Salt? You might be thinking. What's so special about salt? Salt is salt, right? It's not, though! It seems to me that every time I go into my grocery store, the display of gourmet salts is bigger. There is an almost infinite palette of lovely earth tone colors- pinks, tans, beiges, reds, browns, greys... even black salt! It's very appealing. I wanted to know more.
That growing display in my grocery store is due to a new trend toward more sophisticated use of salts harvested from seas- or even fossilized seas, in the case of Himalayan Pink. Wait, did I say that this is a new trend? Well, it might be a growing trend right now, but these salts are nothing new. It's more like a return to ancient, historical artisan salts. Hand-raking sea salt? That's really old.
Artisan salts range in color due to their mineral content. The different minerals in salts provide nutrients as well as flavor, which ranges from mild, to smoky, to earthy, to sweet. Likewise, the crystals of gourmet salts develop differently, and this affects the flavor.
Here is how it was described in another great blog post I found on this subject, at saltnews.com: "Flake salts dissolve fast and completely, for brilliant flashes of pungent saltiness. The complex, irregular granular crystals of fleur de sel give a modulated and well-behaved saltiness. Larger crystals give explosive contrasts to food that change from one bite to the next, for intense layering of flavors in a single bite."
Due to their different flavor profiles, one artisan salt will go better with a certain food than another. You can easily find information on the web to describe which to use where. This blog post at Delicious Living describes Himalayan Pink, Black Lava, Fleur de Sel, and Smoked Salts.
One gourmet salt that I have used is Fleur de Sel, a salt harvested on the coast of France. It makes all the difference in Dorie Greenspan's "World Peace Cookies," one of my very favorite cookie recipes. I highly recommend her book "Baking, From My Home to Yours," where this recipe can be found. I'll link to the recipe on the web here at the Splendid Table. They. Are. So. Good. Looooove that salty/sweet combo. The salt really accentuates the chocolate.
P.S. Some lovely salts would be just the thing to fill a beautiful Crosby & Taylor salt pot, coming later this summer! Look at my post from June 10th to get a sneak peek at a salt pot and other new Pewter & Stoneware pieces. Artisan crafted salts in artisan crafted stoneware- fabulous! :)
viernes, 27 de junio de 2008
viernes, 20 de junio de 2008
Have you seen us on Paula Deen?
We've been thrilled and honored to have our measuring spoons and measuring cups appear in many episodes of Paula's Food Network shows, including Paula's Home Cooking and Paula's Party. Boy, does that girl know how to party! :) TW owners Deborah and Jim were once in the audience for a filming of Paula's Party, so they know! It sure sounded fun.
This week we were contacted by a representative of Paula Deen Enterprises, to request more spoons and cups for filming! She said that Paula just had to have ours for her shows- she loves them! Thanks Paula, we love you too!
Many people inquire as to which design Paula uses on the shows. It's hard to keep track, because they are used in so many episodes, but we're sure we've seen every style! They have definitely ordered every style, anyway. So y'all just purchase whichever ones you like best- Paula has used them, and will continue to! And keep watching on Food Network to see delicious down-home style recipes made with beautiful pewter kitchen tools.
Mmmm...Paula, make me some fried chicken and macaroni and cheese...
-Jen
Photo at the top of the post courtesy of the Food Network.
This week we were contacted by a representative of Paula Deen Enterprises, to request more spoons and cups for filming! She said that Paula just had to have ours for her shows- she loves them! Thanks Paula, we love you too!
Many people inquire as to which design Paula uses on the shows. It's hard to keep track, because they are used in so many episodes, but we're sure we've seen every style! They have definitely ordered every style, anyway. So y'all just purchase whichever ones you like best- Paula has used them, and will continue to! And keep watching on Food Network to see delicious down-home style recipes made with beautiful pewter kitchen tools.
Mmmm...Paula, make me some fried chicken and macaroni and cheese...
