A few weeks back I wrote about the importance of comfort food as I was dealing with the death of my father. The meals prepare for me comforted and nourished me in my time of loss, but also provided me with a bit of sentimental support.

These days, I’m dealing with the cleaning out process – decades of belongings which are still found at Dad’s house.

In the process, I’ve dug up old cookbooks, including the Pennsylvania Dutch Cookbook and Elsie the Cow’s Cookbook (complete with instructions on how to skin a squirrel), and old Dormeyer Electric Stand Mixer, Grandma’s china set, hobnail and Red Depression glassware, juice glasses, , favorite mugs of Dad’s, Tupperware kitchen utensils from the 70s . . . the list goes on . . .

They bring back lots of memories – the candy dish Grandma Gorman often set out with mints; the coffee percolator that bubbled up coffee on our stove every evening, the china salt dishes Dad used for dipping his radishes in; and assorted cookware and baking dishes which served our favorite comfort foods.

These are the Comfort Kitchen items that provide me with many memories. “Remember how Mom used to put cookies on that strawberry-shaped dish?” “Oh, that powdered sugar container, which was always out when she’s baking.” “That ‘Just Call me Mort’ mug Dad got that one Christmas. They make me smile, and remind me of my childhood – many happy memories associated with these items from the kitchen.

There are a lot of memories in the cupboards of Dad’s home, and many I’ve contemplated adding to my own kitchen, but I decline on most, because while I may like the style – or the memories – they just don’t function like I need them to.

Which takes me to my home.

My own kitchen is filled with heirloom worthy items including my Emile Henry pie dishes, the Le Creuset Cast Iron Pot, a terra cotta cazuela purchased in Portugal, the bowl I handmade in England during a visit to Denby Pottery, a copper roasting pot gifted to us for our wedding, or my Rosle garlic press, to name a few. These are the items that are used frequently in our home, frequently find their way on our table, and will certainly be around years from now when my kids clean out my kitchen.

For those of you who don’t have a house filled with 40 years’ worth of stuff to clean out, you can still enjoy the Comfort Kitchen styling of today – new introductions that have contemporary features, but the old styling.

Last week I attended the annual International Home + Housewares Show (soon to be renamed The Inspired Home Show). In the quest to find the next best greatest kitchen essential, I did find some great items, that offered a mix of new technology, but nostalgic styling – or that Comfort Kitchen feel, I speak of.

Here are a few items that can surely bring back a bit of Comfort Kitchen nostalgia, while giving you a few heirloom pieces to hand down in the decades ahead.

Made in Italy, Smeg’s retro styled small appliances are a perfect complement of retro styling and updated features for today’s kitchen. Among the new introductions at the show included the new and improved Stand Mixer, with updated finishing and one-color design. This, along with other items in the line, are a testament of the brand’s commitment to providing high-quality performance for chefs and home cooks alike, while offering statement pieces that add a pop of color to every kitchen.

The Retro Style Electric Kettle from Russell Hobbes combines modern features like a stainless steel construction, water temperature gauge, a quick boil indicator, boil/dry protection and removable (and washable) filter, along with a timeless aesthetic.

Brabantia celebrates its 100^thbirthday in 2019 with the relaunch of their iconic Patrice print. The company first introduced the timeless Patrice print, created by Patricia van Uden, in 1969. The design became a seventies icon, with brown and cyclamen flowers on an orange backdrop, the items in the line include the Bo Touch Top Can, the Step Can, a Roll top Bread Box and of course a 1.5 Quart Canister.

