinking of buying test tube racks/cases such as this or this. There's also a stainless steel options of the later version that look really pretty but are much more expensive and since these will be in drawers...I don't care quite that much.


If you do go for ammo boxes, however, this particular box has been mentioned several times in the past. It won't fit the longer or short and fat samples, but it'll do fine for most others. I don't care for it because of the color options, to be quite honest about it. It's a superficial thing and if you don't care I've seen many great reviews of this box.


For full-sized bottles, I've seen people use cake stands and pretty trays but since perfumes are light sensitive I plan on hanging a spice rack like this one inside a cabinet. Really you can hang it anywhere as long as it's out of light and humidity (so not in your bathroom!).

I wrote this when someone else made a post about grinders. My two cents on the issue:

--------------------------

You can get a cheap metal grinder on amazon for like $8. But, as me and my flatmate once discussed, you should take some things into consideration when purchasing a grinder. Do you see yourself smoking for a long time? If you do, a grinder will become a crucial tool for years to come. While buying a $100 Kannastor 3" 5 piece may seem crazy in the short term, owning one will definitely pay off.

What are you looking for in a grinder? If you want something that produces kief, look into four pieces. If you really want options in this regard look into a five piece, which will give you the option of an extra layer of kief refinement (my buddy owns a five piece but usually sets it up as a four).

The next thing is concealability. Sometimes if you're living at home and want to keep your toking a secret, there is no shame in owning a two piece grinder. Space Case and Mendo Mulcher make fucking awesome two pieces that will get the job done(you can sometimes even get mendo factory defects off ebay on the cheap). When you use a two piece, you're leaving more of the kief on the bud and you can work the bud to whatever level of grind you want(coarse to fine), so there is an advantage.

Whatever you look for, know some factors about quality. If the teeth sections of a grinder are inserts (you can see a seam like the one between the black and silver metal in this pic http://i.imgur.com/HqR6ekL.png) don't buy it. it may take years, but with enough work the two pieces of metal will separate(I ran into this the other night at a friends place). You want your teeth sections to be milled from one solid piece of metal to avoid this.
If I can give a personal recommendation, I use a Mendo Mulcher 3" four piece and it's my all time favorite grinder. Though I will give credit to Space Cases and Kannastors because they are also quality tools.


--------------------------

I definitely recommend a grinder. I keep one of these as a backup grinder and it's about the cheapest four piece you can get, definitely worth the money. I also use one of these for my travel kit and the 3" Mendo Mulcher is my daily driver.

-------------------------

As far as screens go, I say go glass or use a plug nug (small nug of weed below the ground weed to keep it from pulling through). Glass screens are inert and reusable/easily cleaned. Metal screens clog and they put unnecessary stress on the glass(the metal holds the heat close to the glass, while a glass screen cools at the same rate).

I'd personally recommend not getting a "big, cheap set of spices"

When I got married I put a nice, well equipped spice rack on my registry and ended up getting it. It contained about 20 different spices each in a 3-4oz glass jar, like this one.

Two years later, the foil is still on about half of the original spice set.

IMHO you'd be better off spending a bit more for higher quality spices that you know you'll actually use. I found a place local to me that deals in spices and it's the only place I'll buy 'em now.
Everything is wonderfully fresh and reasonably priced.

Do a quick search and try to find something similar in your area, or you can order online at the link above.

Good luck!

Temperatures would be helpful, if you don't have one, get an oven thermometer and make sure the oven is at the temperature it says it is.

The next thing would be, your loaves appear quite white in the photos. Are you using a flour blend for the final dough? It may just be the pictures, but it looks like you're using only white flour. Whole wheat and rye, I've found, tend to soak up more moisture and the original country loaf recipe calls for 100 g of whole wheat.

1. If you aren't used to higher hydration dough it may seem more moist than what you're used to. But you seem to have some gummy issues in your bread, which suggests to me you aren't getting proper oven spring/improper rise times.
   
   
2. I stop bulk fermentation when the dough appears poofy and is still springy. For me, this usually happens around the 3-4 hour mark as the book says.
   
   
3. My loaves came out similarly for a long time. The oven spring just wasn't happening. When I started using a dutch oven (with lid for first 20 minutes) it completely changed the end product. Using a pizza stone just doesn't cut it. I don't put any water in my oven anymore, I just pre-heat the oven with the d.o. inside, wait about 10 minutes after the oven says it's pre-heated, take out the dutch oven, put the dough directly in, put on the lid, place in oven and halfway through remove the lid.
   
   
4. This might be a gluten formation issue. When you're folding, does the dough start to become more elastic and pull together? When I'm doing final shaping, I don't flour the surface, but I do flour my hands a little (light dusting). Sprinkling flour on top of the boule works well, too. Just be careful about flour getting into the seams on the bottom. Using a dough scraper works really well to keep the surface tension when transferring the dough.
   
   
5. I don't own bannetons. I use some older kitchen towels (that don't give off lint). I place the towels in wide bowls, sprinkle generously with flour and place the dough in there. It works great.
   
   Here are some shots of my own bread:
   
   

• Picture1
  
  
• Picture2 (note that this isn't a crumb shot halfway through the loaf, it makes it appear much flatter than it was)
  
  
• Picture3 (a crumb pic closer to the center of the loaf, but not quite.... ate it too fast)

Your entire fridge will soon smell of garlic, and everything inside will have a slight garlic taste. No thanks.

Just invest in a really good garlic press, saves so much time, and the good ones are super easy to clean.

This oxo one is really good:
OXO Good Grips Soft-Handled Garlic Press https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00HEZ888K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_-zqDDbNWSZDCC

I don’t mean to rain on your parade, but they have garlic mincers lol https://www.amazon.com/OXO-Grips-Soft-Handled-Garlic-Press/dp/B00HEZ888K. Super innovative idea though :)
Edit: I have a garlic mincer and it’s not that hard to clean. You guys do what works for you

This $12 chromium crusher on Amazon

I’ve had it for several years and it’s hefty, reliable, and does a great job giving a consistent, medium grind.

I have several others, more expensive /fancy ones... but this one is absolutely more than adequate.