-Jen
Photo at the top of the post courtesy of the Food Network.
martes, 17 de junio de 2008
Mmmm... Chocolate Mint Brownies from Paula Deen
I am continuing to celebrate chocolate with Paula Deen. Yay, chocolate!! This is another recipe from her Special Edition magazine, "Paula Deen's Chocolate Celebration." I took these to a graduation party this past weekend. They were a HUGE hit. More than one person wanted the recipe. So I thought I'd post it here, and all y'all readers can have it!
I thought these were fun to make. For some reason, it made me happy to have a giant green pile of Andes mint wrappers on my kitchen counter. I love Andes mints. Good childhood memories.
Chocolate Mint Brownies
1 1/2 cups butter, melted
1 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
3 cups sugar
4 large eggs
2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 (4.67 oz.) boxes individually wrapped chocolate covered mints, unwrapped (Andes mints) note: I completely covered the pan with mints- no spaces- and I had 6 mints that I didn't use. Which is nice. You need something to munch on while baking.
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 13x9 inch baking pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Grease foil.
2. In a medium bowl, combine melted butter and cocoa, stirring well. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, beat sugar and eggs at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy (about 5 minutes). Slowly beat in butter mixture. Add flour, salt, and vanilla; beating just until combined. Spread half of chocolate mixture into prepared pan. Place mints, side by side, in an even layer over chocolate mixture, completely covering the chocolate mixture. Carefully spread remaining chocolate mixture over mints, sealing to edges. Bake for 35 minutes. Let cool in pan completely. Cut into squares to serve. Makes about 2 dozen brownies.
Mmmm, mmmm! As my sister would say- Nummers!! If you make these, let me know how you liked them. Did you have to fight people off to get any? I definitely recommend them for summer get-togethers. These things are happy-makers.
-Jen
I thought these were fun to make. For some reason, it made me happy to have a giant green pile of Andes mint wrappers on my kitchen counter. I love Andes mints. Good childhood memories.
Chocolate Mint Brownies
1 1/2 cups butter, melted
1 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
3 cups sugar
4 large eggs
2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 (4.67 oz.) boxes individually wrapped chocolate covered mints, unwrapped (Andes mints) note: I completely covered the pan with mints- no spaces- and I had 6 mints that I didn't use. Which is nice. You need something to munch on while baking.
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 13x9 inch baking pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Grease foil.
2. In a medium bowl, combine melted butter and cocoa, stirring well. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, beat sugar and eggs at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy (about 5 minutes). Slowly beat in butter mixture. Add flour, salt, and vanilla; beating just until combined. Spread half of chocolate mixture into prepared pan. Place mints, side by side, in an even layer over chocolate mixture, completely covering the chocolate mixture. Carefully spread remaining chocolate mixture over mints, sealing to edges. Bake for 35 minutes. Let cool in pan completely. Cut into squares to serve. Makes about 2 dozen brownies.
Mmmm, mmmm! As my sister would say- Nummers!! If you make these, let me know how you liked them. Did you have to fight people off to get any? I definitely recommend them for summer get-togethers. These things are happy-makers.
-Jen
viernes, 13 de junio de 2008
Meet Matt! (Say that 10 times, fast!)
This is Matt. He's our Production/Growth Manager. Yes, this is really a picture of him at work here at the TW (and now Crosby & Taylor.) We really do have that poster up.
What does Matt do here? He pretty much makes sure everything runs smoothly. (No small task.) He schedules production employees, coordinates our inventory and pending orders, welds and finishes items, orders pretty much everything we need to make the place run on a daily basis, cracks us up, bugs his wife (Nancy in the office), plays basketball on breaks, and poses for goofy pictures. Is that enough? I think so. Matt is very good at his job because he's slightly obsessive-compulsive, but don't tell him I told you that.
