Black Friday Redux, with Meaning!

After every "Black Friday" friends of mine tell the same story...frustrating experiences that ruined their weekend.  I say "it's time for some soft organic clothing that'll put the AHHH back in your holiday gift giving spirit!".

I've long been a fan of Maggie's Organics ~ I have their sheets (which, in the winter, are heavenly and soft), their scarves, their footies, their hikers, their tights, their crews in an assortment of colors ~ and I give them as gifts often.

It's easy to get so focused on inexpensive, volume shopping that we forget some of the basics [remember that saying, "It's the thought that counts"] ~ 100% certified organic fibers and fair labor practices ~ and a luxurious feel and quality product that is so superior to anything else, you'll wonder why your feet and the rest of your body haven't protested!! 

The perfect gift for that friend that's stuck in the 60's!

Maggie's Organics has been making high-quality durable and affordable socks and apparel out of organic fibers since 1992. They are the first apparel company to receive Fair Labor Practices and Community Benefits Certification...allowing you, with your purchases, a chance to feel good and do good at the same time!

The perfect accessory any time: an extra long scarf made from soft, lightweight 100% certified organic cotton.

 

Give the perfect gift that also tells a story. Here's a glimpse of some of my favorites, lots of which I'll be gifting this year as well (including a "gift" or two to myself ~ hey, you can't always rely on Santa to bring you what you want).

Even "Santa Baby" would love these !

Sipping in Style

"Tea to Go"

I am a huge tea fan...ginger peach to earl grey, I just about love it all ~ and since I seem to be in my car often, I enjoy the convenience of a travel mug. 
The feel of stainless on my lips or in my hand, however, is just plain, well, COLD, 
so when it comes to picking the perfect vessel for my hot tea -- porcelain is exactly what I enjoy. 
I can lose myself for just a few minutes while I'm sitting, bumper to bumper on the highway waiting for the traffic to clear...I can imagine myself sitting in a cafe sipping freshly brewed, 
hot tea in a porcelain cup. 

This eco-friendly Terra bird pattern Tea To Go cup by HUES & BREWS 
has some unique features I've enjoyed using.
The lid is silicone, helping to keep the beverage cold (or in the case of my tea) hot 
-- and it helps prevent spills on the go!

The double wall procelain cup traps in air for extra insulation. 
There's also a silicone stopper on the bottom that prevents water from entering the hollow cavity [that double walled insulation] when washing the cup. 

And the pattern? It reminds me of a trip to South East Asia...and the Yuen Po Street Bird Garden in Hong Kong, a place where men brought their caged birds and hung them outside to sing to each other while they socialized. 

Spirit 16oz. sip cup

So you won't be surprised to learn I also love iced tea...and love to travel with it. 

This green [BPA free] acrylic sip cup is sturdy and comes with its own straw.  

It's even designed to hold hot beverages 

[although I can't remember the last time I had the urge to sip something hot through a straw!].

Hues & Brews sells through retailers only...and their website will help in finding a retailer near you. They offer a wide variety of i-pots [Steve Jobs, eat your heart out] that make perfect gifts.

Wine Memories

Put away that 

Analysis of the life cycle of Cork, Aluminum and Plastic Wine Closures! 

It's just plain boring.

Memories are relived through wine bottle corks, and no screw top lid can replace that.

If you do keep those corks from those memorable moments ~ weddings, anniversaries, celebrations of any and every kind, a memorable bottle from recent travels ~ they're probably stored away in a jar or bag in the back corner of a kitchen counter.

Bring those memories alive as conversation starters and decoration with the new

WINE BOTTLE CORK CAGE. 

 

 

Available in an assortment of shapes and sizes, what a perfect gift with a very special bottle of wine, for yourself or friends.

A fun and innovative way to keep and cherish all of your wonderful wine memories. Just drop your treasured corks in the top.

 The "bottle" is an artfully sculpted metal work with colored glass spheres, and the reverse side depicts a grape image in metal. The bottom hinges open to release the stored corks.

How about a wedding gift with a bottle of something special with this tree ornament that will keep that special wine cork?  Perfect and unique.

 

Sifting through...

I've never been a big fan of sifters. Inevitably, someone at my home would rinse an old one and everything in it would become caked and the workings would rust, causing me to make that "ooh, yuk!" face when I would pull it from the cupboard [just before tossing it in the trash]. 

And my aching hand...after cups and cups of cake flour and cups and cups of organic powdered sugar, I felt like my hand was going to fall off...muscles I don't normally use were crying out for some ointment to be rubbed on them (or at least some cake crumbs).