Lodge reintroduces a classic as part of the Lodge Cast Iron Legacy Series.  Each item in the series is a remastered version of a retired product from one of the company’s historic catalogs, which date back to 1896. This year, the item resurrected from the Lodge Vault for a new generation is the Fish Pan. This remastered pan is larger than the average baking dish, allowing you to cook for a crowd at a potluck—or host a fish fry! The updated design is lighter and easier to lift, allowing you to use the dual handles, or use the included steel bail handles, to maneuver around your kitchen, grill, or campfire. $130 – made in the USA

Kuhn Rikon celebrates a classic, with a new retooling of the First Duromatic, which was launched in 1949. The original pressure cooker designed by Jacques Kuhn was quieter, more efficient and safer than previous pressure cookers. Today, Kuhn Rikon continues to innovate design and function and manufacture our pressure cookers in Rikon, Switzerland. One innovation in design includes the Superthermic® base, which is slightly wavy so that the pot touches the burner at the hottest point for maximum energy efficiency and heat distribution. Plus, the aluminum core sandwiched between two layers of 18/10 stainless steel creates a strong, stable base with premium heat conductivity.

The post Comfort Kitchen: Memories in the Plates, Glasses and Gadgets of my Childhood appeared first on Family Eats.

Water, coffee, tea and more . . .We take our beverages on the go, but the cost to the environment is staggering.

• Americans discard 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour.
• A million plastic bottles are bought around the world every minute and the number will jump another 20% by 2021.
• Americans used about 50 billion plastic water bottles last year. However, the U.S.’s recycling rate for plastic is only 23 percent, which means 38 billion water bottles – more than $1 billion worth of plastic – are wasted each year.
• In the U.S. Airline industry, 9 billion plastic cups are used annually.
• 58 billion paper cups are thrown away in the U.S. annually. Most paper cups can’t be recycled because they are coated with plastic.
• Disposable paper cups contain 5% polyurethane plastic, making composting and recycling of disposable cups extremely rare.
• Half a trillion disposable cups are manufactured annually around the world; that’s over 70 disposable cups for every person on the planet.
• If you buy just one cup of coffee or tea in a disposable cup every day, you’ll end up creating about 23 lbs. of waste in one year.

This Earth Day, take the pledge to bring your own bottle wherever you roam.

Simple and Stylish Rehydration

Drinking water couldn’t be simpler than doing so in retap. Designed without edges to trap bacteria, this beautiful glass water bottle features a no-spill lid so you can carry it in your briefcase, purse or gym back. Available in 10 and 17oz sizes to fit in car cup holders, or 27-ounce for your desk. Choose your size, and then accessorize with your choice of top, and then a cotton knit sleeve.

Fill, Drink, Collapse and Store

Whether you’re trudging though the airport or backpacking in the beautiful outdoors, the colorful water bottle from Hydaway is collapsible to 1-1/4” thick, so put it in your pocket, pack or purse. The carrying handle fits a carabiner so you can clip on a bag. Dishwasher safe watertight, made of food-grade silicone. To protect your bottle in or out of your bag, Hydaway now comes with the handy carrying case.

Coffee Press and Hydration Bottle

Often called the Swiss Army Knife of bottles, the popular Espro Press is now available in a lightweight version. Providing for portability, durability and delicious brewing, The ESPRO Ultralight is the lightest 16-oz. combination press and hydration bottle of its kind. Made with vacuum insulated stainless steel, it keeps contents hot or cold for hours and allows outdoor enthusiasts and avid travelers alike to caffeinate and hydrate anywhere, at any time.

Everyday Hydration

The Diana Water bottle from Aladdin features a 2-in-one dome lid that is removable to add ice or clean. The bottle is vacuum-insulated stainless steel with a Tritan plastic top. The Diana bottle is scheduled to be available this spring at retailers and at the company website. There you can also find a range of styles for any drinking occasion.

Sip in Style

Sip wine in style in the backyard, beach or music festival with the Wine Cooler Set from Reduce by Base Brands. Double walled vacuum-insulated containers keep wine at the perfect temperature (fits most 750 ml bottles). The 12 oz. wine tumblers come with a Tritan lid to keep things from spilling. The set includes a wine cooler and 2 wine tumblers.

The post On the Go Beverages appeared first on Family Eats.

