Most of the dinnerware is having a mark identifying what kind of materials used. So it shouldn’t be difficult to know its material. Note that sometimes only dinner plates will be marked because they are generally bigger in size. Some smaller size dinnerware, such as cups or saucers is too small to mark the material identification. So you should check out the larger pieces first for maker and material.

The most common dinnerware are cups, dinner plates, bread and butter plates, salad plates, saucers, soup bowls, dessert bowl and cereal bowl. Other than dinnerware, you may also give serving pieces as gift. For example, you may give gravy bowl, vegetable bowl, platter, salt and pepper shakers, coffee pot, tea pot, etc. In fact, most people may only know to give dinnerware as gift. You may do something unique by giving serving pieces as gift. Your friends may be surprised by your gift.

A post from: Fine China Holiday Dinnerware

 Culinary Lavender

Adding Culinary Lavender Lemon Pepper or Italian Seasoning with Lavender to your whole grains is the key to making nutritious meals that your entire family will love. Whole grains are making a comeback, and their advantages in terms of health and environmental conservancy are well known. However, to many palates accustomed to refined flour, whole grains seem tasteless and heavy. By using our Culinary Lavender, you can create healthy, satisfying meals that taste – and smell – delicious.

Natural grains consist of three parts – the germ, the bran, and the endosperm. White rice, flour, and other refined grains are made by processing endosperm and discarding the bran and germ. The endosperm consists almost entirely of starch, while minerals, vitamins, proteins, and other healthy substances are found in the bran and germ. Although the endosperm has a milder taste and softer texture, adding culinary lavender to whole grains makes them just as appealing as refined grains – or even more so!

 Culinary Lavender

Using Culinary Lavender to interest your family in whole grains is also environmentally friendly. Nearly one third of every bushel of grain is discarded in the refining process. By using whole grains, you are extending the usefulness of every acre of grain that is planted.

Culinary Lavender looks and smells wonderful, but it also does more than just make whole grains more appetizing. Culinary Lavender has been known since Roman times for its soothing and healing properties. A pinch of Italian Seasoning with Lavender in your rice can relieve dizziness, or some Lavender Lemon Pepper mixed with whole grain flour for a fish batter can ease the pain of headaches as well as tasting great.

Culinary Lavender

Here are a few suggestions:-

· Bake whole wheat breads with a touch of Culinary Lavender, to add a hint of alluring flavour to your loaves.

· Crush some Culinary Lavender with raw sugar, and sprinkle it over your whole grain oatmeal for breakfast.

· Sprinkle Lavender Lemon Pepper over your stone-ground whole grain grits in the morning.

· Make a spicy topping for your whole wheat bread using a mixture of garlic, olive oil, and Italian Seasoning with Lavender.

· Use whole grain flour mixed with Lavender Lemon Pepper as a batter dip for fried vegetables, fish, and chicken fingers.

· Crush some Culinary Lavender with raw sugar, and sprinkle it over your whole grain oatmeal for breakfast.

· Add Italian Seasoning with Lavender to homemade whole grain pastas, or use it to spice up your spaghetti sauce when cooking store bought whole grain pasta.

 Culinary Lavender

A post from: Fine China Holiday Dinnerware

Christmas Dishes

Waechtersbach Holiday Willie 16-Piece Dinnerware Place Setting, Service for 4, white with cherry moose.

This is a cute set that we use through December for breakfast and lunch. A quite strong and robust set that goes happily through my dishwasher, microwave and even in the oven occasionally! Now, around $200 for the set of 4 pieces for 4 people it’s a good quality set without the designer price tag! I have family from Norway and even they have bought some of this to take home, saying that its one of the cutest moose sets they have seen!

Christmas Dishes

If you are on a budget, you can still find traditional Christmas dishes at discount retailers at very affordable prices. You can also pickup some nice deals if you shop online, where sellers try to auction off excess inventory. Some Christmas dishes sets are already gift packed and work as nice Christmas gifts. Most of these sets typically contain place settings for four.  Think about the size of the family before making a purchase. In recent years, square, oval and shapes other than the traditional round dinner plate have become very popular. Look for these kinds of shapes with Christmas dinnerware as well. An unusual shape will appear special as well as contemporary. If you are purchasing Christmas dishes as a gift, keep in mind the taste of the recipient. A little thought would make a difference and make your gift as useful as it’s appreciated.

Christmas Dishes

As far as Christmas dishes go, here is a great and simple recipe for easy homemade chocolate truffles that anyone can make!

1 (200g) tub cream cheese –softened

350g confectioners’ sugar, sifted

500g plain chocolate, melted

1 ½ teaspoons brandy, or coffee, or orange oil, etc

Beat the cheese until soft; gradually beat in the confectioners’ sugar and the stir in the melted chocolate and flavouring. Chill for about 1 hour. Shape into small balls.

Roll the balls in cocoa, or ground nuts, or crushed cookies, or coconut, etc.

Pile onto a Christmas plate and wrap in florists clear plastic.

Happy Holidays!

Christmas Dishes

A post from: Fine China Holiday Dinnerware

It’s not just about Holiday Dinner Sets!

I love Christmas and Holiday china and I collect it all the year. I have 2 large dinner ware sets that I use throughout December but I also love these smaller sets of 2 or 3 pieces that just add a holiday accent through the season. Easier to use that a full dinner set, these occasional pieces are good for Hot chocolate and cookies, or serving cakes. My kids love to make candies and then give them to family and friends on smaller holiday inspired plates or bowls. I lookout for them throughout the year when they are cheapest, or check out the link to Amazon for discounted prices.

These pieces are mostly more robust than your fine china and can go into the dishwasher and microwave. Even our dog has his own holiday dinner dish!

 Holiday Dinner Sets

Pfaltzgraff Winterberry “Cookies and Milk for Santa” Set

This is one of my favourite Holiday dinner  sets. My kids have always loved setting this out on Christmas Eve with cookies, eggnog and carrots for the reindeer! I had a similar set when I was a child and I have great memories of my brother and I  setting up the ‘Santa plate’.

Now available at such a bargain price, this is a must have set for any family.

Christmas Snowman 4pc plates dinner plate 8″

Another huge family favourite is the square Santa plate that for some strange reason is called the Snowman plate on Amazon! This plate has a slightly more modern image and is a great serving plate for cakes and cookies. My daughter gave one to her teacher with a pile of homemade candies on it and it was a very popular gift! You get a set of 4 of these plates and for under $28 they can be easily made into 4 fantastic holiday gifts!

 Holiday Dinner Sets

A post from: Fine China Holiday Dinnerware