Sunday, March 4, 2012

What inspires you?


If you’re anything like me, you love paging through all of the wonderful catalogs geared to foodies that come, seemingly daily, in the mail.  Williams-Sonoma, Artisan Table, Sur la Table, Napa Style, ChefsI could go on and on.  My husband refers to these catalogs as having stuff you almost want.  Despite this admonition, however, he often does find things he not only wants, but buys.

He surprised me a couple of weeks ago with this sectional tray.  When it arrived I just looked at it.  The first thing I thought of was how great it would be for Taco Night -- taco meat in the center, all of the add-ons in the sections along the side.  No, my son said, Make a mashed potato bar.  Pile up mashed potatoes in the middle, and all of the toppings around the outside – cheese, bacon, chopped onions, sour cream, more bacon, more cheese.  Hmmm.  Interesting.

Our dessert-loving friend, Lennie, had still another idea, Use it for ice cream, he said, although quickly added that the center section isn’t big enough for all of the ice cream you’re going to need.  Then put all of the toppings in the spaces: nuts, cherries, chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, marshmallow sauce, bananas, strawberries…” The way he was going I thought we were going to need a few more sections.

It was interesting, I thought, just how many diverse ideas came out of this one dish.  Interestingly enough, my husband bought it, or so he claimed, for the sole purpose of using it for chutneys and raita when we have Indian food.

Have we used it?  Yes, we have, but for none of the purposes mentioned above.  Want to know how?  Come back tomorrow and see.

What would you use a sectional dish such as this one for?  Leave me a comment and let me know.

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5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Taco's was the first idea that came into my mind...I'm so original, right? ;)

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Hi Pattie...

Ohhh...such a nice and versatile serving piece! Yes...you certainly do have my curiousity up...as to "how" you are using it! I'll be back...hehe!

Just wanted to stop by to say hello and see how you are doing, my friend! I have been soooo out of the "blogging loop". I hope that my note finds you and your family doing well! Have a super sweet Sunday, dear lady!

Warmest wishes,
Chari

Pondside said...

Hmmmm - different sorts of olives, slices of salami, bits of savory things, or perhaps all the condiments for burgers - ketchup, mustard, relish, onions, sauerkraut etc etc
Such a great dish!

Anonymous said...

Gosh, I LOVE that tray! I really hate to ask, but could you share where your husband bought it? Maybe I could talk my hubby into getting me one....maybe. HA!

Pattie @ Olla-Podrida said...

We both wish we could remember where he bought the tray. I think it was Chef's Catalog, but I don't see it online. On the other hand, it could have been a clearance item and no longer available. We're having a lot of fun with it.