I am a firm believer that every day is an occasion to enjoy an assortment of different cheeses accompanied by bread, crackers, olives, nuts and more. And now with the holiday season here, I find myself planning which cheese will grace our table for small gatherings and holiday meals.

When I find myself with a fine mix of Roquefort, Wensleydale, Taleggio and Camembert for my guests, I also want to ensure they can be easily served. Through the years, I have amassed a nice collection of cheese knives which have graced my cheese board presentations. Lately, I have my new Rösle cheese knives to make things look pretty — and cut the cheese with precision.

Rösle cheese slicers, knives, and cleavers are perfect for entertaining and as handy kitchen utensils. Fashioned from stainless steel, the company’s cheese slicers and knives are attractive accompaniments for cheese and cracker platters, durable for long term usage, and are dishwasher safe for easy clean up.

Rösle’s Heirloom Quality

Admittedly, before these arrived on my doorstep, I was already a fan of Rösle products. My garlic press has been a staple in my kitchen for over a decade — it truly is one of the most used gadgets in my kitchen.  When so many other gadgets have come and gone, outliving their usefulness, or not being able to withstand the rigors of my kitchen, the Rösle garlic press is still around. It’s timeless design, functionality and durability truly transcends the years. In my kitchen, my Rösle garlic press has gained the status of ‘heirloom,’ as I know that it will be around years from now.

That is why I am confident my new collection of Rösle cheese knives will also attain the “heirloom” status — most likely passed on to Addison, who at the age of 10, truly enjoys a wide variety of cheeses.

Cheese Knives, Slicers and Cutters

Cheese varies, which means the equipment needed to serve them should vary as well. Sure, you can opt to use a selection of your table knives, but why take the chance that someone seeking a slice of Mahon will struggle to get a perfect slice? Here is a brief cheese knife guide using the newest cheese knives to enter my kitchen — including, which type of cheese is best suited to be sliced with each.

The Cheese Cleaver

The cheese cleaver is a perfect choice for cutting hard or firm cheeses into chunks or wedges. Use them with Edam, Gouda and Tilsiter, for example. The wide blade helps cut through aged cheese, and the sharp double blade helps facilitate smooth and straight slicing of firm cheese — quickly creating cubes and wedges.

Soft Cheese Knife

Perfect for soft cheese, the skeletal structure if the blade means cheese wont stick. The micro-serrated edge guarantees it will easily slice through the rind and the fork tip is perfect for picking up the cheese. Use with Brie, Camembert, or Humboldt Fog.

Wire Cheese Slicer

A classic cheese wire is used to cut the in between cheeses — think Havarti or Monterey Jack (i.e. those a bit softer than a hard cheese, yet harder than a brie). Two wires are situated at different widths from the center piece to offer slicing in different thicknesses. The prong allows for easy lifting and serving.

Parmesan Knife

Featuring a sharp tip to pierce through Parmigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino, the broadening blade surface makes it easy to pry and break off pieces. The sturdy blade can also be used from spreading soft cheese on crackers. Ideal for semi-hard or semi-soft cheese.

About Rosle:

Since 1888, Rösle has been using German engineering to produce the finest quality professional cooking tools and kitchen utensils for the professional chef and home cook. Designed for optimum performance, comfort and appearance, Rösle cookware offers a complete integrated system of kitchen utensils, cookware tools, colanders, casseroles, frying pans, skillets, barbecue utensils, barware and more. Made from the highest grade 18/10 stainless steel, Rösle will bring pleasure to food preparation that is guaranteed for a lifetime.

The post Enjoying a Slice of Cheese with Rosle appeared first on Family Eats.

But these were special occasions, not every day experiences, and honestly, I never really thought about it, but a terrine would be very handy in my kitchen. But, I just might have been wrong all these years.

The French Terrine

The terrine is a classic French piece of cookware, that takes a simple meatloaf, pate, or casserole to a new level. The Emile Henry Terrine is an oblong, ceramic casserole dish that has straight sides with a lid, designed to cook layers of chopped meats, vegetables, even frozen desserts (think delicious semifreddo) custards and gelatin.