Here he is in the welding area, working on some of our beautiful new canisters: Can you believe we trust this guy with a torch? But despite what he looks like in this photo, he's a very intelligent and competent individual. He's got his B.A. in Business Administration, with a finance concentration, from University of Oregon. We're very proud of him. :)
Most days, Matt bikes to work. The trailer is for his son, Oliver, who also comes to work here every day. See my previous BabyLand post. And yes, he wears socks with Birkenstocks. We do that here in Eugene, sorry.
Matt's a Sagittarius. 5'10", 165 lbs.. (He says that's a more buff 165 than it might appear.) He enjoys pina coladas and getting caught in the rain. Oh wait, that last part might not be right. I might be thinking of someone else.
He actually likes IPA (that's India Pale Ale for those of you who are not blessed to live near craft breweries), hockey, and baseball. His softball team this year is Team America. He also likes basketball, but he's not allowed to play anymore because he keeps getting hurt. He enjoys movies and good books, and often gives good recommendations on those. He loves good food, and definitely desserts. He's not a bad cook, either. His favorite measuring spoons and cups are our bamboo design.
When all's said and done, he's a heck of a great guy. We all are really glad to know him. I hope you have enjoyed getting to know him a little bit, too. If you have purchased a piece of Tin Woodsman Pewter in recent years, a little of Matt's love and attention to detail have gone into that item! If you have any comments or want to say hi to him, I'll make sure he gets it!
-Jen
6/20/08
Update! Check out this cute video of Matt saying "Meet Matt" 10 times, fast! heehee! Click on this link to download:
meetmatt
What does Matt do here? He pretty much makes sure everything runs smoothly. (No small task.) He schedules production employees, coordinates our inventory and pending orders, welds and finishes items, orders pretty much everything we need to make the place run on a daily basis, cracks us up, bugs his wife (Nancy in the office), plays basketball on breaks, and poses for goofy pictures. Is that enough? I think so. Matt is very good at his job because he's slightly obsessive-compulsive, but don't tell him I told you that.
Here he is in the welding area, working on some of our beautiful new canisters: Can you believe we trust this guy with a torch? But despite what he looks like in this photo, he's a very intelligent and competent individual. He's got his B.A. in Business Administration, with a finance concentration, from University of Oregon. We're very proud of him. :)
Most days, Matt bikes to work. The trailer is for his son, Oliver, who also comes to work here every day. See my previous BabyLand post. And yes, he wears socks with Birkenstocks. We do that here in Eugene, sorry.
Matt's a Sagittarius. 5'10", 165 lbs.. (He says that's a more buff 165 than it might appear.) He enjoys pina coladas and getting caught in the rain. Oh wait, that last part might not be right. I might be thinking of someone else.
He actually likes IPA (that's India Pale Ale for those of you who are not blessed to live near craft breweries), hockey, and baseball. His softball team this year is Team America. He also likes basketball, but he's not allowed to play anymore because he keeps getting hurt. He enjoys movies and good books, and often gives good recommendations on those. He loves good food, and definitely desserts. He's not a bad cook, either. His favorite measuring spoons and cups are our bamboo design.
When all's said and done, he's a heck of a great guy. We all are really glad to know him. I hope you have enjoyed getting to know him a little bit, too. If you have purchased a piece of Tin Woodsman Pewter in recent years, a little of Matt's love and attention to detail have gone into that item! If you have any comments or want to say hi to him, I'll make sure he gets it!
-Jen
6/20/08
Update! Check out this cute video of Matt saying "Meet Matt" 10 times, fast! heehee! Click on this link to download:
meetmatt
martes, 10 de junio de 2008
Stoneware Sneak Peek
Have you been chewing your fingernails down to nothing in anticipation of our new Stoneware and Pewter line? Do you already have a spot on your counter-top for them? Do you think you're ready to view them? Are you really, really ready? How long can I draw this out?...
These are different from anything we've done before. In fact, they're coming out under the new Crosby & Taylor name. (TW's new "sister company.") There will be a variety of canister shapes and sizes. Here are some salt pots in the three different colors we'll be working with. l-r: pistachio, whipping cream, and butter pecan.