I now use the interplanetary development super weapon 2 more often. its chamber is deeper and it’s requires less twists to screw the pieces together... but that’s only a real benefit if you’ve got hand dexterity problems (like I do). Otherwise, the one I linked is great and I still use it regularly.

Edit: it’s $11 in other colors. I have plain silver. Never had any issues with the finish.

YES. Grinders are great. Ground bud burns evenly and makes joints/blunts smoother and more consistent. And kief is like a special bonus; I like to save mine up until I'm almost out of weed, and then pour it over the bowl for that extra "zing".
http://www.amazon.com/Premium-Quality-Grinder-non-aluminum-grinder/dp/B001CPRYLK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1292780069&sr=8-1

That really depends on what you consider "affordable" and "good quality." If you're used to on-the-shelf jarred spices, you can get some pretty decent ones from a dollar store to start, then replace them with fresher ones as you go through it. Salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin, cinnamon, paprika, oregano, garlic powder is what I'd start with.

​

When I set out on my own, I got a great gift of a full spice/herb set from Kamenstein (I think it was this one) that had free refills for 5 years - you pay S&H unless you get a big shipment 1x/year. It came with labels, jars, and a rotating display. Honestly, it's not enough to last you 5 full years with 1x/year refills, but it's definitely a good start, and I'd say it's worth the cost.

I wanted to see this for myself. It's a Japanese bowl you can get for $10 on Amazon. Suribachi bowls are the Japanese-version of a mortar and pestle. This one looks great for the price.

The bowl is a non-glazed ceramic with vertical ridges rising out along the insides up to the lip. The ceramic and the ridges give the bowl about 9000% more surface area. This means you can whip bubbles into a Greek yogurt-thick lather with the same confidence you'd get picking up the blue shell in Mario Kart.

This picture is ten seconds of bowl-lathering. It's so thick I thought there'd be fruit at the bottom.

I used a Maggard 22mm synthetic and Barrister & Mann's 42. Maybe it was cheating to use a B&M soap, but the bowl yielded lather so fast that the difference was immediately obvious.

I needed to see the hype for myself. We who live on the /r/wicked_edge have a tendency to throw money at whatever new thing pops up on the market. If Barrister & Mann announced tomorrow that they're making a special limited edition soap/AS set called "Corn," promising that it would smell exactly like corn, reminiscent of the cornfields of Iowa, we would all preorder the set and unzip. The box would come with a recipe for jalapeño cornbread. There'd be mail call posts showing the glorious corn label art. Thirty /r/shave_bazaar posts would pop up with [WTT] and [WTTF] tags. Two years later the violently polarizing Corn would be considered unobtanium.

I can safely say the Suribachi bowl is worth a place in your shave den. The hype is real.

Edit: Here's the link.

Also also wik: Fixed the link.

I just ordered one of these along with my MFLB yesterday. Hasn't come yet, of course, but it seems like a pretty nice deal to me. Assuming it's not a shitty brand or something, I'm pretty new to trees >>;

It looks exactly like mine which is an Indian Crusher, but it looks like it has a blazers button glued to the top or something.

It's pretty awesome by the way. I've had people not believe me when I said I only paid $8 for it, and $3 was in shipping.

STOCK MY HOUSE

How exciting! Congrats!!

This Ikea table for the kids would be great. I really think this would be great for holding nail polish bottles. My "home remodel" list is here in case you want to take a look around (it's not a public list, hence the link).

I use to hate garlic presses until I bought a Zyliss. I've had it for years now and use it daily. First, it has a huge hopper, I can fit 2 large or sometimes 4 medium cloves in, unpeeled and press with ease. It comes with a tool to clean the holes, but I rarely need it. If you don't peel the cloves it's easy to dig the remains out with your knife.

I would suggest buying on of these before giving up, it certainly makes dealing with garlic a lot easier.

https://www.amazon.com/ZYLISS-Susi-Garlic-Press-Need/dp/B007D3V00Q

Here's the one I have. Pricy, but works great. Adjustable thickness, which is good if I want potato chips or julianned potatoes, waffle blade, hand guard.

I did edit it. I had to think about it for a moment.

I've never used a potato ricer mainly because I'm too cheap to buy one. Yes, it does result in a slightly lumpy end product, but I don't make gnocchi often enough to care. I just mash with the usual 'murrican potato masher.

I do the flour addition in a big bowl, and keep kneading. The flour soaks up water from the potato (I boil mine, btw) and will form a dough as you knead. That's what makes it difficult - adding flour won't make the dough less sticky. You have to really mix/knead it to assess how much progress you've made. There's really no endpoint here - if you read around, some recipes ask for quadruple the amount of flour that the flour-stingiest recipes do. My guess is it depends on the exact amount of potato you have, the type of potato you're using, and your personal tolerance to stickiness. Obviously, the problem is that the more flour you use, the heavier your gnocchi will be. That said, noodles are basically all flour and everybody loves noodles, soooooo... do whatever you want.

I've never used oil. I have, however, used a bench scraper to help move the dough around. http://www.amazon.com/Norpro-577-Stainless-Scraper-Chopper/dp/B000SSZ4Q4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1372134408&sr=8-2&keywords=dough+scraper
I'll leave most of the dough in a big mixing bowl and work with a fist-sized hunk at a time, generously flouring my work station. Work with a light touch; it helps keep things from sticking too badly. Your hands will still be a potato-crusted mess by the end, but at least your table/countertop will be okay.

Also you can add a raw egg or two help bind things together. I've tried both ways (with or without) and typically do the egg thing now. I don't think it affects the final product noticeably but it does make it much easier to knead.

Finally - the "gnocchi" texture I chase in my dreams is, sadly, based on something I had on a cruise ship. It was my first time having gnocchi ever, and they incredibly light. Like, melt-in-your-mouth sort of light. I think, after heavy experimentation, that those gnocchi were likely the bastard child of food + chemical leavening agents, but I could be wrong. After all, what do I know? I'm just an Asian guy making gnocchi from cookbooks and random food websites.

