Cinco de Mayo (May 5) is only a few days away, and it’s time to get ready for your parties or special events to celebrate. There are plenty of ways to use your colorful dinnerware to help serve corn chips, salsa, tacos, guacamole or many, many other foods you might be eating to mark this […]
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Buttercups are bold? They are when they are featured on dinnerware from the vintage Craftone line by Noritake. Many of the patterns in this product line are decorated with big, dramatic flowers. Many dinnerware patterns from the 1970s have something bold about them. Many of those are classic retro in shape or color, like another […]
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The Depression glass pattern called Pyramid was produced by Indiana Glass in Dunkirk, Ind. From 1926 to 1932, in various colors, including green. Most are serving pieces, such as this creamer and sugar on a carrying stand. I bought this set around 1980 at the Shipshewana flea market as a gift for my mother. She […]
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Enjoying china has one downside: It can be difficult to choose one pattern to be your own. If you love them all, how do you choose? Eventually Summer Chintz by Johnson Brothers became my everyday contemporary china. This dinnerware was made for more than 20 years, and there are many pieces to add to this […]
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Mix and match dinnerware has lots of interesting possibilities. Charming and creative table settings are often born when different patterns are combined. Same holds true for glass. Yesterday I saw a blog post today about creating collections of mixed glassware. Oh yes, a vintage lover after my own heart wrote this, and chose the glass. […]
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Many of my dishie friends love glass as well. Then the challenge comes up: identifying glass. Most glass is not marked. Learning the makers and patterns takes time and experience. There are many wonderful books, but they will only get you part of the way. We are fortunate here to have our local Great Lakes […]
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Once you’ve made your baked goods, it’s time to eat them! Serving breads, rolls, muffins and other baked goods to family and friends is satisfying and enjoyable. What should you know about serving them at the table (if you can resist long enough)? Many dinnerware sets include serving pieces designed for bringing breads to the […]
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This yeast bread is fun as an introduction to baking, both to make and to eat. Let the butter cool, at the point you are rolling the dough into balls, and the kids can help make this one, too. Monkey Bread Recipe Sweet bread recipes like this are also called bubble bread, because you form […]
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While they take longer to make than quick breads, yeast-raised breads are versatile and delicious. Great to eat by themselves, with soup, stew, or another meal – homemade breads can help you save money and eat healthier. Baking bread is also a great way to express your creativity in the kitchen. Yeast is a living […]
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Today is National Pineapple Upside Down Cake day, an unexpected addition to our Earth Week series on baking. I made mine with leftover crushed pineapple, and added dried Michigan cherries for color and extra sweet-tart flavor. I discovered these round Pyrex glass baking dishes, which work great for this kind of recipe. A favorite Mikasa […]
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Banana raisin muffins make use of some handy ingredients, widely available all year round. This recipe, like almost any basic muffin recipe, can be adjusted to make lots of variations. Perhaps you are a nut lover. You can add nuts, or a combination of nuts. Or substitute another dried fruit for raisins, like dried cherries. […]
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Finding special vintage dishes is fun! See what I brought home with me in recent weeks, including some extra special items.
My dishie antennae perk up when I see pieces of Mikasa’s Mediterrania line in my shopping travels. The patterns are so retro. Many of them show the best of modern style from the 1970s. The shapes are simple and sleek. The colors and motifs just work for me. I think Blue Bird is probably my […]