Below are some different sizes of canisters and a garlic pot, all in pistachio.
These are being made for us by a local potter. They are beautiful, lead-free, food-safe, American-made artisan products. We love them, and are very proud to be introducing them. They will be available this summer. (Around mid-July.)
-Jen
These are different from anything we've done before. In fact, they're coming out under the new Crosby & Taylor name. (TW's new "sister company.") There will be a variety of canister shapes and sizes. Here are some salt pots in the three different colors we'll be working with. l-r: pistachio, whipping cream, and butter pecan.
Below are some different sizes of canisters and a garlic pot, all in pistachio.
These are being made for us by a local potter. They are beautiful, lead-free, food-safe, American-made artisan products. We love them, and are very proud to be introducing them. They will be available this summer. (Around mid-July.)
-Jen
viernes, 6 de junio de 2008
Buying American Made
More and more these days, people are looking to buy American made products. Some of the reasons cited are based on negativity- the recall of products made in China, etc. But there are lots of great, positive reasons to look for items made in America.
One reason is concern for environmental impact and the desire to leave a lighter footprint on our world. Many consumers wish to purchase locally, to avoid the carbon emissions used to transport goods around the world. In this way, buying American Made is similar to the local foods movement.
And just as many people like to know more about their food- where it came from, how it was grown- many people also like to know about other goods they buy- where it came from, how it was made, etc. This is information you can get whether you are looking at small handmade Etsy items or high-end furniture like Sticks.
American Made products are often very high in quality and workmanship. There are even some companies who produce their lower end products in Asian markets, while keeping their higher-end production here in the states. (New Balance shoes and Fender guitars are two examples.)
Sometimes an inexpensive imported product isn't really the deal it seems to be. When something performs better and lasts longer, it can be worth paying more for it.
And, of course, buying American supports jobs for people here in this country. So are we biased on this? You bet! We love being artisans and making a living at it. At Tin Woodsman, we are very proud of the fact that we provide good jobs with benefits for our small staff. We receive a “living wage,” we have health insurance, and on-site daycare. It's the kind of business we like to support, and that we're glad to be part of! So thank you to all who have ever purchased from us. (You rock!)
Here's a website where you can check out some American made products that you might not already be aware of: stillmadeinusa.com. And I'd like to feature some of our favorite Made in America companies here on this blog from time to time. Please leave a comment to let me know about any you love. I will be happy to look into them and maybe give them a mention in another post.
One reason is concern for environmental impact and the desire to leave a lighter footprint on our world. Many consumers wish to purchase locally, to avoid the carbon emissions used to transport goods around the world. In this way, buying American Made is similar to the local foods movement.
And just as many people like to know more about their food- where it came from, how it was grown- many people also like to know about other goods they buy- where it came from, how it was made, etc. This is information you can get whether you are looking at small handmade Etsy items or high-end furniture like Sticks.
American Made products are often very high in quality and workmanship. There are even some companies who produce their lower end products in Asian markets, while keeping their higher-end production here in the states. (New Balance shoes and Fender guitars are two examples.)
Sometimes an inexpensive imported product isn't really the deal it seems to be. When something performs better and lasts longer, it can be worth paying more for it.
And, of course, buying American supports jobs for people here in this country. So are we biased on this? You bet! We love being artisans and making a living at it. At Tin Woodsman, we are very proud of the fact that we provide good jobs with benefits for our small staff. We receive a “living wage,” we have health insurance, and on-site daycare. It's the kind of business we like to support, and that we're glad to be part of! So thank you to all who have ever purchased from us. (You rock!)
Here's a website where you can check out some American made products that you might not already be aware of: stillmadeinusa.com. And I'd like to feature some of our favorite Made in America companies here on this blog from time to time. Please leave a comment to let me know about any you love. I will be happy to look into them and maybe give them a mention in another post.
martes, 3 de junio de 2008
BabyLand
Come along on a trip to the most magical part of Tin Woodsman. Well the cutest part anyway! Walk in past the office, just a little down the hallway, and turn left...into BabyLand...