I have tried a few of them. Agreed most suck. Depending on the recipe I often do just slice some quick like in spaghetti aglio e olio but if I want an easy and fine grate I found this [one] (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B007D3V00Q/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) won me over for not pushing out the sides. As well, you don't even need to peel it. Just break it off and press.

you need a new garlic press. LOL

​

this one looks good and it's good brand. also oxo is a good brand. I am sure there are others too.

https://www.amazon.com/ZYLISS-Susi-Garlic-Press-Need/dp/B007D3V00Q/ref=sr_1_4?

I know it's not from a head shop but I just showed this one to my friend who was looking for one last night. I'm not sure of the quality but it looks just like the one I have and has a bunch of great reviews.

An extra $30-50 isn't going to kill me if it'll improve the grind. $26

I wish you luck my friend, I don't even smoke any more since I hooked my SSV up to my bong about 3 years ago

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GGZJ5HC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Bought one of these not too long ago, and I love it. However, I've heard some people mention metal shavings in their ground herb. I've yet to experience that with mine; so far, thing works great, and it's pretty inexpensive.

What do you mean by "getting it out"? Most grinders are 3 or 4 piece. Put nugs in top, put top on and spin, and falls through the holes into the next layer. If you have a 4 piece its a screen that allows keif to collect in the bottom layer. Good 4 piece grinders can be pretty inexpensive.

Edit: heres one like mine. Get a genuine Chromium Crusher(they have knock offs so check the spelling on the top in the picture) for 10 bucks or so and itll do you right

I use my bench blade ALL the time. I bake a lot of pies and tarts, really couldn't do without. I use it anytime I use the cutting board to cut more than a tiny amount - find it easier to scoop up the chopped things than with my knife. It's invaluable in dealing with the aftermath of baking, use it to scrape and scoop the extra flour and dough into the sink.

I didn't have one at first but really would not want to do without. It is one of those tools I have an odd affection for, enough that I admit I sharpened the edge, and use it enough I recently resharpened it (not knife edge sharp, wouldn't cut paper).

I finally realized I was being silly in not getting a bowl scraper. Same thing: why didn't I get one sooner?

Writing this makes me realize i should just go order the danish dough whisk I've been eyeing forever. Like for years.

A suggestion: Don't get this kind: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000SSZ4Q4
Get a bench scraper with a solid handle, not one that is simply rolled over metal. I got that first and the rolled hollow one invariably collects crud in it or retains a few drops of water that get on my hands as I work with pastry dough. Eventually I got one with a solid plastic handle (that's the one I sharpened).

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007JLVOQW/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1416879115&sr=1&keywords=4+piece+grinder
^ that is $10 but its the best one i've ever got from amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Piece-Tobacco-Pollen-Grinder-diameter/dp/B0023WXZ1O/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1416879149&sr=8-2&keywords=4+piece+grinder
this is smaller but still works well.

Could you hang a couple of spice racks on either wall? Something like these maybe: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002ES1SRU You don't need to keep spices in them, they work for other items as well.

​

Or if you need a place to keep spices, I really like these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SP4TT7S they stick on to the wall and work great! They come in 2 sizes so check which you need (there's also a combo pack).

ooooh. nice. I'll have to try that next time.

and yes! the mandolin slicer and a chopper-thing are daily workhorses in my kitchen.

SO USEFUL!

And for Canadians, we have the same for $60: Kamenstein 20-Jar Revolving Spice Tower with Free Spice Refills for 5 Years https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00008WQ3L/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_yi-Nzb9EK581X

Or, if you're willing to forgo 4 spices, $30: Kamenstein 20-Jar Revolving Spice Tower with Free Spice Refills for 5 Years https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00008WQ3L/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_yi-Nzb9EK581X

Note: Reviews indicate there are no free refills available for Canadians despite the listing clearly stating free refills (there is potentially a $12 shipping fee if you insist)

Hey everyone I organized my tea yesterday. I bought these tins and this spice rack. It works out perfectly because you can fit a set of 12 on each side of the rack. Now, I will say although this is airtight, exposing your tea to light can be harmful to it but personally I find being able to see the teas helps me choose what I want for the day. Also, if you want to include teabags in these tins like I did you may have to remove them from their packaging paper as it usually cannot fit into a tin.

I chopped about a hundred pounds of still hot cooked pork butts two days ago with a gyuto, one with a smooth pakkawood handle, and it was clean at the end. To move lots of messy product, keep a bench scraper that sits flat on a table tucked under the side of your cutting board near your dominant hand. Your dominant hand only ever needs to touch a handle. The bench scraper lets you move more food at once without having to hold food against your knife blade and helps keeps your dominant hand and knife handle clean. It's a massive $5 upgrade to any knife.

Amazon has a bunch with reviews. I just picked one that had good ratings (EDIT: this one. I only wish I had gotten something a little smaller.). The free grinder included with my vaporizer purchase from puffitup is also great.

Also, next time you need a grinder buy this one

iRainy [5 Piece] Spice Herb Grinder with Pollen Catcher, 2.1 Inch, Metal Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F8T4WG0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_EQ25CbR4B86HC

I have it and it's an amazing grinder. Works like an absolute beast, I can put as much as I want and it works amazing.

This Garlic Peeler Tube and Garlic Twist Mincer are my two favorite things in my kitchen.

They are so simple to use and clean-up is super easy too

This rack would be good for spices and maybe this for organizing lids to pots as they always take up so much space. I would put spices in cute bottles.

Cool looking shelves would be a attractive way to get a little more storage.

You didn't mention needing anything in the bathroom but I have found in small spaces something like this over the toilet is really helpful. You can also get them with cabinets instead of shelves if you want to be able to hide stuff.

Yup. Also what works great are big cappucino or soup mugs or salsa bowls. Another good option are cheap Japanese suribachi bowls. The ridges apparently help build lather.

Make sure you are removing the two filler plates so the bag sits below the seal bar. Then I place a pastry scraper behind the seal bar. This creates a ramp from the bottom of the chamber to the top edge of the seal bar. This helps from keeping the bag from kinking and allow the air to escape.

The zoom does nothing. I have something similar to this that I really like, or use my food processor if doing more than a few cloves.