The Emile Henry terrine is made of Burgundian clay that cooks food gently and evenly. The ceramic absorbs, distributes and retains heat evenly so everything is cooked to perfection,  and the straight sides help the food maintain its shape during cooking.

The Emile Henry Terrine comes with a press, to help remove air pockets that can form during cooking, and which can ruin the delicate texture of the cooked terrine. The handles make it easy to carry from oven to table.

Designed to last a lifetime, the glaze is hand applied, and will not chip, crack or craze over time. Because it is dishwasher, freezer and oven safe, the terrine is ideal for making meals ahead of time and sliding them into the freezer. Just pull out and slide into the oven, serve, and then place it in the dishwasher for easy clean-up.

The Emile Henry Terrine is available in three sizes. The small and medium sized terrines include a weighted press that molds ingredients from all sides to remove air pockets to maintain a custard, Pâté or terrines delicate texture.  The 6-inch and the 8-inch terrine dishes ,with tight ceramic lids, are available in Burgundy and Flour colors and retail for $50 each.

The large, 9.5-inch long terrine is sized just right for vegetable or meat lasagnas, foie gras, ice cream cakes, custards, gelatins, fruit and frozen desserts. Its tight-fitting lid allows the ingredients to steam so that foods emerge tender and moist and for frozen desserts to set up perfectly. The large Terrine is available in Burgundy, Flour and Oak colors and retails for $60.

https://www.emilehenryusa.com/hr-colors/Terrine-Press-Small-Burgundy-plu349706.html

Save

Save

Save

The post Emile Henry: A Classic French Terrine appeared first on Family Eats.

I’m always grabbing some plastic wrap, or in search of a container post dinner, for lunches, and after we bake our  homemade bread. What bothers me more than the search for something to cover and store my food, is the amount of plastic we use to do it! 

That’s why when I ran across Bee’s Wrap at the International Home & Housewares Show earlier in March, I knew immediately, that this could be the  product that would help eliminate plastic in our kitchen — providing us with a  more sustainable way to store our food, transport sandwiches to school, and wrap our homemade bread to ensure it stays fresh throughout the week.

Founder Sarah Kaeck revived the lost tradition of coating organic cotton muslin with beeswax, and created this washable, reusable, compostable alternative to plastic wrap. Made of organic cotton, sustainably sourced beeswax from the United States, organic jojoba oil, and tree resin, the combination of these ingredients creates a malleable reusable food wrap that is perfect for wrapping a variety of foods.

Use it to cover a bowl, wrap cheese, fruit or bread, the warmth of your hands forms the wrap around the food, bowl or dish, and when the wrap cools, it keeps its shape.

And, the natural antibacterial properties of beeswax and jojoba oil help keep food fresh, without imparting any ‘honey’ flavor to the food. Bee’s Wrap is reusable time and again, and can last for roughly one year. Simply wash with cool water and soap, hang to dry, and use again!

And, because it it compostable, I know that if my kids happen to loose it, it won’t be yet another plastic container in the landfill.

To find a retailer near you, visit here or visit the company website for online orders – www.beeswrap.com

Save

Save

The post Sustainable Food Storage with Bee’s Wrap appeared first on Family Eats.

Modern homesteaders, DIYers, and traditional home cooks have been embracing home canning jars  for so much more than canning fruits and vegetables. While I haven’t fully indulged in the craze, I have been known to use them from time to time for everything from serving drinks to storing beans to holding candles. With DIY crafting creations and creative uses for the kitchen filling Pinterest pages, it is clear that this ‘trend’ is not going away.

Making Storage Easier

When it comes to food, my pantry cupboard is filled with bulk foods — ingredients from flour to beans, nuts and beyond. Most of my bulk foods are stored in OXO POP Containers, with a smattering of others in glass canning jars.

