We recently moved and, while this post isn't about food or spices (which you CAN find at http://mountainofspices.blogspot.com), I know everyone out there is interested in seeing some photos of the new place. We moved into a small cottage on a farm just fifteen minutes east of our old place, and the farm comes with plenty of land for hiking and lots of animals to keep me amused and happy. The place also has a communal garden which Cheryl is excited to put to good use. Maybe we'll have our own freshly grown selection of herbs and chilies. So, I present here for your viewing pleasure, our humble new cottage and a cast of characters. These photos and more will be available for viewing - and purchasing (hint hint - wink wink - nudge nudge) on my Flickr site at http://www.flickr.com/photos/emburke/

(Sorry, my attempts to place an entire blog WITH photographs here failed as I realized that apparently pictures can't be copied into the blog template. For the full blog post, including pictures, please go here: http://mountainofspices.blogspot.com/2008/12/cottage-industry.html.
And while you are there, pleaes buy some spices for someone you love for Christmas.)

Greetings food lovers, spice connoisseurs, friends & curious bystanders!

W e are having our First Annual Post-Labor Day Spice Sale - & it's online, right here, right now!

That's right! From now, Friday, September 12th through Friday the 19th, we are having a special sale on our spices to make way for some new additions. When you buy two orders of any spice or seasoning blend you get the third one of your choice for free!

Feat ured selections include:

Mexican Sazón Seasoning
Afrikan Malayan Curry Blend
Green Thai Curry Spice Blend
Tandoori Spice Blend
Moroccan Tajine Spice Blend
Ethiopian Berbère Spice Blend
Greek Seasoning
Cajun Seasoning

To order, please visit my online store at http://www.emburke.etsy.com. Select your purchases & then contact me about your free spice selection through the conversation feature found on the page. Or write me back & we'll work something out.

Each comes nicely packaged in a square 3.90 oz metal tin with clear lid for convenient storage & easy use. Cost is $ 8.00 US + $ 2.00 shipping & Handling. These spice tins also make great gifts for the do it yourself grill master!

We also have a blog, mountain of spices, at http://mountainofspices.blogspot.com, which features recipes for use with our spices. Please be sure to visit & please tell your friends!

NEW ITEMS!
I am happy to announce the introduction of two new spice blends that will be available through this site: Szechuan Seasoning, which was inspired by the tasty Crispy Crackling Aromatic Roasted Pork featured on the gourmet menu at the Great Wall Chinese Restaurant in Florence, MA., and the infamous El Topo Negro (Black Mole), which is neither black nor a ground burrowing rodent but a spicy mole sauce seasoning & rub. Rub a dub dub! Please have a look at them and buy some for your Post-Summertime grilling and inhouse cooking!

Also, each quarter a portion of all sales from this site will be given to support a local charity in Western Massachusetts.
Regards, and happy Post-Labor Day grilling!
Elliott Burke, Spice Meister
http://www.emburke.etsy.com