2012 Holiday Swag

So what did Santa/Krampus/Hannukah Harry/The Kwanzaa (uh, I got nothin') bring you this year for the kitchen?

I got "The Family Meal" by Ferran Adria (which was on last year's wish list, but still a beautiful book), a couple nice saucepans, and a pressure cooker...

and a freakin' Kafir Lime Tree -- Thanks, SueF! You're the best!

Vitamix!!! If I had only had it when making gazpacho for the picnic.

BR wrote:Vitamix!!! If I had only had it when making gazpacho for the picnic.

It's awesome for making CI's Andalusian Gazpacho.

You bake so I also use it to make superfine & powdered sugar from granulated.

Enjoy it.

Me. All of my swag is related to clothing to keep me warm this year. a Patagonia Down Sweater ( it looks like a jacket with a full zip but I wear it inside) & a Down Shirt. Yep. You can see where this is going & it has nothing to do with food.

The only kitchen-related thing I got was a set of six popcorn seasonings from my sister. We've tried a few already, very yummy!

But the best swag in the house was what I gave to Chouxfly, in the very selfish hope that the smoked-meat bug will bit him hard: a Weber Smokey Mountain smoker, and, of course, a copy of GWiv's book.

We are on the hunt for the right kind of lump charcoal (oddly difficult to find in December! ) and will take 'er out for a spin this weekend!

saltpig
butterboat
Grapefruit-Yoko Ono
Ratios-Michael Ruhlman
cheese slate
pear confit
128.5 proof single batch Bookers in a personalized/signed case from the Jim Beam Distillery

mamagotcha wrote:The only kitchen-related thing I got was a set of six popcorn seasonings from my sister. We've tried a few already, very yummy!

But the best swag in the house was what I gave to Chouxfly, in the very selfish hope that the smoked-meat bug will bit him hard: a Weber Smokey Mountain smoker, and, of course, a copy of GWiv's book.

We are on the hunt for the right kind of lump charcoal (oddly difficult to find in December! ) and will take 'er out for a spin this weekend!

This will be the gift that keeps on giving.

I just called Berger Brothers, they are open tomorrow from 7:30 am until 4:00 pm:

Berger Brother's Charcoal
1176 N Cherry Ave
Chicago, IL 6062
312-642-4238
Lump Charcoal

Bring cash!

Regards,

mamagotcha wrote:We are on the hunt for the right kind of lump charcoal (oddly difficult to find in December! ) and will take 'er out for a spin this weekend!

I have been happy with the Royal Oak hardwood charcoal that Menards carries (they are a little sloppy on their size quality control: there's a fair amount of tiny pieces, and the occasional plank or bough). Their stocks of it are likely to be slimmer in winter, but I grabbed a couple bags two weeks ago.

I got a beautiful aqua Emile Henry ceramic pie plate from husband and the 4-month old baby daughter received the book Cupcake http://www.amazon.com/Cupcake-Charise-Mericle-Harper/dp/1423118979 and a cupcake crinkly toy from her aunt.

JoelF wrote:and a freakin' Kafir Lime Tree -- Thanks, SueF! You're the best!

That is SO, 2 BILLION percent, what I am asking Santa for next year!!!!!
SueF sounds like a "keeper!"

I got a kitchen shears and a vintage copper bottom Revere Ware pan from a friend. I gave Frank some smoked salmon and some Spanish cheeses. I gave my son a sillicon pot holder mitt and several kinds of spanish cheeses.

My stocking had not one but two, count 'em two, nifty gadgets -- a garlic peeler and a combo lemon/lime juicer (hadn't seen one that did both before!). In addition, I got an 8" Victorinox chef's knife. I have been peeling, chopping and squeezing like crazy since Tuesday!

We got a pair of kitchen shears, a selection of various sized fine mesh strainers that are sorely needed and a nice selection of East Coast/New England/Rhode Island? condiments: Hot Relish, Sweet Relish, a couple of jams/jellies.

toria wrote:I got a kitchen shears and a vintage copper bottom Revere Ware pan from a friend. I gave Frank some smoked salmon and some Spanish cheeses. I gave my son a sillicon pot holder mitt and several kinds of spanish cheeses.

How old is "vintage" Revere Ware? I curse mine every time I pull a piece out.

Hi- I got a gift certificate to Amazon, which I will use to get a 1 qt. nonstick pan, and maybe the new CI book The science behind cooking. It was on the Chicago Tribune's top 10 cookbooks a few weeks ago, and it has gotten fantastic reviews on Amazon. I also got a subscription to Nutrition Action newsletter. FYI- If you go to the CSPI website, you can buy a years subscription to Nutrition Action for only $10. The same subscription runs you $24 on Amazon.
https://orders.cspinet.org/subscription ... iption.asp

I love this newsletter, because they don't have any ads, and so they are not influenced by big corporations. They are kind of like the consumer reports of nutrition. CSPI is the group that is headed by Michael Jacobson, and they are not afraid to call for a tax on junk food. On their website, they are also criticizing Beyonce for promoting Pepsi. SHe is getting paid $20 for her ad campaign with Pepsi. Thanks, Nancy

NFriday wrote:On their website, they are also criticizing Beyonce for promoting Pepsi. SHe is getting paid $20 for her ad campaign with Pepsi. Thanks, Nancy

Not to derail this thread--and I realize that the $20 is just a typo--but the deal is reportedly worth $50 million. According to The Hollywood Reporter:
"Beyonce is reteaming with Pepsi for a multi-faceted branding deal that will coincide with her performance during the Super Bowl 2013 Halftime Show, of which Pepsi is a presenting sponsor.... Beyonce, who has been featured in ads for Pepsi since 2002, will appear in a new commercial to debut some time during first-quarter 2013 and appear on limited-edition cans bearing her likeness starting in March. Pepsi, in turn, will sponsor a variety of unspecified creative projects for Beyonce as well as help promote the singer's upcoming fifth studio album. The multi-year partnership is valued at around $50 million in ad spend and promotional materials over several years."
Talk about holiday swag!!!