Recently, I got my hands on the German-made Weck jars, a mainstay in European kitchens for more than a century. With their wide-mouthed tapered shape and with the Weck strawberry logo embossed on the side, these canning jars give me a bit more style than the classic Mason jar. All in all, these sturdy and attractive Weck jars are perfect for my needs . . .  except . . . the separate glass lids with metal clamps make the Weck jars impractical to use.

The kids struggle trying to reseal the jars after extracting granola, sea salt, spice rubs, crackers, or whatever is inside (OK, I do as well). So, I wondered how I could make my Weck jars more user friendly.

And that is how I became a big fan of the Blossom eCap, available from Spice Ratchet. These one-piece, multi-use storage caps lock in freshness with an air-tight seal, and will never ever rust. The air-tight seal makes storage and transport yogurt, salad dressings, sauces and soups – even for carrying lunch to work. It is even ideal for storing homemade ice cream in the freezer.

Now, for those who love the shape, but who struggle with the Weck clamp-top, the Blossom eCap ensures ease of use and safety during storage and transport. Fully compliant with FDA & LFGB food-safe silicone requirements, Blossom eCap is my choice for easy, secure and stylish storing and transporting.

Available in two sizes.  The Large Cap snaps over the mouth of any Weck jar with a 3-7/8” opening, the small cap fits Weck jars with a 2-3/8” opening.

And, perhaps my favorite Blossom storage cap Weck jars, is the Infuser eCap! I use this to make my famous salad dressing – and when the jar is empty and cleaned, I’ve been known to infuse oils – allowing me to store the dressing from the fridge to the table in just seconds. And, if I still had little ones, it could also be for a sippy cup at the dinner table!

For anyone who is into traditional mason jars, Blossom has mason jar toppers in a variety of sizes and colors including in two sizes for regular and wide mouth mason jars. Also available is the Infuser Cap, Flower Frog — another one of my favorites used for creating flower arrangements, as well as the Sipping uCap with a straw hole.

You can shop for all these great silicone caps for both Mason and Weck Jars on the Spice Ratchet website.

The post Blossom eCap and Weck appeared first on Family Eats.

Crazy busy as our lives are, I manage to get homemade meals on the table every evening (with the occasional, opt out).

What is essential in ensuring this happens is my meal planning. Part of my weekly ritual, my meal planning gives me the opportunity to shop for all the weekly essentials at one time, while easing the stress of figuring out what to have for dinner every evening. This is especially helpful while I’m in the midst of ensuring everyone is where they need to be in the after-school hours.

Admittedly, even with a homemade meal, we don’t always eat dinner together during the week. Addie’s late swim practice means she doesn’t arrive home until after 7 pm. This, however, gives her the chance to eat with her Dad, when he arrives home from work.

As they sit down, and I’m busying myself with tidying up the kitchen and making sure everyone else has has homework completed, I hear the two of them chatting away.

“How was your day, Daddy?” she asks of him. She then offers up a play-by-play description of her day, including every set she swam at the pool. The other kids pop in and out of the discussion, making it, at some times, a bit of a circus, as they try to capture a bit of Dad’s attention before they’re all herded off to bed. At times it seems hectic, but at least there is some connection and conversation between dinnertime — even if we don’t always eat together.

Then there are the days when mealtime is a bit less harried – Sunday.

A few weeks ago, our Sunday Supper was particularly lively. Not only did we each have something to share with the family, but it was the happenings during the day that made the dinner even more fun.

It was homemade pasta night.

We’ve been making pasta on and off since receiving a Marcato Atlas 150 for our wedding, nearly 14 years ago. When the kids were old enough, they happily participated in the process, helping crank out strand upon strand of fettucine, cappelini, and pappardelle.

This time, however, we were venturing into new territory – ravioli!