I saw a great peeling technique on here the other day. Crush a head with your hand/knife then put inside an aluminum bowl with another bowl to seal it off and shake for 10+ seconds. The cloves come out mostly peeled. And it is kind of fun to do :)

Here's one that I've been using for a while that's on the budget side, available on Amazon and has two screens to separate the fine and coarse ground herb. And yes, it has a great kief catcher (toss a coin in the second to last chamber for extra kief). https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F8T4WG0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_3TORDbQ7DA40M

When I use a bowl, I like using a Suribachi. The ridges help it build amazing lather.

Depends on what you need it for. I use a good ol' fashioned mortar and pestle for most things. You can get an awesome one for under $30, and I guarantee you that you will never break it, and it wont ever malfunction! :)

you deserve a mandoline you'll put it to good use. fantastic for making a ratatouille as well.

The MFLB finishing grinder is $ 35 on their website. It requires you to break up the bud a little bit before using though, but it makes a super fine grind

http://sales.magic-flight.com/finishing-grinder/



https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Flight-Finishing-Grinder-Walnut/dp/B00GNKFOTI?th=1

I'm not OP, but is sounds like this. This is another similar product with good reviews and less moving pieces.

I have an OXO stainless steel folding mandolin and I love it. So. Yeah. I just got into Japanese cuisine for work, and am so thankful that I'm an age-old mandolin-er. I also bought a cut-resistant glove at the same time, and would never ever EVER use the crappy guards that come with any mandolin.

OXO Good Grips Mandoline Slicer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000DAQ8B/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_DKxRAbXQSZ1J3

NoCry Cut Resistant Gloves - High Performance Level 5 Protection, Food Grade. Size Medium, Free Ebook Included! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MXUHHGK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_pLxRAb8GM0DRT

The ceramic suribachi bowl that was shown here a while ago seems pretty good. The ridges on the inside of the bowl really make your lather expand.

Amazon Link

I dont know but I had something interesting happen last November.

I had a toy sell 40+ in an afternoon, and when I raised my price to more than double the buy box, I kept selling. There were at least 10 other FBA sellers with prices less than half mine but I was getting all the sales.

My best guess is someone was drop shipping or linked directly to my listing and didnt notice until the next day.


***

As an example, I searched for "garlic press":

The listing you normally see: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HEZ888K/

You see AMZ has the buy box and there are 74 sellers.

But if someone sent you this link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HEZ888K?&m=A17CA6KX7WV36G

It's the same product page but it's only showing the listings for 1 seller! If you were a customer, you'd probably never notice and you'd pay $38 instead of the $13 it normally sells for.

Even when you click through to look at other offers, It still only shows the one merchant.

This is pretty good, and should perfom well for you for a long time.....http://www.amazon.com/SPACE-CASE-Grinder-Magnetic-Medium/dp/B003U584OG/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1421028401&sr=8-10&keywords=Space+case+grinder

yes grind upside down or get something that grinds finer.

the MLFB finishing grinder is fucking fantastic aside from needing something to grind into, but it comes with a nice aluminum tin that i use the lid to grind into.

I gotta upvote the mortar and pestle. It's so much easier to clean, and a a nice, large one can be used to serve whatever you made in it.

I use this one in the three cup size. I make 3 avocados worth of guacamole in it, and can then serve the guac right out of the mortar! I'd prefer stone to cast-iron, though.

Get an instaspark on amazon. Just do that it use to be around 25 might be cheaper now. Its a CNC cut grinder I've been using it for 2+ years its great. Got it on amazon.

Edit: here it is
its 12.99 it works amazing IMO I vape so I like a really fine grind and it does that. I mean you have to clean it every once in a while but that's normal

I like this Instapark on Amazon ($15). It works well and comes in different sizes if you think 1.5" might not be enough for you. Make sure to thoroughly wash your new grinder, regardless of the brand, before use.

A friend has that press, and honestly I didn't like it. I found it squeezed the garlic out of the top, not the holes, if you had a big clove.

I much prefer the OXO one (which is what I own)

I swear by this one. It's increased in price since I last bought it, but it's excellent. Always gives me the most out of my herb.

I bought a suribachi (bowl used for grinding sesame seeds) in Japan for 100yen which does the job nicely.
I'm not in the US but looks like you can get them through Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Helen-Kitchen-5-5-inch-Ceramic-Suribachi/dp/B000UEYXL8 though I'd 1st try an Asian grocer/supermarket as may find 1 cheaper there.

I wrote the lost assuming that most people probably have a decent grinder!! Everyone definitely needs a decent grinder. Here's the one I use.

Platinum Grinders #1 Best Herb Grinder with Pollen Catcher - Large 2.5 Inch 4 Piece Black Aluminum https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QUIA27C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_1QCCybY1NNV09

I have the exact same dinosaur lighter :) Here is a link to a really nice grinder to get some kief https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QUIA27C/ref=ox_sc_act_title_8?smid=A3PNG9Y0XLEEW6&psc=1

It's a conduction vape so fine grind and surface area are what you are looking for.

I use the Magic Flight Finishing Grinder, Newvapes 3d screen and Pax Pusher with Vented Lid.


Smell proof bags from ID are good to have, however a large Mason Jar for all your wares is ideal if you are trying to stay stealth where you are.

Looks nice! I have my eye on this one, would it be a good investment?

https://www.amazon.com/iRainy-Piece-Grinder-Pollen-Catcher/dp/B01F8T4WG0

chromium crusher

it's the one i've got, has a kief catcher, and is extremely solid. right within your price range and a great cop if you need a quality grinder.

You are going to get a lot of mixed responses. By mincing by hand, you can ensure you get the desired size, but if you don't have a good enough knife or enough experience, it can take longer. Using the garlic press ensures the consistency as you said, but then you spend some time cleaning the thing and potentially wasting some.

There are good things to both methods. I use the press when I'm going quick because I don't mince garlic like a pro in the kitchen. I mince when I need a desired size, be it smaller or bigger than the press. You can use a press like this and minimize the waste because a reverse press will get the tidbits that remain.

Just do what you're comfortable with or what the recipe needs.

