Bowls and platters

(Updated) Back from the sickbed. I caught some bug two days before Christmas and I didn’t start feeling better until a few hours before Christmas Day ended. My husband did the cooking but you know how it is when you’re not feeling well — nothing just tastes right. He’s still in charge of the meals but I felt well enough to bake a banana walnut streusel cake this afternoon, the recipe for which I will start composing right after I post this entry about new pretty additions to my kitchen. Well, probably not exactly cooking tools. More of things for the dining table but since some of the items can go into the oven, in a way, they can be considered as cookware too.

Let’s start with the serving bowls in the photo above. Microwave safe and pretty as a picture. I bought them in Dapitan where, on separate occasions, we also bought a beautiful wrought iron clock and table lamps. I bought three but I am giving away two as gifts so you’ll understand if I can’t divulge the price. Suffice to say that they are very reasonably priced.  

There’s the bowl from a different angle so you can see more of the floral patterns. The patterns are repeated on the inside bottom of the bowl.

Also in Dapitan, I bought two of these serving bowls which are perfect for serving salad, pasta or rice. I placed the tablespoon there to give you an idea of the size of the bowl.

Above, a carved wood napkin holder and paper napkins with Christmassy print. You can find the details in the Dream Home section of House On A Hill.

The glass pepper mill was a Christmas gift from my mother-in-law (thanks, Mommy). The advantage of a see-through pepper grinder? When you don’t see any pepper coming out of it, it’s easy to tell if it’s time to refill it with peppercorns.

Two years ago, I bought two Corningware casseroles, medium and large. I can’t tell you enough how much I love these casseroles. Great for cooking on the stovetop and in the oven, can go into the freezer, can go straight from the freezer to the stove or oven and then to the dining table. My friends, Mallotte and Eric, gave us a third piece (thank you!) — a smaller one which is great for cooking and serving side dishes.

That’s really one thing about having family and friends know what you’re passionate about — I get a lot of cooking and kitchen stuff for Christmas! I hope you’re having a great time over the Holiday break. Normal cooking, baking and food blogging schedule resume.