On a side note, baby Blue Ivy is reportedly in talks with Gerber Organics baby food....

Hi- Thanks for the correction. I meant $20 million. You say it is really $50 million? I can't see Beyonce turning that much money down.

I did pretty well for food related items this year. I got a new kitchen scale (KD-8000), a Swissmar fondue set, a Messermeister julienne peeler, an iGrill thermometer, a bunch of small (3") stainless steel bowls with lids, a Forschner skinning knife, magnetic knife holders to mount to the wall, "The New Old Bar", a bottle of Lexington Bourbon, a Star Trek stainless steel flask, and a set of stainless steel funnels. I also got a variety of small things in my stocking like disposable pastry bags and squeeze bottles.

My daughter got an Easy Bake oven and asked if we could use it to make dinner. I'm figuring out exactly how I'm going to make that happen.

14" stainless steel Cuisinart skillet and a 12qt. stainless steel Cuisinart stock pot with a pasta and steamer insert. A set of Rachael Ray's "Lazy Spoons" and "Lazy Tongs" (silicone, with a notch in the handle so you can hook them to the side of the pan.

I do not know how old it is but I would guess at least 20 if not 30 or forty years old. Why do you curse it? Many people love old revereware or faberware that was made in the U.S. and swear by it. The only problem is you have to keep the copper bottom clean on the revereware which is easy with twinkle or you can use lemon juice and salt which does a pretty good job.

Hi- Revere Ware with the copper bottom has been around forever. My parents got some for a wedding present, and they got married in the 40's. The problem with the copper bottom Revere Ware is that it is not very heavy, and does not radiate heat very well. It is ok for boiling, but it is not so good for sauteing. As far as I know they still sell the stuff. Hope that helps, Nancy

NFriday wrote:Hi- Revere Ware with the copper bottom has been around forever. My parents got some for a wedding present, and they got married in the 40's. The problem with the copper bottom Revere Ware is that it is not very heavy, and does not radiate heat very well. It is ok for boiling, but it is not so good for sauteing. As far as I know they still sell the stuff. Hope that helps, Nancy

I have a small Revere Ware copper bottom sauce pan. I use it whenever I make hard boied eggs and for nothing else. I've got better saucepans that I use on a day to day basis, but when it comes to hard boiled eggs, it's the Revere Whare every time. Why? Just because it's become a tradition. No other reason.

sdbond wrote:

toria wrote:I got a kitchen shears and a vintage copper bottom Revere Ware pan from a friend. I gave Frank some smoked salmon and some Spanish cheeses. I gave my son a sillicon pot holder mitt and several kinds of spanish cheeses.

How old is "vintage" Revere Ware? I curse mine every time I pull a piece out.

pieces of revere ware i inherited from my mom, which she used in the '50's and '60's are quite heavy and useful even today. at some point after that the quality dropped, which you can feel in the lighter weight and plastic handles. here's an interesting, if not authoritative history of revere ware.
http://reverewarehistory.wordpress.com/

Thanks Joan. I am not completely up on the history but the Revereware sold today or in recent years is not the same as the vintage. I believe it is now not made in the U.S. Other than this and one other piece of Revere ware, the other vintage cookware I have is Farberware which is over forty years old. The modern stainless cookware I have and use has thick metal disks at the bottom, I believe its called tri ply and its heavier than any of the vintage sets. I actually do not need any pots...I have so many I can not even use them all and storage is a problem.

toria wrote:I do not know how old it is but I would guess at least 20 if not 30 or forty years old. Why do you curse it? Many people love old revereware or faberware that was made in the U.S. and swear by it. The only problem is you have to keep the copper bottom clean on the revereware which is easy with twinkle or you can use lemon juice and salt which does a pretty good job.

I don't like the Revereware I have because it just seems flimsy, but I can't justify replacing it with what I really want. I will look later to see if any of the pieces say where they were made, but my guess is not the U.S.

Well,

I did my 1st "Woot" deal & got the Shun knives delivered today. I noticed black flecks in my rice the other day from my work horse non-stick calphalon pot so I'm wondering what type of 4 qt. sauce pan I'm going to purchase instead.

Ditto on the Shuns--absolutely gorgeous. Was in heaven just slicing some onion and tomato for a bagel this morning. Thanks for the tip!

justjoan wrote:

sdbond wrote:

toria wrote:I got a kitchen shears and a vintage copper bottom Revere Ware pan from a friend. I gave Frank some smoked salmon and some Spanish cheeses. I gave my son a sillicon pot holder mitt and several kinds of spanish cheeses.

How old is "vintage" Revere Ware? I curse mine every time I pull a piece out.

pieces of revere ware i inherited from my mom, which she used in the '50's and '60's are quite heavy and useful even today. at some point after that the quality dropped, which you can feel in the lighter weight and plastic handles. here's an interesting, if not authoritative history of revere ware.
http://reverewarehistory.wordpress.com/

Thanks for that link, justjoan -- I looked at the bottom of my pots and compared the information on them to the website, and discovered my pieces were made in either Clinton, Ill., or Rome, NY (I have parts of two sets -- one came "with" my husband when we got married, and one set was a Christmas gift after I graduated college and was setting up my first apartment). So, my RevereWare is US-made in the late '70s to early '80s.