I put garlic in just about everything, but hatted having to dice it up so I used to buy the big jars (I'm talking the 32 ouncers) of pre-diced garlec. Well, a while back, I found this thing and a garlic peeler, and I'll never buy a pre-diced jar again. With these two items, I have fresh garlic in barley a few seconds more that it would take to get the jar out of the fridge and measure it out and put the jar back in the fridge. With how cheep a bulb of garlic is, it's almost costless to add a couple of cloves to anything.

Pro: better airflow. More even burn. Kief collection.

Con: you have to physically do something. You get what you pay for. They can get clogged with kief.

There’s not much to using them. Put your weed in the top. Twist back and forth a few times. Open the middle section and there’s your fresh ground weed.

Never had an issue with this one.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QUIA27C?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

I use these. love em cause they're adjustable

​

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OLH0TGI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MYQ588W/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Highly reccomend this mini bubbler, I purchased it and love mine

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01F8T4WG0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I also purchased this grinder and it is very high quality

Just go with a small 4 piece like this chromium crusher. I've had a few grinders and this one is by far my favorite. [8]

They were $60 when I looked at them (years ago).

Looks like they're only $30 now.. :)

I still prefer the coffee grinder, portability isn't a factor for me as I only smoke in my room and if I'm with a buddy I use their stuff.

If you want perfect cubes each time, use a large mandoline slicer to slice the tomatoes into discs, then use a vegetable chopper to cube the discs.

If you don't care about perfection, quarter the tomatoes and pulse a few times with a good food processor.

Here it is. It sounds almost too good to be true.

This is a difficult problem to deal with.

I worked with a spice chef a couple years ago & it really leveled up my cooking game. For starters, he primarily only worked with fresh spices that he had dried and/or ground himself. I was blown away by two things:

1. How much different spices taste fresh (I would say that most people in America have never actually tasted truly fresh spices...herbs, yes, garlic, yes, but not many people are familiar with how bright & "alive" freshly-ground spices can be!)
   
2. How the different combinations can bring a whole new world of flavor to your dishes
   
   I now divide my spices into two flavor categories:
   
   
3. Living
   
4. Dead
   
   A dead spice is one you get off the shelf, like McCormick's. Dead doesn't mean bad, but a "living" spice is an entirely different world of flavor. Prior to working with my spice-oriented chef buddy, I had only used off-the-shelf spices, which are fine, but not nearly as potent. What I've learned is:
   
   
5. Fresh spices are potent for about a month at "100%" max output
   
6. Fresh spices fade to "normal" within 6 months
   
7. They last for years after that, but you lose that
   
   Rules for storing:
   
   
8. Keep them in an airtight package or container
   
9. Keep them out of sunlight (in a dark cupboard is preferred)
   
10. Keep them in a cool, dry place
    
    This article has a good explanation:
    
    https://www.salon.com/2010/05/20/how_long_do_spices_last/
    
    >"Once the spices are ground, right away there's a sharp drop in their flavor. Spices are filled with volatile oils, which are what give them their flavor and complexity. When you grind them, you release those oils, and they begin to dissipate.
    >
    >In two weeks to a month after grinding, you have the sharpest drop in flavor, a rapid loss of those oils. But then it plateaus, losing its flavor at a more gradual rate.
    >
    >For the next few months, they're pretty much the same, but by six months, you've really lost their complexity. It's not just about potency and strength -- for that, you can just add more of the faded spice. But you can't ever get back the complexity. Black pepper from a year ago might still smell like pepper, but it won't smell like orange and clove, the interesting aromas that a really fresh pepper has.
    >
    >After six months, it's still totally usable, but it's just a matter of what you want out of it.
    
    For preparing spices, I use these tools:
    
    
11. Dehydrator (I currently use a Breville Air combination countertop oven)
    
12. Smoker (I use a small plug-in unit with food-grade wood pellets)
    
13. Roasting (oven)
    
    These are my primary tools for spices:
    
    
14. Zester
    
15. Mortar & pestle
    
16. Krups coffee grinder (I'm not a coffee-drinker, I actually only & specifically use it for spices, haha)
    
    part 1/2

yeah, it's just a bench knife. Maybe it has a sharpened edge, which wouldn't be too hard to do, but it's definitely just a bench knife.

If you cook with spices at all, this mortar and pestle.

Best purchase I have made for my kitchen all year.

SPACE CASE Grinder Magnetic 2 Pc. Medium https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003U584OG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_AVMJxbP526D6K

You'll love this grinder

Ditch the press. Get a garlic twist. Total game changer. Rinses clean in like 2 seconds. Also works on ginger.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00GGZJ5HC/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478451262&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=chromium+crusher&dpPl=1&dpID=51prWYLlDwL&ref=plSrch

Here op; $12, holds an 8th easily and has a smooth twist. Nice look to it. I've had mine forever.

I've never seen that style of garlic press before. I think I would actually love using that. It looks a lot more utilitarian than what I have (and I don't know why I still have it): http://www.amazon.com/OXO-Good-Grips-Garlic-Press/dp/B00HEZ888K/ref=sr_1_5?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1426894292&sr=1-5&keywords=garlic+press

I bought this one over a year ago and it still grinds perfectly to this day:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QMXB36O

I started with the 1.7 inch sharpstone as well, and upgraded to this grinder. I highly recommend it, and it started producing kief immediately!

In the end it comes down to personal preference, but I always use a [granite mortar] (http://www.amazon.com/Stone-Granite-Mortar-Pestle-capacity/dp/B000163N6G/ref=sr_1_6?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1334685490&sr=1-6) when I want to make garlic paste. It's efficient and I also use it to grind spices to make rubs etc.

I have one of these works great.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00QMXB36O/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1494747137&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=chromium+crusher&dpPl=1&dpID=51wE2Osth7L&ref=plSrch

[this][http://www.amazon.com/Lifetime-Warranty-Indian-Crusher-Aluminum/dp/B007JLVOQW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1370662639&sr=8-2&keywords=grinder] or [this][http://www.amazon.com/Whom-Bell-Tolls-Scribner-Classics/dp/0684830485/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1370662822&sr=8-3]

schlongdazzle: the act of bedazzling your package for a females pleasure.