Well, it's a lot more fun when the babies are there. But they were out for a walk when I snapped this photo.
Oh, here they are!
Tin Woodsman has always had a real family feeling, but recently it's been taken to a new level, with the addition of a small nursery for employee's children. The current residents of BabyLand are Oliver, son of Matt and Nancy (Tin Woodsman's Production Manager & Office Manager), and Anna, daughter of Kathryn and Corey (Tin Woodsman Family Friends!).
The caretakers of these two adorable little children are Sherry and Kira. When Sherry is not on Baby duty, you'll find her in the shipping room, sending pewter out across America. Here she is enjoying Anna's company:
And Kira can often be found helping in the office, as well as packaging many Tin Woodsman products. But we all know what their favorite parts of the day are. Here's Kira, also with Anna- in the cutest of crazy cute hats!
Is there anything better than watching little people grow and develop on their way to becoming big people? Well, maybe watching them do it in funny hats. And especially when they get food all over their faces... oh it's wild and crazy and funny around here. Yes, I'm not afraid to admit we laugh at children regularly!
The little munchkins sometimes sneak out and visit us in our offices. (Just offices, no dangerous production areas, EVER! We promise. Hey, we love these guys. We're keepin' em safe. And always OSHA compliant.) It's just one of the things that makes this a very special place to work! So, please, when you call and there are strange noises in the background, don't think less of us.
Here's Oliver pushing Anna in the Radio Flyer Wagon, on their way out to visit. Anyone else want a ride?
Ooh, don't you just want to squeeze them? Are you ready to faint from cuteness overload?! We deal with this everyday! You don't feel one bit sorry for us, do you? (That's ok, you really shouldn't)
We'll blog about the adventures of BabyLand pretty regularly. Sherry and Kira are both very anxious to act as guest bloggers. Come back often and watch them grow! (Aren't we lucky? Thank you to Jim and Deborah for providing this kind of work environment! Seriously. :))
Well, it's a lot more fun when the babies are there. But they were out for a walk when I snapped this photo.
Oh, here they are!
Tin Woodsman has always had a real family feeling, but recently it's been taken to a new level, with the addition of a small nursery for employee's children. The current residents of BabyLand are Oliver, son of Matt and Nancy (Tin Woodsman's Production Manager & Office Manager), and Anna, daughter of Kathryn and Corey (Tin Woodsman Family Friends!).
The caretakers of these two adorable little children are Sherry and Kira. When Sherry is not on Baby duty, you'll find her in the shipping room, sending pewter out across America. Here she is enjoying Anna's company:
And Kira can often be found helping in the office, as well as packaging many Tin Woodsman products. But we all know what their favorite parts of the day are. Here's Kira, also with Anna- in the cutest of crazy cute hats!
Is there anything better than watching little people grow and develop on their way to becoming big people? Well, maybe watching them do it in funny hats. And especially when they get food all over their faces... oh it's wild and crazy and funny around here. Yes, I'm not afraid to admit we laugh at children regularly!
The little munchkins sometimes sneak out and visit us in our offices. (Just offices, no dangerous production areas, EVER! We promise. Hey, we love these guys. We're keepin' em safe. And always OSHA compliant.) It's just one of the things that makes this a very special place to work! So, please, when you call and there are strange noises in the background, don't think less of us.
Here's Oliver pushing Anna in the Radio Flyer Wagon, on their way out to visit. Anyone else want a ride?
Ooh, don't you just want to squeeze them? Are you ready to faint from cuteness overload?! We deal with this everyday! You don't feel one bit sorry for us, do you? (That's ok, you really shouldn't)
We'll blog about the adventures of BabyLand pretty regularly. Sherry and Kira are both very anxious to act as guest bloggers. Come back often and watch them grow! (Aren't we lucky? Thank you to Jim and Deborah for providing this kind of work environment! Seriously. :))
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