The Marcato Ravioli Tablet, was a recent addition to our kitchen. I was excited about giving it a try – but honestly, less than excited to have a cacophony of “can I helps” in the kitchen with me. My pasta making isn’t always perfect — I needed to focus, and get the hang of it myself, before I welcomed a bit of mayhem, and “I want to try,” into the kitchen.

In the end, there was too much excitement about the ravioli making, that I couldn’t banish everyone from the kitchen. So I took to the Marcato YouTube channel for some inspiration, and found a wonderful collection of videos to choose from, so I quickly got down to making it.

It was an assembly line at our table. The twins took turns cranking out the pasta sheets, while the other helped place the sheets on the form, and place the pork ragu filling inside. Then, came the rolling out of the shapes. Oh, they couldn’t wait for dinner.

When dinnertime arrived, the family was abuzz with excitement over how delicious the ravioli would be. During dinner, the conversation was quite lively as they all recounted their own method for making the ravioli. In the end, the kids began questioning each other how many they had eaten, as they were readying to claim those still on the serving platter. With only a few more on the table, Grayson tried to quietly slip two more onto his plate. That brought about screams of “no fair!”

Aside from this minor “food fight,” the discussion turned to what we should fill ravioli with next time we made it – cheese, squash, or spinach, all interspersed with a bit of knock knock jokes, updates on test grades, and a rundown of what happened in class this past week.

Sunday dinner is always a fun time to talk about everything that happened during the week, and it appears as if it is also a great time to discuss everyone’s methods of cooking the Sunday Supper.

Save

Save

Save

The post Sunday Supper: Dinner and Conversation appeared first on Family Eats.

Twice a year, when Daylight Savings rolls around, in addition to changing the batteries on our smoke detector, we check our knives to see if they need sharpening. If you missed your opportunity this time around, Thanksgiving Planning is the perfect time to ensure your knives are ready for  meal preparation and carving duties in the coming weeks. As part of our Thanksgiving Planning week, here are a few things you should know about knife sharpening.

The knife is an essential kitchen tool that must be properly maintained in order to keep it in perfect working order. It is important to remember that a sharp knife is a safe knife.

When a knife blade becomes dull, the blade does not wear away, instead the edge of the blade folds over. What sharpening does is restore that edge without removing excessive amounts of the blade.

Knife sharpening need not be one of those tasks that you come to dread. There are a variety of knife sharpening options that enable anyone, regardless of sharpening skills, to keep their kitchen cutlery in top shape.

Knife sharpeners come in either hand-held or electric versions. The most basic knife sharpener is the stone. It can be round or angular in shape and made of various materials including: Carburundum, Arkansas stones, Diamond stones, Japanese Water Stones, and Ceramic Wet Stones. The stones come in varying grit size, with a high number grit referring to smaller particles, which produce a finer finish.

Using a sharpening stone requires skill, as the edge of the blade must be perfectly symmetrical. When using a sharpening stone, lay one edge on the stone and slowly move it in a circular motion without applying too much pressure. If you can master the skill, the result will be a very sharp edge.

Sharpening steels include the traditional metal steel, which is designed to align the edge of a knife. The sharpening steel is most effective when it is used frequently – and if the edge isn’t too dull. It won’t, however, put an edge back on the knife if it is blunt. Therefore, the steel is most effective when it is used with regularity.

The diamond steel, which utilizes diamond abrasives to give your knife a new edge, is more effective for knives that are dull and aren’t sharpened frequently. A drawback is that if they are misused – or overused, the knife’s edge can change shape.

Another style of the sharpening steel is the ceramic sharpener. They require little maintenance and are offered in either a white ceramic for smoothing or polishing the blade, and the blue ceramic for general sharpening.

Other handheld models can be more intuitive to use. They come with a preset angle in which the blade can be placed. The set of you place the blade, and can be made of ceramic, steel or diamond abrasives.

When using a manual sharpener, whether it is a sharpening stone, steel, or handheld, there is no need to apply much pressure – as more pressure doesn’t equate to sharper. Allow the abrasives to do the job.