Spices. I remember moving into my first college apartment and snagging a loaded spice rack at Sam's. It was probably the best purchase I've ever made.

So I started digging on Amazon for you: https://smile.amazon.com/Kamenstein-20-Jar-Revolving-Spice-Refills/dp/B00008WQ3L/

There are several similar options, but that's not a bad deal at all to get you rolling.

Chromium Crusher is what you want. Fantastic grinder for only $13.

I love eating garlic, I hate mincing it. This thing changed my life.

Also, you can peel and freeze the leftover cloves. Better yet, mince it all and freeze in 1 tsp. portions.

I'm with you on this one. While most people say a mince is fine I greatly prefer garlic presses. When you press garlic it just melts into the dish and you get that great garlic flavor without any garlic bits. No matter how tiny I mince I still find little bits which is annoying to me. Between my mother and I we have tried a lot of garlic presses and we have both found that this one is perfect. We had an oxo one recently that was nice but the garlic ran up the sides.

https://www.amazon.com/ZYLISS-Susi-Garlic-Press-Need/dp/B007D3V00Q

Chromium Crusher. The other grinders mentioned here are high quality, with price tags to match. While the Chromium crusher isn't the perfect tool, it's the best sub 20$ I've ever found!

I've got this one and love it:

ZYLISS Susi 3 Garlic Press "No Need To Peel" - Built in Cleaner - Crusher, Mincer and Peeler, Cast Aluminum https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007D3V00Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_lzhezb6JMPD0K

Cheap Amazon one but a favorite of mine. I don't like smoke shop prices...

iRainy Zinc Spice Weed Herb Grinder with Pollen Catcher- Large 2.5 Inches 5 Pieces (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F8T4WG0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_2Da1AbF671ZST

Looks nice. When I first went out on my own, I bought a McCormick spice rack for about $30, that unbeknownst to me, had easily $100 of spices in it. They still offer a version but the prices have gone up. I did find this rack on Amazon that even comes with 5 years of refills, but I cannot vouch for the brand or quality. $40. Just throwing it out there. https://www.amazon.com/Kamenstein-20-Jar-Revolving-Spice-Refills/dp/B00008WQ3L/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1503601633&sr=8-3&keywords=mccormick+spice+rack

This: http://www.amazon.com/Stone-Granite-Mortar-Pestle-capacity/dp/B000163N6G/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1417471719&sr=8-3&keywords=mortar+and+pestle

Most people don't have them, and they are a fantastic kitchen tool.

read the description

> The special coating minimized scratch and wear & tear on the grinder over-time. It will keep the grinder new and shinny for a very long period of time.

it'll stay shinny for-fuckin'-EVAR!!!

I left out a crucial piece of information... I have a larger grinder that is much better. In fact it was also quite cheap, cheaper than the little one!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007JLVOQW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Something like:

https://www.amazon.com/DecoBros-Expandable-Cabinet-Organizer-12-5-25/dp/B00OLH0TGI/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=3-Tier+Spice+Rack&qid=1558838046&s=home-garden&sr=1-7

​

or

https://www.amazon.com/InterDesign-Linus-Cabinet-Organizer-Rack/dp/B001KOTJTS/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=3-Tier+Spice+Rack&qid=1558838046&s=home-garden&sr=1-8

I bought a cheap 4-piece grinder on Amazon (I think it was this one, it was the same brand: http://www.amazon.com/Indian-Crusher-Piece-Tobacco-Grinder/dp/B007JLVOQW) and if you use the "upside down grind" technique you can get grinds that rival the finishing grinder. I might have pictures of the grind quality somewhere if you're interested.

Bought a SpaceCase 2pc last year from Amazon. Still like it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003U584OG/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie

The finishing grinder is like $20 bucks on amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Flight-Finishing-Grinder-Walnut/dp/B00GNKFOTI?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

I always enjoy my cromium crusher grinders.

I've had a Cali Crusher and now own a Chromium Crusher off of Amazon. The chromium Crusher puts out more kief then the Cali and was less expensive. Highly recommend this guy: https://www.amazon.com/Chromium-Crusher-Piece-Tobacco-Grinder/dp/B00GGZJ5HC

Spice racks from amazon.....I use them myself. They're catching on so well with figure collectors the reviews are more figure than spice.


https://www.amazon.com/Copco-2555-0188-Non-Skid-Cabinet-Organizer/dp/B0036OQU56/ref=pd_sim_79_4?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0036OQU56&pd_rd_r=Q58BG3PWD9Q3HAF4PFHK&pd_rd_w=lSUdk&pd_rd_wg=GvC9p&psc=1&refRID=Q58BG3PWD9Q3HAF4PFHK

I also like these, two models though they're a bit more expensive.

https://www.amazon.com/DecoBros-Expandable-Cabinet-Spice-Organizer/dp/B00OLH0TGI/ref=pd_sim_201_14?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00OLH0TGI&pd_rd_r=E56K62B5GMSNVK4TQVCD&pd_rd_w=3iZkP&pd_rd_wg=QLUU3&psc=1&refRID=E56K62B5GMSNVK4TQVCD

and

https://www.amazon.com/YouCopia-SpiceSteps-Cabinet-Organizer-24-Bottles/dp/B01DM7WL8G/ref=pd_sim_79_9?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01DM7WL8G&pd_rd_r=Q58BG3PWD9Q3HAF4PFHK&pd_rd_w=lSUdk&pd_rd_wg=GvC9p&psc=1&refRID=Q58BG3PWD9Q3HAF4PFHK

Dude just get something off Amazon, I have this one and it's huge. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GGZJ5HC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is the display rack that's on the desk. http://www.amazon.com/DecoBros-Expandable-Cabinet-Spice-Organizer/dp/B00OLH0TGI?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=od_aui_detailpages00
And I made the shelves on the wall. They're made out of 24 inch and 20 inch planks of oak, and I made the holes with a 2" fornster drill bit. The pictures for the amiibo art are linked in another comment somewhere :)

I have considered the brushy guys, that one looks like it has the resevoir for soap in it. My garlic press, though, came with a little plastic cleaner thing that stores in the handle, similar to this one

Sure, got it off Amazon. It's a spice rack, shhhhh our little secret ;)

i have this OXO -- good quality for the price - occasional use.

https://www.amazon.com/OXO-Good-Grips-Mandoline-Slicer/dp/B0000DAQ8B/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1483115714&sr=8-3&keywords=oxo+mandoline

Hearing good things about this one http://www.amazon.com/CRUSHER-Premium-Quality-Tobacco-non-aluminum/dp/B001CPRYLK/ref=sr_1_4?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1412310281&sr=1-4&keywords=grinder

Best grinder for the money. Seriously, these things are fantastic.

