Fun Finds for Summer

It’s that time again, time for Summer Fun Finds. These are just some ideas about personal favorites – no one has asked me to promote any products.

If you are travelling this summer, and you are anything like me, you’ll be collecting lots of food and recipe ideas from your trips.  Jot them down in this perfect Moleskine Recipe Journal. And get a little inspiration from these adorable Chef Pencils, with simple techniques printed right on them.  Carry a few of these protective, absorbent bottle carriers to bring home souvenirs like wine or olive oil.  They protect the bottle, but also absorb any spillage.  But if you are just an armchair traveller, nothing transports you like good food.  Enjoy the flavors of My French Kitchen by Joanne Harris, let Tessa Kiros show you Food from Many Greek Kitchens, or explore the wonderful food of the Mediterranean in Crazy Water, Pickled Lemons, then continue on to the glorious Food of Spain from Claudia Roden.

If your summer entertaining involves outdoor eating, I absolutely love this Bentley plasticware.  They are good-looking, colorful and durable.  I have a cup that belonged to my Grandmother that is still in perfect shape!  They are dishwasher safe and don’t craze or crack.  And if you are taking your summer food on the road, this insulated food carrier is practical and cute. I love Polar Bear Coolers, and the new backpack cooler makes carrying your cold stuff even easier. If your summer entertaining moves indoors, gather everyone around a good game of Cooking Scrabble after a bang-up meal.

I’ve got quite a little garden growing this summer (that’s it in the picture), and if you do too, jazz it up with these herb markers. If you are not a gardener, but head to the farmers market for all the gorgeous summer produce, carry a cute and practical market tote like mine with its big, bright apples. It’s oilcloth so it wipes clean.  If your haul tends to be a bit bigger, try a snazzy wheeled shopping trolley.  Carry some organic cotton produce storage bags to avoid the plastic, and they are great for storing onions and potatoes in the pantry.  You’ll feel super snazzy as you prepare your produce haul with these adorable pairing knifes.