Now a sifter that was easy to use, easy to clean and easy to store = that would make me happy in the kitchen.

I saw this Scoop & Sift by Cuisipro and thought I'd give it a shot. After all, it WAS billed as a "single-hand flour sifter" with a "handle angled for ergonomic comfort requiring minimal effort" and some days ~ well, let's just say I'm all about minimal effort.

Cake baking time. This sifter's front screen has a wide surface area, which I found ideal for getting the job of sifting done quickly, making my muscles very happy.

Because the single-hand trigger mechanism was easy to use, I was able to keep one hand free to measure and mix ingredients while I was sifting.

After my sifting chores were finished, I tapped the flour out completely and wiped it gently with a paper towel. The tag did say "dishwasher safe ~ top shelf" so as soon as I get a dishwasher (but that's another story).

Storage was a cinch. A twist tie and a large plastic bag and I stored the sifter near my cake flour for frequent use.  

And, just for the record, I still hate to sift ~ but it's a small price to pay for tender cakes and frostings, lovingly made.


Bev Shaffer is a chef, food writer, cookbook author, and culinary instructor.
She can be reached through her website http://www.bevshaffer.com/about.

HOT and HIP!

hmmm.... you're thinking is that me?! Yes ~ and no. 

I've traded in some of my plain fabric aprons for latest hot and hip textile trend...aprons with delectable patterns and style...aprons by Art * Style * Design (ASD) Living,

They're fabulous coverage (and yes, I am a messy cook and baker)...but I love the colors and patterns. 

You know when you're cooking and guests arrive and you can't wait to throw off that apron so you look presentable? Well this collection might make you want to throw one on to impress your guests!

And yes, I adore this cupcake apron ~ the waist style keeps me from eating too many slices of CAKES to die for! ~ yet I can't resist the coloring and pattern because it's just plain delicious!

There's quite the range of coordinating kitchen textiles ~ potholders, reversible placemats, napkins and dish towels. Man who loves to grill? Hot daddy...get him skewered with this manly version...

Isn't it time you expressed your inner domestic goddess' unique personality, in style?

Bev Shaffer is a chef, food writer, cookbook author, and culinary instructor.
She can be reached through her website http://www.bevshaffer.com/about.

Do You ULU?

Kitchen gadgets with a story to tell, those that are conversation starters, are favorites of mine.

Add the ULU (pronounced "oo loo") knife to that list of favorites!

Purchased on a recent trip to Alaska, I was given a factory tour in Anchorage by Janice Gransbury, store manager. Used for centuries by native Eskimo people of the Arctic, ULUs were first shaped from slate and other stones. She showed me a remarkable display of ULU artifacts.

Photo courtesy of John R. Shaffer

Similar to a mezzaluna but without the Italian accent, the ULU offers great control and versatility for kitchen cutting needs. [As an aside, Alaskans use these knives for everything from cooking to sewing ~ and, in the event you're curious, ULUs are also used by the winners of the Alaskan beaver and seal skinning competitions!]

From a practical point of view, this legendary knife of the arctic performs some culinary chores with particular ease. Its rounded blade makes it perfect for my favorite uses: chopping nuts, mincing fresh herbs, dicing onions and dicing peppers. The unique design increases dexterity and leverage and makes chopping easier and (somewhat) safer.

You hold the ULU between your thumb and fingers with the top of the handle resting in the palm of your hand. (Always have the beveled side of the blade facing the piece you are to cut.) Use a sweeping motion of the wrist, leading to a rocking motion of the blade, never lifting the blade from the cutting board.

When cutting, try to use the full length of the blade, of course keeping your fingers away from the cutting edge! And ~ if you happen to catch a salmon in the pristine waters behind the factory store ~ you can use your ULU to skin it on the spot!

Photo courtesy of John R. Shaffer

 

 

 

 

There were many sizes to choose from, but I opted for the Inupiat style Alaska Birch handle ULU with an Alaskan scene of two Eskimos ice fishing laser cut in to the handle. Simply put, it just felt good in my hand.

Photo courtesy of John R. Shaffer

Check out their website The ULU Factory for styles, to request a catalog, or to order. Imagine ~ centuries old and still the cutting edge!

This Ice Rocks!

Kick back and chill…it’s summer. Not just any summer in any city…this is the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame city and you need to chill in style.

Picture this: I’m in a store, leisurely browsing, when I happen upon this ice cube tray set (“Cool Jazz” on the packaging). It has grooves (no pun intended!) for three guitars, each with its own guitar neck stir stick in assorted colors. As if that weren’t enough, there are two mini musical notes that could become ice as well.

“This ice rocks!” I shout out, as my companion and others in the store slowly ease away from me.