I've always liked the Zyliss garlic presses

I use something like this and it makes dicing vegetables twice as fast! I found mine at a tjmaxx I think

Yep! Here you go!

I chop a lot of stuff and I can highly recommend the Progressive International GPC-4000 Fruit and Vegetable Chopper.

Chromium Crusher 3inch

Chromium Crusher 3 Inch 4 Piece Tobacco Spice Herb Grinder - Gun Metal https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GGZJ5HC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_xJvLDbN4Z0NJF

I bought mine in 2015 has never let me down. Great keef too.

Oh sure. I think any of the Chromium Crushers they have are good, but I have this one.

Try this 5 piece 2.1” one: iRainy [5 Piece] Spice Herb Grinder with Pollen Catcher, 2.1 Inch, Metal Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F8T4WG0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_pljzCbA2RW6HR
Two screens: fine and ultra fine at the same price as the one originally mentioned.

Looks like [this] (https://www.amazon.com/Helen-Kitchen-5-5-inch-Ceramic-Suribachi/dp/B000UEYXL8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498398686&sr=8-1&keywords=Suribachi+bowl).

A suribachi bowl like this one

like this http://www.amazon.com/SPACE-CASE-Grinder-Magnetic-Medium/dp/B003U584OG?

I just bought mine a few weeks ago, and it makes huge difference.

I recommend the Magic Flight Finishing Grinder

I had one similar to the one Babish has, but it broke so I got another one. My new one (and the one in your link) does not have that red plastic piece with bumps that helps clean the press. I miss that feature.

This looks to be the one he has.

Try this out then.

I first saw it at my mothers house and I though for a second that she was starting to smoke weed.


But yeah, with that you can have garicly weed and weedy garlic.

DecoBros 3 Tier Expandable Cabinet Spice Rack Step Shelf Organizer (12.5 ~ 25 Inch), Chrome https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OLH0TGI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_CLORAbXRVWHPJ I personally use these for my Amiibos! Definitely pricy but there should be cheaper alternatives.

These work well, too.

For prep:

• A vegetable chopper
  
• A cutting board chopper/dicer
  
• A garlic peeler. Seriously. If you cook with garlic, get. this. item.
  
  For cleanup:
  
  
• Soap dispensing dish brush. I can't explain why this makes cleanup so much faster and more painless, but it does. You also use way less dish soap.

Basically it's a grinder that gets an incredibly fine grind as a result. Here's an example: https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Flight-Finishing-Grinder-Walnut/dp/B00GNKFOTI

Why not just order a decent one off Amazon?

One of our cookware experts recommends this Zyliss press, which she says has lasted her 8 years so far.
https://www.amazon.com/ZYLISS-Susi-Garlic-Press-Need/dp/B007D3V00Q/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1479849942&sr=8-2&keywords=zyliss+garlic+press

Another one of our kitchenware writers owns this Oxo press and can also attest to it being durable. https://www.amazon.com/OXO-SteeL-Garlic-Press-Stainless/dp/B0000CDVD7

This.

In today's world kids you can get glass easy. Use it, plastics and soft alloys are a bad idea when it comes to smoking.

(edit) this includes aluminum IMO. Almost all metal downstems and bowls you would get at a headshop are aluminum and it being a soft metal makes it less than ideal. Smoking out of aluminum foil is super bad.

Edit#2 My opinion is based on having watched many people smoke through foil and cans to the point of there being obvious and sometimes profound metal loss to ever make me comfortable with it. (unroll a foil pipe after a solid sesh) Where do you think that metal is going?

Hell I don't even use aluminum grinders as they can possibly leech material into your smoke (a soft metal grinder is an inherently flawed idea)

If you need a grinder get something like this (Zinc and steel/hard metal) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CPRYLK/ref=oh_o06_s00_i00_details

They weigh 2x as much and are downright awesome without having to worry about sullying up your good smoke with nasty bits.

/end rant :P

Heres three of the things i want right now

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FMN8NWW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3RTDCXJDAJLJ5

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KWHNHLU/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AT4Y9FAF60CVM

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007JLVOQW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ANPI0LINHGMTA

I have and love this one, but I don't use the kief scraper since it broke, I use a guitar pick instead, kief scrapers aren't really necessary, you can try a small piece of cardboard from a pack of gum like Extra, or even make one with tin foil since you aren't smoking it

Edit: I took out the bottom screen since it wasn't all that important for me, so technically mine is a 4-piece

I got this a year ago and it works phenomenally. 24 bucks with shipping from Amazon

What's a finishing grinder?

Nvm looked it up here's one for 25 on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00GNKFOTI/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/178-3794912-3320925

Dude this platinum grinder I got off Amazon for just $20 is a bet.

Edit: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00QUIA27C/ref=oh_aui_i_d_old_o1_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1 that's it

This one from Amazon. It's smaller than it looks in the picture, but fully decent for $9!

You won't be disappointed for the price:

Platinum Grinders Herb Grinder with Pollen Catcher - Large 2.5 Inch 4 Piece, Black Aluminum https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QUIA27C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_SQUqzb2PC0T07

With presses like these, you don't even have to peel the garlic. Just pop a clove off the head and press through. No excuses!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GNKFOTI/ref=twister_B00GNKFOTS?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 this is the grinder you want.

