Claire from Hivequeen.com's Profile

Nice. I had a hard time finding a scrap collecting pail that was compact enough to sit on my countertop but wide enough to scrape plates and pans into easily. Ended up going to my local restaurant supply shop and got a stainless steel steam table pan like this one: http://amzn.com/B001VZ6WGY for under $10.

The lid is tight-fitting enough to keep bugs out and odors in (I empty it every day or so.) And unlike my old plastic container, this one's easy to rinse clean, and can go right into the dishwasher if it starts getting icky. And it looks just fine on the counter — complements the industrial stainless steel island top and range hood.

I tried substituting garam masala for pumpkin pie spice one year, and never went back. It hits all the right "holiday" spice notes for me, but it's got a richer, more complex taste. Less cloyingly sweet, too — the pepper and coriander give it a nice little bite. I usually go with pre-blended mix — even the regular supermarkets seem to have it in their spice sections, though places with bulk spices tend to have fresher. Just harvested coriander from the garden, so I think I'll try blending my own and see how it turns out.