Electric knife sharpeners are easy – and quick – to use. They come with multi stages that offer rough and polishing grade grits to perform a more thorough job. However, it is often easy to over grind the edge, especially if you aren’t paying much attention. Helpful are built in precision angle guides are essential to help maintain the perfect shape of the blade’s edge.

Keep in mind that each category of knife sharpener comes in a multitude of designs. Before you purchase, visit your local kitchenware store to learn a bit more about how to sharpen with each different type and find one which suits your needs.

This holiday season, incorporate your knife sharpening into the Planning stage of your event — that way you won’t be left struggling through meal prep and carving with an unsafe, dull knife.

Save

The post Thanksgiving Planning: Sharpen Those Knives appeared first on Family Eats.

My kitchen is always a circus. Pots clanging, kids speeding through, water boiling, dishes in the sink, me yelling, “Can someone please set the table!” It’s energy-filled, excitement, with a bit of chaos.

That’s exactly why I love the new Alessi Circus collection. Not necessarily the same hectic ‘circus’ I described, rather a refined and fun take on the circus as it relates to the home.

The new Circus Collection, designed by Marcel Wanders, features tableware and housewares accessories which evoke surprise, excitement, and astonishment — making you feel as if you are at a circus.

Shapes, colors, and designs recall the dazzling lights of the stage, the brilliantly colored costumes, and the gaiety of a merry-go-round. Impeccable accents in bright colors and shiny metallics expertly pair ornate beauty with whimsical design. Each piece is characterized by rhomboid, circular, striped and pointed geometrical figures, in a perfect balance of colors, alternating between white, black, yellow, red, gold and silver.

“The circus is something that goes beyond everyday life. The richness and wonder before our eyes, what we hear and capture without senses, stays with us,” explains Wanders. “It is a very unique feeling of magic and we wanted to celebrate it in an imaginative collection.”

The collection is destined to become family heirlooms and includes One-of-a-kind jars are made of silk-screened glass, embellished with a ring of horses that recalls a merry- go-round. Tin lids delight in their emulation of circus tents, creating a homeware perfect for holding cookies, candy, or any pantry item.

Round trays, placemats, small bowls, salad bowls, and containers are ideal for serving parties large or small, stylishly marked by whimsical geometric patterns featuring bright, exciting colors. Plate dessert spreads or appetizers, or serve leafy salads. Each piece is made of delicate bone china.

Furnish a bar with design of the utmost wonder using the ice bucket, bottle stands, and wine cooler. Made of 18/10 stainless steel, these homewares are ideal both for enjoying a glass of wine on a cozy night in, or for entertaining and astonishing a crowd.

The Limited Edition items include:

For more information about the Alessi Circus line, visit www.allessi.com/en

Save

The post Alessi Circus appeared first on Family Eats.

We’re always looking for ways to cut down on clutter in the kitchen — seeking multi-functional kitchen tools that make meal prep and entertaining easier and less stressful. Microplane’s Cube Grater is just that. This multi-functional and diminutive gadget playfully recalls the shape of a Rubik’s cube toy and has the functionality of a traditional box grater.

Perfect for cheese, chocolate, carrots and more, the Cube Grater measuresa mere 3.25 x 3.25-inches in diameter – the Cube Grater’s space-saving size belies its powerful ability to quickly and flawlessly grate myriad soft and hard ingredients. To ensure optimum performance, the Cube Grater features three original Microplane made in the U.S.A. blades – Fine, Ribbon and Coarse. Key features also include a durable, transparent cover that doubles as a catch feature with 1 ½ cup capacity and measurement marks on three sides.

Dishwasher-safe for speedy clean up (hand-washing is recommended for the cover), the smartly designed Microplane Cube Grater is styled in Black, Red, and Green. Available at retailers nationwide, the Cube Grater is priced at $19.95 suggested retail.

The post Microplane Cube Grater appeared first on Family Eats.