Fun and functional, I had to add this to my ice cube tray collection (which consists of two trays of square cube shapes, one of which has a cover). Now I’m ready to drop one of these frozen groovy guitars into my drink, give it a stir, and let the good times roll. (Did I mention that, if you’re shy, these stir sticks serve as a real ice breaker?!)

But wait…you can’t give new meaning to “on the rocks” without some drinks to get your groove going. Here are a few to mix, sip and stir.

Summertime Fizz

10 to 12 fresh blueberries plus additional for garnish
3/4 ounce raspberry syrup
1 1/2 ounce gin
1/2 ounce Cointreau
3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
soda water

Muddle the blueberries and raspberry syrup in a bar glass and then add ice. Combine the gin, Cointreau and lemon juice in the bar glass. Shake vigorously and strain into a tall glass filled with a few chips of crushed ice. Top with soda water and garnish with a few fresh blueberries and an ice guitar. Serves 1.

Designated Driver Strawberry Cooler

2 cups chilled orange juice
1 1/2 cups hulled strawberries, halved
1 to 2 Tablespoons superfine or granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups ginger ale, cold

In a blender, combine the orange juice, strawberries and sugar until berries are pureed.

Place the berry puree in a large pitcher. Add ginger ale, stirring to combine. Serve in a tall glass with an ice guitar and a few fresh strawberry pieces for garnish. Serves 4.

Check with your favorite local retailers to see if they already have or can order this Cool Jazz Ice Cube Tray for you. It’s by Fred and Friends. www.fredandfriends.com

Bev Shaffer is a chef, food writer, cookbook author, and culinary instructor.
She can be reached through her website www.bevshaffer.com.

ROCK ON!

Okay, I’ll admit it. I have more vinyl and rock memorabilia in my home than tunes in my iPod. Some stuff the Rock Hall might be envious of…Beatles albums in mono (no, not the illness!), ticket stubs from Cream at Madison Square Garden ($4!) and The Doors in Asbury Park ($3.50!), a program (somewhat tattered and tear stained) from seeing the Beatles at Shea Stadium, Country Joe and The Fish’s LP “I Feel Like I’m Fixin’ To Die”. The music collection is filled with everything from rock to country to bluegrass to holiday tunes to classical. And yes, I still have a working turntable hooked up to our stereo system.

When ambition moves me and I’m in my what should I do with this stuff frame of mind, the topic often turns to these artistic, eclectic and somewhat ancient forms of musical entertainment. And somewhere, wedged between the Rolling Stones’ “Sticky Fingers” and Beethoven’s classics lies the phrase what will they think of next! They, of course, being the Rhode Island School of Design and their graduate Jeff Davis. As part of a graduate thesis project, Jeff and his company, Vinylux, began breathing new life into these “obsolete piles of records” (Hey, I resent that!).

Putting chips in their Stepped Bowl and using the LP Coasters is a real conversation starter at parties. Their complete line can be viewed at www.vinylux.net, and includes such items as a Smooth Bowl, Stepped Bowl (pictured), LP Clock, LP Coasters, LP Snack Tray (pictured), Album Cover Note cards, and 45RPM Clock. You can even pick your genre, with choices that include rock, soul, jazz, blues, 80’s pop, disco (finally! a good use for disco music!), crooners, divas and more.

Their revived record products utilize as much of the vinyl and album covers as possible. (And listen to this, Mother Earth lovers ~ their products are made in the spirit of repurposing ~ left over material is recycled: the off-cut vinyl from the coasters is collected by plastics recyclers and re-processed, and non-usable album covers are converted into recycled paper. They’re committed to using post-consumer materials whenever possible, as well as non-toxic printing inks and minimal packaging. Very cool!)

My LP Snack Tray was created from Elton John’s “Tumbleweed Connection”, and the Stepped Bowl from Barbra Streisand’s “Greatest Hits” (which, coincidentally, includes the song “Second Hand Rose”). These are must have’s for your patio parties…and make perfect gifts for that hard-to-buy-for everyone on your list.

Bev’s Bites: Don’t forget to support your favorite local stores that might carry these gadgets…call around and see who has them in stock or can order them for you.

Bev Shaffer is a chef, food writer, cookbook author, and culinary instructor.

Shopping Around the World

Negotiating some rice bowls that came home
with me from a recent trip to Hong Kong.

I have found so many fun kitchen gadgets when traveling. I love exploring shops and markets around the world.

Exploring a culinary store in Nice, France.

Summer Grilling

There is still plenty of summer left to get your grill on!
Hit the farmers market for fresh ingredients and fire up the grill!