It is.

https://www.amazon.com/Kamenstein-20-Jar-Revolving-Spice-Refills/dp/B00008WQ3L/ref=sr_1_7?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1521417940&sr=1-7&keywords=spice+rack

Another kitchen tool

https://www.amazon.com/Helen-Kitchen-5-5-inch-Ceramic-Suribachi/dp/B000UEYXL8/

$10.62

Link for the lazy

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000UEYXL8/ref=sxts_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1506216167&sr=1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65

It was about 7$ when I got it. It was a random link someone posted on here. Only tested it with random non-shaving soaps but the texture change is real!

A quick google search for "stainless steel herb grinder" came up with this http://amzn.com/B001CPRYLK .

I would think that mostly the moisture inside your house will dictate whether your spices will get any moisture inside the containers.

Some spice containers [like this] (http://www.amazon.com/Organize-It-All-3-Tier-Wall-Mounted/dp/B002ES1SRU/ref=sr_1_5?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1415739441&sr=1-5&keywords=spice+rack) should suffice to prohibit moisture getting into the actual spice. I live in the pacific and though we have air moisture I'm not too concerned about the moisture in the spices. I wouldn't be too concerned about moisture unless I lived in coastal Florida and even then, during the summer you have the AC going all the time which dries out the inside of your home.

TLDR: I wouldn't be too concerned about keeping spices at home in "regular" spice containers.

It's a "Garlic Twist" - you peel and smoosh a garlic clove and put it in there to finely mince it up for cooking in a dish.

Amazon link

And as other commenters have mentioned, can be used for more recreational purposes

https://www.amazon.com/NexTrend-Generation-Clear-Garlic-Twist/dp/B0044TLKMK

My personal experience is that grinders have produced a higher quality smoke. It grinds the bud so fine and even. Plus you can start a kief collection :D. Here is the grinder i bought:

http://www.amazon.com/Indian-Crusher-Tobacco-Lifetime-Warranty/dp/B007JLVOQW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1415484626&sr=8-2&keywords=indian+crusher

http://www.amazon.com/Chromium-Crusher-Lifetime-Warranty-Gunmetal/dp/B00GGZJ5HC/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1407259338&sr=8-7&keywords=herb+grinder+4+piece one dis

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GGZJ5HC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_tYC6ybP7C03EM

Chromium Crusher 4pc for $12. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00GGZJ5HC/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475025629&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=chromium+crusher&dpPl=1&dpID=51prWYLlDwL&ref=plSrch

Here you go!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GNKFOTI/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_5CgZtb1D9418KSNX

http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Flight-Finishing-Grinder-Walnut/dp/B00GNKFOTI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1396542254&sr=8-1&keywords=finishing+grinder+magic+flight

Boom! They say there's only 10 left in stock, so... Get it! :D

Finishing grinder for less

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00GNKFOTI/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/188-5542515-3029437

https://www.amazon.com/OXO-Grips-Soft-Handled-Garlic-Press/dp/B00HEZ888K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484155381&sr=8-1&keywords=garlic+press

And some risers too so you can see em all. Based on the amount of POPs you have lined up, I'd say to get this one. I use these but that's cause I have one of those cube organizers. Check out the customer images on both pages to get an idea of what to expect.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QMXB36O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_cFgNzb1D1D681

Is the one I use.

This one, right? https://www.amazon.com/Platinum-Grinders-Grinder-Pollen-Catcher/dp/B00QUIA27C/ref=sr_1_68?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1494377066&sr=1-68&keywords=grinders

https://smile.amazon.com/Platinum-Grinders-Grinder-Pollen-Catcher/dp/B00QUIA27C/ref=sr_1_10?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1481434830&sr=1-10&keywords=grinder

There's also this one...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QUIA27C/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=best420grin-20&linkId=e08b3b7927fb554a50f1604533589d23

Well...I know what my $8 grinder is based off of.

https://www.amazon.com/iRainy-Piece-Grinder-Pollen-Catcher/dp/B01F8T4WG0/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=irainy+grinder+5+piece&qid=1567103076&s=gateway&sprefix=irainy&sr=8-1

You realize that these are all just ingredients, right? Like, if you wanted to go buy a 50lb bag of black beans you could do that. There's no need to get the freeze dried ones, they aren't any easier to use. I guess the vegetables come pre-chopped... but you could also just get one of these.

I'm not sure why you won't listen to what everyone is telling you. Spices don't cost anywhere near that much.

Search for "spice rack with spices" on Amazon. This one, for example, has 20 spices in decent sized containers, along with the rack itself, for $27. This amount of spices will last a college student at least a year, probably more, and they even offer refills (though you have to pay for shipping).

Getting a garlic press was a total game changer for me. I kind of hate the idea of specialized kitchen gadgets, but it's just so much easier.

Plus, mine comes with a little brush thing that lets you scoop/push the extra garlic out of the press. Like this. Highly recommended.

Thank you, I will.

I do use a grinder however I just picked one off Amazon.

iRainy [5 Piece] Herb Grinder

I am not impressed, but it does grind and I do get reasonable flakes but it is a fussy to get all the flower out of the device. The herb is mostly stuck between the teeth. I have to pick it out with tweezers.

Thanks, that is brilliant. I hate peeling garlic.

Depends on the press. Mine crushes unpeeled cloves just fine.

Similar to /u/IteMaledicti, I never buy the jars of spices from the grocery store anymore. I bought something similar to this or this about 15 years ago and I still have it. It came with spices but I've used all of them a long time ago. Now, I go to the grocery store and buy spices in the bulk section. I can either buy a jar for $4 or spend $.30 for the same amount from the bulk section. I also buy only what I need. For the spices that I don't use very often, I get maybe a spoonful. For those that I use a lot (oregano, curry, ginger, garlic, etch), I get about 3 spoonfuls. I also have a label maker so I mark the top of each lid with the spice in it. Wash out the containers when I run out.

Because of this, I have an organized spice rack where I buy enough spices before they go bad and it is much, much cheaper than buying bottles one by one from the store.

This bad boy.

I saw one oxo posted already... but this is the one I have, it is also a little cheaper . I crushed ginger with it the other night and it had no issues.

http://www.amazon.com/OXO-Good-Grips-Garlic-Press/dp/B00HEZ888K/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1426072006&sr=1-1&keywords=oxo+garlic+press