The Cookware Blog

We were forced to thaw out and cook the frozen turkey because now that November is upon us, we’ll be getting more free turkeys from the supermarkets and we’ll probably need to freeze one until at least Christmas. Until a few moments ago it didn’t occur to me how great the turkey soup tasted because of the stainless steel flatware I was using.

For hours now that aroma has been taunting me from every room downstairs. When we eat something that bears little resemblance to how it smells we experience a disconnect, like somethings wrong. Even if the taste is good our mind tells us it isn’t authentic. That never happens with soup off a stainless steel spoon.

When elegance matters to the host or hostess we generally do what we can to adorn our tables with ornate candle holders, folded cloth napkins and a full place setting. The dinnerware set usually includes the cups and saucers for coffee and tea as well as the desert plates, salad plates and soup bowls.

Having complete sets is essential and we set a place for everyone regardless of age or eating habits. The flatware should all match including any steak or butter knives we’ll use. We all enjoy a formal dining experience even though it requires more planning and preparation.

With the holidays approaching and plans for many elegant meals, be prepared to impress your guests by the arrangement of your place settings. Creativity abounds for setting a beautiful holiday table and the resources to feed the imagination are almost limitless.

If we plan to serve a three course meal or more, don’t forget to place the stainless steel flatware in order of the courses to be served, starting from the outside. The soup spoon and knives are traditionally on the right hand of the plate while the salad and dinner forks are on the right. Dessert spoon and fork should be placed between the plate and glasses with the handle of the spoon toward the right, and the handle of the fork toward the left.

Either as a romantic gesture for the couple who loves to eat outdoors, or as a compliment to those that enjoy entertaining in the park, picnic flatware is a practical gift. Even knowing that we have a set prompts us to start planning for our next outing.

Recognizing the types of activity people enjoy is a clear demonstration of the thought that went into the gift. Giving becomes more personal when we take notice of peoples lifestyles. The recipients know that we took time and care in our selection.

With constant reminders about environmental concerns we like to know we’re doing our part by removing the disposable items from our shopping list. For most people who are planning a party or arranging a gathering the automatic response is usually to stock up on disposable plates and plastic eating utensils.

Doing our part is all we can do and choosing to use flatware is something we can definitely do. We all appreciate when we’re at a public fundraiser and the meal is served with flatware rather than plastic. Keep communicating how much we appreciate it because we don’t know how many others will begin doing their part.

With an ever increasing awareness of the growing numbers of chemicals used in so many different products available to the consumer, we’ve made adjustments to what we allow in our home. I’m continually impressed by manufacturers that accomplish product development utilizing safe natural ingredients that work.

Where polished silver may have a place, care should be taken knowing that these utensils will be touching our food and entering our mouths. Stainless steel flatware has no such need for special cleaning or maintenance treatments. Whether washed by hand or machine this flatware will always look good and never interact with the taste of our food.

With the arrival of the fall colors we still have time to picnic and enjoy the beauty in the changes of the seasons around us. Planning can help us to compliment the beauty of our environment from the disposal of any trash, to limiting the amount of trash we bring.

A true picnic hamper can carry the dishes we need as well as the picnic flatware. Beyond that we can gather the cloth napkins and make a statement of appreciation to our planet. So enjoy the colors while they last and enjoy nature always.

With all of the preparations necessary for a party, we often feel tempted to use paper and plastic to ease the burden of cleanup. Hopefully we’re moving away from a throw away society to a more environmentally friendly culture.

Still backyard barbeques and other large gatherings that may span more than one meal, may make it difficult to ensure we don’t run out of flatware and dishes. Some extra planning can ensure that we have a good count on the amount we’ll use. It’ll also prepare us if we’ll need to wash up before the final serving.

Growing up I remember when we finally bought a dishwasher because it was no longer my chore to dry and put away every piece of silverware we’d used at dinner. While stainless steel flatware is far and away the most popular choice for presentation and durability, having a set that is dishwasher safe is on the top of my list for features.

With the improved efficiency of appliances it is even more economical these days to load the dishwasher, than trying to wash all of that flatware by hand. I still have to manually load and unload each piece, but that chore seems a whole lot more agreeable than the former.

Summertime comes alive with the possibilities for outings in the park, at the lake, by a quiet stream or at the ball park on a hill overlooking the game. Some of us grab a picnic basket and the picnic flatware, others load the camper and set out for the great outdoors.

We can take the picnic flatware anywhere regardless of our intentions of camping out, or escaping the office for an hour to sit in the park. Our picnic experience doesn’t have to be limited to finger food provided we remember to pack our eating utensils.