My Top 5 Spring Favorites from Sur La Table

If you've been following my blog for at least a year, you'll know I'm a big fan of Sur La Table. I did a blog post last fall of my favorite fall items from their catalog, and I can't help but bookmark my favorite spring items. I know, I know...I'm lagging. Spring started two months ago. Anyhow, here are my favorites.

And lucky for us, Sur la Table is running their Spring Entertaining Sale right now...up to 65% OFF!

1. Bird Wreath- How beautiful is this wreath! Not overly cutesy at all. I'm loving green wreaths lately and I do have a magnolia leaf wreath hanging from my door right now. This would make a perfect addition to my wreath...collection. I guess you can say I've got a collection of wreaths going now. I know I have one for each season and holiday, but I just can't help looking at all the new wreaths lining the stores every season. And I have now found new spots in my home to place them aside from my front door. I've got one hanging from my kitchen hood and I'll even place them over large mirrors. They are difficult to store though, and keep in good condition. I haven't quite found a wreath storage box large enough for some of them. So if you have wreath storage hacks, please do share!

Bird Wreath

2. Cast Iron Skillet = game changer. I recently acquired a cast iron skillet and it has changed my cooking life. I don't know quite what it is but it gives food a different flavor, distributes heat evenly throughout, super easy clean up, excellent for melting cheese and it makes me feel like such the chef when I'm using mine. And it's oven safe!

Cast Iron Skillet

3. Schott Zwiesel Forte Light-Bodied Red Wine Glass- I've had these glasses for about a year and absolutely love their, classic, traditional shape. They look elegant, and hold a good amount of my favorite wines. Heck, I like these so much, you will often find me drinking champagne and mimosas out of them...it holds more than champagne glasses ;-) And not only are the beautiful, they are made of patented Tritan crystal which retains its clarity and luster for the life of the glass and resists chipping, scratching, and breakage....much needed feature in my home.

Schott Zwiesel Forte Light-Bodied Red Wine Glass

4. Spiralizer- I received my spiralizer for my birthday last year, and it's still a favorite item of mine. I used it all summer for my homegrown zucchinis, and I can't wait for this year's summer crops to be ready for harvest. Read more about my culinary garden from last year here and here. I've got zucchini and summer squash growing this year, but you can use it for carrots, radishes, cucumbers, onions, apples, and all your favorite veggies. It comes with 4 blades that will let you select from ribbon, fettucine, linguine and spaghetti noodles.

Spiralizer

5. Water Hyacinth Tote Bag- I'm swooning over this one. Here in SoCal we are no longer getting plastic bags for free with our groceries, so we either pay 10 cents for a thick plastic bag, or we take in our own reusable bags. I've got a trunk full of my reusable totes...becoming a bag lady over here. But take a look at this water hyacinth tote bag...how cute is it??!! Nice for a trip on a warm evening to the farmers market for some fresh produce and flowers.

Water Hyacinth Tote Bag

And there you have it. My favorite items from Sur La Table's Spring Catalog.

Check out Sur la Table's Spring Entertainment Sale going on right now...up to 65% off!!

What Sur La Table items are your favorites?

Casa Marcela Cookbook

I've been watching Chef Marcela Valladolid work on this cookbook for the last year as I admire her talent and beautiful, growing family on Instagram. And it's finally ready and delivered! Thank you Sandy :-)  It' is so colorful, beautiful, and full of culture. I can't get enough of it and I take it to bed with me every night. Mind you, I'm usually exhausted at this point and am only able to read a page at a time before I fall asleep with the book on my lap.

I'd like to say I will make every recipe in this book and create a "Julie and Julia" type blog experience, where I post my daily creation to share with you....but, I don't have that kind of time, nor am I a fan of certain foods like lamb....so that won't be happening. But I do intend to make most of them and I'll be sure to share with you.

She is a big source of inspiration for me, as a creative, talented, Latina and as a business woman. I constantly refer back to her Instagram page for ideas on setting my table, or for quick easy recipes she posts on her feed. Check her out on her Instagram and take a look at her book when you get a chance. It's beautiful even as a coffee table book.

Casa Marcela

Oh, she also inspired me to grow a home vegetable garden. More on that on an upcoming post.

Volcanes | Crispy Cheesy Tortillas

On our recent trip to Mexico City, my Tia Aurora made us the most simple and delicious breakfast which she calls volcanes. It's a flour tortilla with manchego cheese melted until crispy, served with salsa and sometimes refried beans smeared over them. It was the perfect morning breakfast before heading out into the city to visit the pyramids, myriad of museums, and culture.

Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan

This picture of the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan was taken on Monday March 20th, 2017, a day before the first day of Spring. It is customary that many gather at the pyramid of the Sun on May 21st to welcome spring and receive the energy of the sun, with open arms toward the sun, while dressed in white...from the top of the pyramid. I have climbed this pyramid several times in my lifetime and it is a surreal experience. You can see the number of people climbing the right side of the pyramid on this particular day.











Here is her very simple recipe:

All you need is flour tortillas and gouda or manchego cheese.

Place the flour tortilla to warm on a hot skillet or comal. Turn it over and place your choice of gouda or manchego cheese over it. Once the cheese is melted, turn the tortilla over so the cheese is on the skillet. Warm until the cheese is crispy and no longer sticking to the skillet.

Serve with refried beans, salsa, guacamole and / or some crema. You can obviously serve this as your main dish, or as a side with eggs, or as a snack. Your call.

Buen provecho!

     

What you'll need for this recipe:

Skillet- cast iron is my new favorite!

Wood Handle Turner