Product of the Month: Wooden Salad Bowl Set with Bamboo Tongs

 

It’s not often that I find myself as enamored with a product as I have with this  salad bowl, that is really more art than bowl. Made from natural acacia wood and bamboo, it is large in size with an elliptical shape, and a top edge with soft dips on either side. The pictures cannot possibly do it justice. The pattern appears pieced together with various rectangles of smooth, polished wood. There are low- and highlights throughout, making it quite eye-catching. A pair of bamboo salad tongs, making the tossing and transferring of salad greens from bowl to plate quite easy, accompanies it.

This is not a bowl that you should take lightly. While it is hand wash only, you surely will find your Zen thoughtfully washing this bowl while you admire its beauty and quality. Like other wooden bowls, cutting boards, and the like, it does require treatment with oil in order to keep it looking new, well-conditioned, and preventing it from possible cracking.

It can easily hold enough salad to serve four, or a large amount of popcorn for movie night. Placed at the center of a table, it’s an attractive piece of home decor, particularly when filled with fresh fruit. This perfect example of form and function would make a wonderful gift for someone just setting up a home, or someone who has decades of household experience behind them because of its unique beauty and multiple uses. If all of this isn’t enough, it comes with a lifetime guarantee. How often does that happen? If you have always wanted a beautiful wooden bowl for serving or display, this should be the one.

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Pickled Cherries

A couple of weeks ago, I shared a recipe for Roasted Red Pepper Spread. In the photo of this spread you may have noticed something that looked like grapes.  Nope.  Not grapes. Those tasty morsels were none other than pickled cherries. Not heard of pickled cherries, you say? Then you need to educate yourself immediately because these beat the pants off of grapes (unless you plan to pickle them as well). Sweet, spicy, and totally delicious, step aside cornichons, a new kid is in town. Simple to make, do-ahead, and able to be kept, refrigerated, for up to a month, you will dazzle with your next fruit and cheese tray, or antipasto platter.  Bing cherries are in season May through August, and again in December, so you still have time to try them for those big holiday parties.

Pickled Cherries

Adapted from epicurious.com

¾ cup distilled white vinegar

¾ cup water
2 Tablespoons granulated sugar

2 Tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons whole black peppercorns
1 teaspoon coriander seeds

1 cardamom pod

1 cinnamon stick
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 pound Melissa’s fresh Bing cherries, stemmed and pitted
1 large rosemary sprig

Bring first 9 ingredients to a boil in a medium stainless-steel saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugars. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 5 minutes. Strain into a medium bowl, and return liquid to pan. Add cherries and rosemary to saucepan. Simmer until cherries are tender, 3-5 minutes. Transfer cherries and rosemary to a 1-quart mason jar (I used two smaller jars). Pour in enough pickling liquid to cover cherries. Cover and chill. Keep refrigerated. Strain before serving.

PRINT RECIPE

This post is linked to: Inspire Me Tuesday, Tuesdays At Our Home, Two Cup Tuesday, Celebrate Your Story, Homemaking Party Tuesday, Wow Us Wednesday, Work It Wednesday, Wine’d Down Wednesday, Wake up Wednesday, Full Plate Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things, Share Your Style, Coffee and Conversation, and Foodie Friday & Everything Else

Holiday Baskets make the perfect gift!

My mother used to start her Christmas shopping in June. She loved to do it, and would spend a lot of time shopping and looking and shopping some more in order to get the best, most appropriate, and thoughtful gifts for everyone. Me?  I start my shopping in November and, unlike my mother, I'm not a particular shopping fan, so I do a lot of mine on the Internet. I also tend to opt for a family gift rather than small items for each person who, these days, pretty much seems to have everything. A great place for this type of shopping is melissas.com. You read that right, Melissa's Produce, the people who bring the absolute best in organic produce to you via your local market. 

Melissa's has an extensive line of gift baskets in all price ranges and to suit absolutely everyone from the oenophile to the gourmet to the junior chef. Want a gift of healthy snacks for the big game?  Melissa’s has you covered. Does winter weather have you longing for some remote tropical locale?  They can help with that as well with this Exotic Tropical Fruit basket. Imagine giving a gift that is at the same time nutritious, delicious, educational, and fun to boot. Imagine giving a gift that will bring joy and good health to people. Other than Legos (and the health aspect here is questionable), can you think of anything else that can fill such a large bill? Nope, me neither.

 My favorite is the Grande Medley. A variety of cuisines can be made from this fabulous assortment. Here is a listing of some of the items contained in this sturdy, reusable basket (if the item is highlighted, clink on it and it will take you to a recipe that employs its use):

Crepes
Raspberry Dessert Sauce
Sun Dried Roma Tomato Pesto
Peeled Baby Red Beets
Organic Grinder Italian
Roasted Red Bell Peppers
Dried Ancho Chiles
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Roasted Sweet Corn
Dried Shiitake Mushrooms
Crystallized Ginger
Tamale Kit
Soy Nuts
Basmati Rice with Wild Rice Pilaf
Tabbouleh
Dried Strawberries
Dried Mango
Dried Bing Cherries
Dried Cranberries

All of this and a basket that you will use again and again. What other gift can provide such a diverse and healthful experience?

I highly recommend the Grande Medley gift basket. Give it as a gift, or treat your most deserving self. For other gift basket options look here, and start shopping!

This post is linked to:

Inspire Me Tuesday

The Scoop

Wow Us Wednesday

Work It Wednesday

What’s It Wednesday
Thursday Favorite Things

Show and Tell Friday 

Friday Unfolded

Flaunt It Friday 

Disclaimer:  I was provided with this gift basket from Melissa’s Produce in exchange for a review.